The Mid-Century line at West Elm typically follows the same pattern in terms of fit and finish, but the expandable dining table has some slight departures.
Stepping into the realm of modern-day furnishings encapsulated with a vintage charm, the West Elm Mid-Century Expandable Dining Table emerges as a blend of functionality and style.
This piece, with its clean lines and elegant color choices of Acorn and Cerused White, invites a blend of nostalgia and contemporary aesthetics into your dining space.
As urban dwellers with a penchant for design delve into creating cozy, appealing homes, this table echoes their sentiment, offering not just a place to share meals, but also a statement of taste and an embrace of modern craftsmanship.
Design & Aesthetics
The West Elm Mid-Century Expandable Dining Table offers two elegant color choices – Acorn and Cerused White, each bringing a distinct personality to your space.
The Acorn shade exudes a warm, vintage charm, while Cerused White offers a modern, serene touch.
The table’s angular design, a slight departure from traditional mid-century curves, lends a contemporary flair. Yet, its slender profile and minimalist aesthetic ensure it resonates with the timeless appeal of mid-century design.
This blend of modern and classic design elements encapsulates a versatility that allows the table to seamlessly blend into various interior decor themes, making it a worthy centerpiece for your dining area.
Materials & Construction
The West Elm Mid-Century Expandable Dining Table is a testimony to quality craftsmanship with its use of solid eucalyptus and ash wood for the legs and frame, ensuring durability.
The engineered wood top, adorned with walnut or oak veneer depending on the color variant, not only adds a layer of sophistication but is a practical choice for everyday use. The table’s FSC®-certification is a nod to environmental responsibility, while its Fair Trade Certified™ manufacturing underscores a commitment to ethical production practices.
These aspects, coupled with the kiln-dried wood for extra durability, showcase a blend of aesthetics, functionality, and responsible sourcing.
Functionality
West Elm Mid-Century Expandable Dining Table
The table’s expandable feature is a nod to modern living, offering flexibility in accommodating 2 to 4 diners comfortably. With dimensions of 39″w x 32″d x 30″h without the leaf and 55″w x 32″d x 30″h with the leaf, it caters to both intimate dinners and larger gatherings.
The leg spacing and 1″ tabletop thickness ensure a balanced proportion, while the 29″ clearance under the table provides ample legroom.
This functional design, which prioritizes both form and usability, makes the West Elm Mid-Century Expandable Dining Table a versatile addition to your dining space, aptly meeting the demands of contemporary lifestyles.
Care & Maintenance
Preserving the allure of your West Elm Mid-Century Expandable Dining Table requires simple yet effective care. Avoid placing hot items directly on the table; instead, use a trivet or surface pad. Promptly blot any spilled liquids with a damp cloth to prevent stains.
Refrain from using harsh cleaners that could strip the finish. Over time, hardware may loosen, so it’s prudent to periodically check and tighten all connections.
Following these care guidelines will not only maintain the table’s aesthetic appeal but also ensure its longevity, making it a cherished centerpiece for many meals to come.
Pros & Cons
The West Elm Mid-Century Expandable Dining Table impresses with its scratch-resistance and adequate construction. However, it faces criticism for its lack of traditional mid-century aesthetic appeal and optimal sturdiness.
The design alterations, although strategic, may not resonate well with purists. Yet, the reasonable price point within the West Elm range provides a fair value, making it a consideration for those looking to blend contemporary and mid-century aesthetics in their dining space.
The West Elm Mid-Century Expandable Dining Table encapsulates a timeless, tailored profile reminiscent of mid-century design, with its streamlined top, iconic beveled edges, and tapered legs.
Its expandability in three sizes is a practical feature for accommodating extra guests. Crafted from sustainably sourced wood in a Fair Trade Certified™ facility, this table is not just a piece of furniture, but a statement of quality, ethical manufacturing, and design finesse.
It stands as a worthy investment for those keen on blending the simplicity and elegance of mid-century design with modern-day functionality, all while contributing to ethical and sustainable practices.
For starters, nearly the entire line comes in a light brown “acorn” finish where the dining table comes in either a “Walnut” (a bit darker brown) or a “Dark Mineral” (a true dark brown). We like both, and figure this was done to solve the acorn finishes problem with scratches showing too easily.
On a wood dining table, scratches are bound to make their mark (literally), and the last thing you want is to be reminded of that every time you sit down to eat.
We’ve found that even in the walnut finish which is the lighter of the two, the finish is dark enough and sits deep enough that the scratches do not really show. Off to a good start.
Next up – construction materials. We like that the rest of the line is made of solid wood and some acacia veneer (usually on the drawers).
The expandable dining table takes it down a slight notch by mixing in some engineered wood, but we also wonder where the engineered wood is and are guessing it’s the table top… in which case, we think it might also have something to do with why scratches aren’t as visible, so maybe this was a strategic move.
Lastly the design takes a different turn. The table top has some remnants of the other pieces, particularly the angled/cornered edges. The legs aren’t quite as rounded and so the table has a more angular feel in general with nothing to soften its touch.
Especially considering the overall silhouette is incredibly slim, we’re not huge fans of this design change as we think it takes away from the actual “mid-century” feel and also removes a lot of the contrast we like with the rest of the mid-century line.
So how’s the build quality? It’s sturdy, but not super sturdy. The top is set on two sets of biscuit jointed legs which are screwed through a plastic “plate” into the top. Probably because of the general slimness of the top there’s not a lot of weight pushing down on the legs and so it suffers a little and gets a tiny bit of wobble when the table sees some action.
Generally speaking, the construction is fine, but nothing to write home about. We’ve seen way worse, but we’ve seen better.
Of all of the mid-century line, we’ve liked this item the least, though we’re glad to see they solved the scratching problem for this particular piece. At $699-$799 it’s not a terrible price for what you get within the West Elm catalog.
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