Benchright Farmhouse Table

Oh finally, finally!!! Thank you so much, Ana!!!! I have been wanting this one forever!! I even tried to figure it out in sketch-up, but never got it right. As always, you are so amazing and I can't wait to have a house full of your furniture! (Getting there, slowly but surely!) :)

I guarantee this one is much more sturdy than the PB counterpart...my 2 year old bumped into theirs and set all the dishes on top wobbling. Most of the bulk of this piece on theirs is illusion.

I would love to build the round table. Do you think there is a slight chance that you might find the time to draw up the plans for the round (extendable) table? Thank you for all your hard work!

Ana, I have been waiting and waiting and waiting for these plans. I've been coveting this table from PB but couldn't swallow the price tag. I figured I'd save and save and save to buy, but now I don't have to! Thank you soooooo much!

I LUV this table. I had a Pottery Barn Outlet 5 miles away (it closed), this table was $900 there and the wood was junk and easily scratched. Thanks Anna for your awesome plan!

Do you think this would look okay converted to be square? I really want a square dining room table. NOt sure if it would work though.

I saw this on Pottery Barn not too long ago and I really liked the iron and wood look. Thanks for the plans! I've been a very regular member for the better part of a year now, and you STILL manage to surprise me even after all this time. I didn't think a plan would show up for this table due to the iron in it, but that can't stop Ana ;)

I've considered building a much-needed new table for our home, but I really want it to be able to expand (I know that even the PB one cant'). This plan may change my mind though...

The 5th item down on the materials list, 3 - 2x4 @ 8 feet long, should be 3 - 2x6 @ 8 feet long

I can't even imagine already thinking about winter! We still have sunny, HOT days ahead of us AT LEAST through November. And usually Christmas day is spent in shorts here on the gulf coast. Gorgeous plans!

I like the look of the rectangular iron hardware at the base, but no idea where to purchase this or if I'll have to 'fake it' with paint and wood. Any thoughts. I've worked through how to finish out the pipe with fittings, but still stumped on this.

Also thinking of making it expandable at the breadboards rather than middle(easier and the base can be fixed)--rockler.com has some extensions that do this.

Just finished the legs...I think the "4 - 1x2 @ 21 5/8" (Both ends cut at angle 10 degrees off square, short point to long point)" direction should read "one end cut at 10 degree angle, other end square" it created a 10 degree gap where the 2x4 stretcher meets and Im trying to figure out the best way to fill it...am I wrong? Either way I have this gap to deal with :\

Has anyone made it 38" deep like the PB table dimensions? If I tweak it, will it make the table less sturdy? I'm just thinking 33 1/2" might be too narrow. Please let me know if you've done this already!! Thanks!

Has anyone tried adapting this for a large writing desk?
Thanks!

It would be easy enough to modify the depth/width, just add an extra 1x6 to the top and make all width measurements 5 1/2 inches wider and that should line up just fine. Your legs would be wider apart which could/should make the table more stable.

there seems to be an additional problem with the legs.
the cut list has 2 - 2x6 @ 38 1/2 for end aprons the diagram shows the end aprons at 29"
what is the length that should be used?

thanks

that should read 2 - 2x6 @ 28 1/2 not 38.

Hey everyone, sorry for any confusion. I just went through the cut list and diagrams, and the cut list is actually 1/2" less in width than the diagrams show to get the table down to 33" total width to match the width of 6 - 2x6 boards (33"). I hope this makes sense?

We will be having our 10th child in May, our current table is woefully inadequate. Structurally, would this exact design work for a 12 foot table or would it need some additional support? Many thanks

So in building this I would want to follow the dimensions on the cut list and scale down the diagram widths by 1/2" when referring to the diagram? I can do that simple enough. Thanks for the clarification.

Hey! Great plans, do you have a recommendation on type of wood that would most closely resemble the Pottery Barn table?

Thanks,

Matt

Hi! My husband and I are so excited to have found your page with all of these great plans. We were wondering if you had a price estimate for building this table, and also as the previous commenter asked, what type of wood you would use?? Thank you so much!

Rachel

Lumber prices are pretty radically different in different areas. You'll need to price them in your area to get a good idea. It also depends on where you buy the lumber from in your area. I can buy the lumber cheaper at a lumber yard than a home center.

As for the wood to use, buy pine or another softwood. If you're asking this question, you don't have the tools or techniques necessary for hardwoods. Of the softwoods, I most strongly recommend white or yellow pine. That means avoid anything labeled "whitewood" which may be spruce or fir. Yellow pine typically has a stamp on it somewhere (often the ends) with the letters SYP (Southern Yellow Pine). I don't know what the markings are for white pine, but if you go to an actual lumber yard (not a home center) and ask for it they'll be able to get it for you.

Look for No. 2 pine to get the most bang for your buck. It's not as clear as the Select & Better grade, but it's free of major knots and generally decent wood. It will have a lot less twisting and bowing. Home centers usually sell a grade lower (don't remember what it's called) that will be full of ugly knots and have a tendency to be twisted, warped and bowed.

I just finished this table and a set of benches to match it and they turned out great. I followed these plans almost exactly. Mine is 1/2 inch narrower to accommodate the slightly narrower old barn siding I used for the top. It looks great and I am super excited about it. The only issue is that on the benches and the table the bottom spreader is about 57" apart not 60" so the pipes won't fit. I'm working on a solution to that and will do a brag post of these after I get them stained and sealed in two to three weeks.

Hi I've been working on this table for over a week now and its finally built. Like many I was inspired by the pottery barn table as well. What I have absolutely no clue on and could REALLY use some guidance is how to achieve the stained look? I used ash as my wood and really want to get near the color of this table or the one I saw on Shaunna's page. Can you help me and point me in the right direction?

Try to find a store that sells General Finishes stains. Part of their sales display is a sample board showing how the stains look on a couple of different wood types.

I've been working with General's water based dyes and stains over the last month, and I've found them a lot better than what other manufacturers are offering. When I read the contents, I understood why. General is using the same formula I advocated over on my blog. I wish I could claim it's because they finally recognized my brilliance, but they were doing this long before I thought of it.

I just finished building this table and Oh My Goodness it is beautiful! I want to build benches for it, but I'm not a smartie and wanted to know if Ana or someone else has done this? Or has some dimensions for me? I will also be submitting my brag post soon :). Tip for those interested in building: Listen to Ana when she says to Read Through All Directions AND Comments Before Building!

BTW- Ana you are AWESOME!

we want to get the look of this table and we don't want a shiny lacquer look. we bought a light pecan stain that we think will look great but what do we do about sealing so that it is resistant to red wine stains? etc? is there a super matte sealant we can get?

Stephanie,

You can buy both water based and oil based polyurethanes with a matte or flat finish. You just need to remember to stir it before you use it, because the bits that make it matte settle to the bottom.