Cicero Extension Dining Table

A rectangular oak dining table from Four Hands that opens at both ends to take on more guests. Thick oak veneer covers the top, set on a solid oak double-pedestal base joined with mortise-and-tenon and butt joints. A rack-and-pin mechanism slides the ends apart, and two insert leaves fill the opening so the grain keeps running across the whole surface. Because oak and veneer are natural materials, grain and tone vary from table to table.

The base borrows from trestle tables, low and wide, with a long stretch of open space beneath the apron for chairs to tuck in. The finish is a warm, sun-bleached oak that sits somewhere between honey and driftwood, and it keeps the table quiet enough to pair with nearly anything. Wishbone chairs, upholstered dining chairs, and a long bench along one side all work, as do plaster walls, linen drapery, and a rug with some pattern in it.

Closed, it is a table for everyday meals, laptops, and homework. Open, it handles holiday dinners, long buffet spreads, and the kind of evening where one more chair keeps getting pulled up. Leg levelers help it sit steady on an uneven floor. Use coasters and trivets, and keep the top out of strong direct sun.