Modern Farmhouse Dining Table & Benches

You guys! I have been saying forever that I would share the details on this table with you. (Insert 500,000 excuses for why I haven’t, here.) No more excuses. The time has come! Here are all the deets. (Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.)

I started by using this tutorial from Ana White for the table plans, just like I did for my outdoor table here. But this time, I modified the plans and created a custom finish. So, while I don’t need to reinvent the wheel by sharing a full tutorial (Ana has already done that for us! Yay!), I will share the modifications I made and what exactly I did differently. (If you want an 8 ft. table like I built for our outdoor space, then you can just use Ana’s tutorial without my modifications.)

I wanted to save money by building this table myself rather than buying one, and since I’m cheap, I just used basic inexpensive studs and pine boards from The Home Depot. You can use a higher quality wood if you choose to.

First of all, I needed the table to be shorter so it would fit in our dining room, and in order to modify the length, I also needed to modify the angles (because, ugh, math). So here’s where I deviated from the original plans:

TABLE BASE

I cut the two long support beams (the pieces connecting the two end bases) to 50 inches each.

Then, I attached the top beam with a horizontal orientation rather than vertical so that I could easily attach the tabletop to it.

Since I shortened the length of the table, I modified the length of the cross braces to 27 inches long, and the angles to 34 degrees, ends cut parallel. (I played around with a few options and this was the look I liked best.)

TABLETOP

My tabletop is about 81 inches long and 44 1/8″ wide total, and I used:

• 1 – 2×12 at 69 3/4″ long
• 2 – 2×10 at 69 3/4″ long
• 2 – 2×8 at 69 3/4″ long
• 2 – 2×6 at 44 1/8″ long (for the breadboard ends)

You will have to sand like crazy, and you may need some wood filler between the ends of the boards and the breadboard ends. Keep in mind that the math may seem odd, but that’s because boards are never really the same dimensions as they are listed in the stores. (For example, a 2×12 is not actually 12 full inches wide. I know, it’s silly.)

I attached everything with pocket hole screws using my Kreg Jig.

BENCHES

As for the benches, I used the same plans as our entryway bench but shortened the length to 4 ft. The great thing about this bench is that you can easily modify the length according to your needs. It’s a simple, straightforward build and a perfect beginner woodworking project. Plus, it’s a sturdy, nice simple design that can flow with a variety of design styles.

As for the finish, here’s what I did:

CUSTOM WEATHERED GRAY WALNUT STAIN

Step 1

First, sand the heck out of the entire table and both benches.

Step 2

Next, apply a coat of Minwax PreStain Wood Conditioner about 15-20 minutes before staining.

Step 3

Then, apply one coat of Minwax Classic Gray stain.

Step 4

Apply two coats of Minwax Special Walnut. (Allowing to dry between coats.)

Step 5

Finally, apply 3 coats of Minwax Satin Wipe-On Poly.

For now, I have these chairs at the ends but I think eventually I’d like a pair of upholstered chairs. (Here are some of my favorite picks.)

Rug / Light / Dresser / Map Art

So far, the table has held up great and we really love it! By the way, I get a lot of questions about the paint color in this room, and it is Nocturnal Gray by Benjamin Moore. (Sort of a blue/green/gray depending on the lighting.)

Now, I’m trying to decide what my next build project will be. Any suggestions?

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Thanks for visiting!

-Erin