You are a mind-reader, Ana! I wanted to build a square modern farm table and was inspecting the original modern farm table plans yesterday, but had doubts as to my ability to modify a plan, being a complete beginner and all. Yay!!! THANK YOU!

So cute!

oh my gosh! That is my table! WOW! I am so super excited to see it here! I think maybe too many exclamation points? Will be blogging my build at my blog, but haven't got around to it yet, this is the motivation I needed I guess!

I am so excited, seriously, excited, wow!

Hi, Ana! I have to say I keep giggling at the sidebar with the different plans on it. It shortens the titles so one reads, "I built my bed. You can t..." Haha, I really needed a good laugh today! I can and I will! :)
This plan, like so many others, is beautiful. Well done!

Tami, I spent an hour today looking through all the photo boards for YOUR table. It's been in my mind since you posted it! Love it! Make sure you tell us where you blogged the table! Ana

I blogged about this table -- like the stain I used and whatnot -- at http://olsensinboise.blogspot.com!

I love the square table!!! Ana how would I modify the plan if I wanted the table to seat 8, instead of 4 as shown above??

Hi LoveJP, try something like this:

Thanks Ana! I'll have to show the hubs tonight! Thanks again ;o)

Ana, I love the bigger version. If I wanted to make it taller to be one of those "high top" tables, is it more complicated than just making the legs longer?

Hi Christina Eileena, it is :( When legs get longer, the support at the base needs to be beefed up. You will need to add bracing or some sort of support (think of a bar stool) Check out how that is done in this post.

Ana I'm looking to make a very similar design only for a toy room play table... How would you suggest modifying this table for kids to sit at and something that's a little longer vice a square?

Thanks Ana, you rock!!

This is awesome. I have a whole construction site down the street with tons of 2 X4, 2X6, 2X2 scraps (not kidding a TON of free scraps). I was looking at what to build with them as the owner said I can help myself. Thank-you!

Hi Ana, we were thinking of building the larger version of this table, but my husband wants to build it with a harder wood than Pine or Whitewood, but we are having a hard time finding hardwoods that are 2x6's. What are your thoughts about this? Should we just make it with the soft woods knowing that eventually we will have to remake it or replace it with another table?

Thanks!

Also, with the modified plan, are we now using 4" screws for the joists since the joists are 2x4's instead of 2x2's? Or is there something else that should be done?

Hi Ana, I just spent a couple hours building this, and wanted to share that all of the boars running parallel to the joists (and the joists themselves, actually) are a quarter inch too long. I had everything cut per the cut list, and had to spend a coupled minutes re-cutting those 6 boards.

I keep looking at all these tables hoping that I could magically figure out how to convert one into something with leaves or something expandable. I have a small house, but I host Thanksgiving. Normally there's 3 of us and we eat at the breakfast bar every night. But now there's going to be 4 of us and while I think we can scrape by this last Thanksgiving.. next year won't work.

Could you possibly suggest a conversion of a small table which seats 4 to a big table which seats 8 or more? Is this feasible?

How about a pedestal farmhouse table? We have an L-shaped storage bench and the table we have now with four legs makes it uncomfortable to have a seat. I found this picture online that was pretty close to what I was thinking, but any helpful plans or ideas for any pedestal table will work.. Thank you!
http://www.gardenside.com/images/P/5343-L.jpg

This is probably going to be my next project but I am wondering if anyone has made chairs to go with it and what you chose. Thanks!

Hi, I want to make this table this week but noticed Gina said in the comments that the cut list had parts that were too long - Ana, have you fixed this, or has anyone else noticed this same problem? I've never made anything before!

I'm getting ready to build this table but I wanted to go ahead and start looking for chairs. What size (height) chairs go well with this table?

Rachel, this table is standard 30" high, so most any standard chair would work!

My 2x6 where actually 5 and 5/8ths rather than 5 and half . As a result the aprons joints needed to be 33 and 6/8ths inches and the apron needed to be 29 7/8ths inches.
All the other cuts were correct

Ana, similar to christinaeileena's question, if I want to build the smaller (4 seater) table but tall enough for barstools, will I need to build in extra support?

Hi Ana - I built a cabinet, and I did not know about how wood expands in the humid summer, contracts in the dry winter. I built the cabinet in the winter, and the doors would not close in the summer, and the planks buckled in the summer. I'm worried about the table losing its integrity after a few years of expansion and contraction. How does this table deal with the changes?

Ana, I want to make this table, but the small is too small and the one you showed dimensions for the 8 seat table is too big. I'm wanting to build this table around 54"x54". What do you suggest I do for boards and measurements? Thank you!

I LOVE the plan for the 8 seater. It is exactly what I've been looking for...minus the $1,400 price tag. Thank you!!! My husband wants to build this table out of oak. Is there a reason that people are using pine instead? We need a sturdy table that will stand up to beating from our kiddos and we don't mind that it will be heavier with oak.

Oak is a magnificent wood for tables. There are downsides that you need to be aware of though.

The first is that oak is expensive compared to construction grade pine. This design calls for material 1 3/4" thick, also known as 8/4 (hardwood is sold by the quarter inch, and one inch is lost to surfacing to make it smooth). You'd have to find a hardwood dealer, because that isn't sold at a home center, and you pay a premium for 8/4 material. A 2x4 at current market prices in my area would cost about $12, and a quick estimate suggests about $115 just for lumber. You'd also greatly increase labor because the surface of the wood is rough at those prices, so you'd need to joint and plane the lumber, which requires either hand planes and a good aerobic regimen, or expensive power tools.

The second is that you need to work it differently than pine. It's harder, and it's also very fond of splitting. If you try to nail or screw into it without predrilling you'll split out the wood or snap off the screw in the hole.

For durability, pine is actually pretty good. If you go to a proper lumber yard rather than a home center, you can likely ask for southern yellow pine. It's considerably harder than white pine for about the same price. It has a stronger grain pattern, but it holds up to abuse. I built my workbench out of it, and the stuff is tough. It will show scratches, gouges and saw cuts, but less than other woods. It also finishes up nicely.

Hi Ana, I am currently working on this table...would it just be terrible to make the legs 36" instead of 30"? i have some chairs that i want to fit under it

So, I LOVE this table, however, I am planning on making one much larger...
MUCH larger... it will be and 8ft square, for a huge family dining table.

I have taken the given plans and expanded them to my needs, the only change being that I have planned for the legs to be two 2x4's each so they are a little heavier looking. Everything else adjusted to scale.

Just looking for advice/opinions... Does anyone think I will need an extra set of legs anywhere? or a center support?

I have support joists under the table at about a foot apart.
Also, with the plans, are there any screws going in the top of the table? It kind of looks like there aren't...

THANK YOU!
-Emily

Love the table! I can't find where you put

the supplies needed for the larger 58" table... Can you show me? Can't wait to work on this tomorrow! 

LOVE Love Love this table and I have reclaimed wood ready to go.  I cannot however find the plans for the 58"x58" version.  Please let me know if they are still available.  Thanks so much!!!

I'm new to the DIY world - is it easy to change the dimensions? I would like to make this table 24x38x30. Thanks! 

I can’t find the plans for the 8 seater. Is there anyway I can get a copy or link to it?