Well hello there, readers (*waves hand*)! Jaime here from the art & design blog, design milk!

When I was asked to be a guest blogger on HWTM, I thought, “what the heck do I know about entertaining?” When we have guests, I’m the one who suggests we either go out to dinner or order in a few pizzas. However, the more I thought about it, I began to realize that without furniture, there isn’t much entertaining that can be done!

The dining table is typically the foundation upon which all linens, serving dishes, centerpieces, and place cards are set. Therefore, what better place to talk about dining tables than here?

I’d like to share with you a few of my favorite tables, from inexpensive to barely affordable by the Pitt-Jolies, and from traditional to ultra-modern. I hope that this gives you some inspiration for your own dining spaces! Here goes:

1. Round Dining Table with Cutout Legs from West Elm {pictured above}: This is a more modern take on a round table. This style can be considered transitional because it can go both ways: traditional or modern. ($399-$599, depending on size)

2. Saarinen Dining Table: or Ikea DOCKSTA: A classic that meshes with any décor, while I would prefer the former ($1400-$3500), but I actually own the latter ($149).

3. Topo Table: With everything going green, I thought this table would be great for those with a green thumb and a knack for entertaining!

4. Lanai Dining Table from cb2: This table is a fantastic, rustic design. And, it’s pretty affordable too! ($599)

5. Carona Table: The manliness of this table is really what draws me to it. I can picture it with some fantastic leather chairs with a lovely woven rug underneath. ($1299)

6. NORBO Table: If you’ve got limited space, then IKEA is the place for you. This NORBO table is a great option for teeny spaces, and IKEA carries a number of small drop-leaf tables as well. ($29.99)

7. Stripes Collection: Fantoni’s Stripes collection is actually office furniture, but, as you can see it will work as a dining surface (and when you’re not eating, you can work on your laptop. The best part? They already look like they’ve got a tablecloth on them!

8.  Arthur Table: This is definitely an ideal table for when you host a party for knights. It is available for 8, 10, and 12 persons. (€3,200)

9. Anyroom Dance Table: I don’t know what this costs, but I don’t care. I love the name because it actually looks like it is dancing!

10. Phillipe Dining Table: Last, but definitely not least, is this beautifully detailed dining table. The legs are unique enough to be considered modern, and the laquer finish puts the icing on the cake. ($2195))

Boy, that was fast. I could have posted about 10 more! I hope you enjoyed my dining table roundup here on HWTM. For more modern design finds, visit me at design milk and the dm modern shopping directory!

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