I am a fan of the simplicity of the 1940s and 1950s, especially the vintage decor.  We used to have a beautiful 1950’s maple colonial dining room table and chairs.  But when we had small children and white wall-to-wall carpet in the dining area, we felt it necessary to move our dinners from the dining room to the kitchen.  However, the maple table didn’t fit the small kitchen space, and it went to live with a family friend.  Since about 2000, we have made do with an inexpensive basic drop leaf farm table with a white tile top.  I never really liked it, but it fit the space. I would really like to have a 1950s dining table and chairs.

We had only planned to use the tile top modern table until we found (and could afford to buy) a more charming vintage table that fits in the kitchen.  Twelve years later, we still had not found the perfect 1950s dining table and chairs set. Now that we are finally getting a real linoleum floor, I have been shopping a little more regularly, most recently on Etsy, eBay, and craigslist, as well as antique stores.

Design

I didn’t think I was that picky, but I must be since I have been hunting around for a decade. I think the hard part has been that the table has to be small enough to use in our tiny kitchen.  The tables from the 1940s are a little smaller than ones from the 1950s.

I really like inlaid decorative designs and the kind of tables with two-tone colors either in the chairs or table.  Any color Formica would do since I like having a colorful kitchen and was willing to pay $300 to $600 if it was just a table, or a lot more if it was in pristine condition or came with the original chairs.  However, the right retro table for us must be sturdy and usable since it won’t just be a decorative piece but our everyday family dinner table.  Some of the tables I have come across, look good in the photos and in the seller’s descriptions, but upon closer inspection in person, the tables end up having more rust than what a little brushing of steel wool would clean up. A lot of them appeared to have other big issues that are beyond my skills to repair.  I avoided buying a table that would need to be re-chromed.  I briefly looked into how much it would cost to get a table re-chromed here in SoCal, and the price was significantly more than the value of most tables. 

I was really hoping to find a green or red linen 1940s dinette, but I decided I could settle for almost any color if it was the right size. Mint green cracked ice was popular in the 1950s and I think the look could work in our kitchen nicely. Unfortunately, every time I find one, the dimensions on the 1950s tables are just too big.

Settling for less than perfect

We finally settled on a late 1940s table we both could live with on craigslist, but it is yellow and did need a lot of work. The chairs had to be reupholstered, it needed steel wool on all the chrome, and the paint was chipping on the metal apron sides of the tabletop. However, the Formica is in good shape and it has a leaf. The best part about it is the size. It fits our space perfectly.

Repairing chairs and upholstery took a few days once I found some fabric that complimented the linen laminate top. I had to take apart the seats and backrests of all the chairs, buff the chrome, and reapply new vinyl fabric with a staple gun and decorative upholstery nails. I changed the look from solid yellow to a two-toned red and yellow. It was not so much that I wanted this color combo, but I was unable to secure enough yellow vinyl to cover everything. They also didn’t have enough red. But now that it is done, I do like how it turned out.

The Finished Table and Chairs

My daughter said it looks like catsup and mustard, but I am okay with that. The table fits and is sturdy. For now, that is all that matters. I plan to sell it later on if I ever do find the perfect table. If you have read this far and want to see it all finished, it can be seen in another post here.