Solid oak extending table, the piece of furniture that brings the family together

The extending table, in my opinion, should not be missing in any home. Even if you were to use it only twice a year, at Easter and Christmas, imagine having a dining table made of massive oak ready to gather loved ones around her. It's the idea of family, of friends, of loved ones we meet on happy occasions. But with large furniture, utility comes first. Although the buying decision is heavily influenced by the aesthetic component. But as tables, especially solid oak ones, have been in the spotlight of designers and furniture manufacturers lately, we are continually discovering designs full of personality. Specific solid oak worktops farmhouse style on modern glass legs or wood-metal combinations for interiors in rustic industrial style are just some of the designs you can choose from.

Why extendable table? Hadn't I given it up because I thought the "Swedish buffet" style was more appropriate for our meetings?

I've always been a fan of the traditional style of meeting, which is around the table to eat and chat with no TV, just pleasant music in the background. This brought us closer and, to use a trendy expression, we spent quality time together. We debated everything together, we all participated in the same discussion.

For this reason we preferred to meet more at my place. In other houses, the Swedish buffet model had been adopted, which broke up the 'whole' and stuffed us in different corners of the room.

Now many young people are coming back to the old table and it's good not just for furniture makers. They are attracted by the desire to be together, to discuss and debate hot topics. It helps that the choice of furniture is plentiful and they can find the extending table that perfectly suits any style of home. There are tables that can squeeze together to become an unobtrusive console on a wall, but also some that, at the non-extendable size, are the solid wood centerpiece that completes the room. The latter I'll come to next.

The choice of table design is very important. The table is no longer just a useful object, it is part of the style of the house, the way the owner has chosen to furnish their home

Three models of tables caught my attention by their appearance, the way they are built and the way the extension is made. The tables are made in Romania. You may have thought, looking at the photos, that the furniture is probably from Italy. No, it's made in North Arinabove Piatra Neamț.

Nord Arin produces solid wood furniture from oakand fag for the markets of Romania, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, France, Austria, Italy. There are 90 employees who take care of the entire process, from cutting the log to delivering the product to the customer's home.

It's a family business started many, many years ago. The father of the man who now runs the company learned his trade from an Italian master craftsman in the town of Bicaz. In the '70s he set up a small furniture and handicraft section which was part of the Craftsmen's Cooperative. The Nord Arin brand appeared in 1992, the son continuing the work started by his father. But even now, at the age of 85, the father is still in the factory, infusing his energy into the whole team.

North Arin makes inspiring furniture, with a design different from what the Romanian market is used to. It is a successful combination of Romanian woodworking tradition and international design trends. I have for example three models of extensible table.

Belluno - farmhouse-style extending table

It's a homely, solid without being heavy. It's equally at home in a modern rustic home or an industrial rustic. The natural oak color and beeswax finish are a great combination with the rustic style. It's harmoniously done and I wouldn't have seen any other kind of finish other than a strictly protective one that preserves the authentic, natural look of the wood.

Extended, the mass is very generous. It is 3.5m long by 1.09m wide. It's not a 'tiny' in the non-extended version either. It's 2.5 m, of course, with the same width of 1.09 m. It is simply extended at the ends of the top. At each end you can extend 2 rods coming from under the top. The extensions are attached to the rods with very aesthetic screws. When the table is not stretched out, the 2 extensions are clamped under the worktop, saving space.

The processing of the countertop is done by special techniques so that the wood does not work in case of humidity variations. It is known that these moisture fluctuations can lead to dimensional variations in the wood and this does the extension system no good at all. With Nord Arin extension tables there is no such risk.

Messina with metal legs, extending table in rustic industrial style

The table first attracts with its solid oak top with wavy sides. It is that image of a 'slice' of wood with only the bark removed. Despite this, the worktop is also machined in such a way that there is no risk of dimensional variations.

The legs are made of 10 mm thick sheet metal with a maximum width of 200 mm at the top in the grip area. The color options for the legs are anthracite and corten.

The extension system is interesting and is a Nord Arin creation. Basically the rods on which the 2 side extensions rest are inside the top. They are pulled out of the table top by simply pressing push-up buttons mounted discreetly on the 2 table top handles.

On the back of the extension there are 2 grooves where the rods fit perfectly. In order to make the fixing on the extensions very secure and strong, devices have been fitted to stiffen the connection between the extensions and the countertop. After fitting the extension onto the rods, the devices are pushed under the countertop. Don't imagine that they are complicated and difficult to use. They are simple but very effective systems that allow those who sit in the prolonged area of the table to feel comfortable. The extension will be secure and stable even if heavier objects are placed on it.

The table is 1m wide and 2m long, extending to 2.9m.

Messina with glass legs - floating wooden countertop

I've left it behind, but I find the most spectacular is the Messina table with glass legs. You simply feel as if the wooden top is floating about 1 meter above the ground. The transparency of the legs further emphasizes the solid oak top and its natural beauty.

The legs are made of 19 mm thick faceted glass, very strong and very safe. They are not positioned perpendicular to the worktop but at an angle to give the table more stability.

With this invisible legs effect the room gets more space, it doesn't get cluttered. The light seems unhindered from penetrating everywhere, contributing to the overall brightness of the room.

The dimensions and extension system are the same as the model with metal legs. The finish of both versions is a protective matt lacquer coating, which does not change the natural color of the oak, over which a layer of beeswax is applied. The wax provides a natural contact with the wood and a pleasant silky touch.

Solid wood furniture from Nord Arin has an interesting and modern design in line with similar furniture from countries with a tradition in furniture design, such as Italy or France. What's more, the story of this family business, where the granddaughter is part of the team alongside the grandfather, convinces you that it's all about tradition, passion and heart.

Photos in the article are property of Nord Arin