So, I have been offered the chance to buy this amazing French marble-topped bakers table (expensive, but reasonable for what it is) from a friend of a friend. It is the kind of piece I have always dreamed of and written about.
Melding brass and steel, gold and silver, with its classic scrolling base and a white Carrera marble top, it is divine, much like the one I have always adored…
…in Suzanne Rheinstein‘s kitchen…
…and more recently at Charles Spada‘s Normandy Chateau.
Unfortunately, I believe that it is perhaps too large, too grand and too fancy for my humble cottage, although I am tempted to buy it anyway and keep it in the basement – it would be great for folding laundry, don’t you think? – for a future home “someday.”
In the meantime, I have been out looking for a similar style table, something with an iron base and a marble top. I saw this little cutie (much less expensive) down in Point Pleasant made from a vintage sewing machine base with an oval top added. You know what a junkie I am when it comes to repurposing!
The side view shows the nice detail on the base. Unfortunately, I think it is too small and the oval top too rounded to be very useful. You’ll see what I mean in the very next photo.
Searching online I discovered the perfect piece, with a classic French metal base and an oval top that is more like a long rectangle with curved ends, much more practical for serving and display. Unfortunately, it sold at auction somewhere in Atlanta back in March.
Just to torture myself some more, here it is in an outside view – I just love the simplicity of it.
It reminds me of a piece I spotted in a photo from Tone on Tone, Loi Thai’s gorgeous Bethesda, MD antiques store, which I have never actually visited in person, only drooled over on-line. Loi has recently started writing a great blog too, featuring his pitch perfect interiors. While I am posting this photo for the bakers table, I’d happily take anything else from the shop!
Last weekend I bought this vintage school desk at a garage sale (very inexpensive). I just could not resist those amazing ironwork supports. I thought I might replace the desk with a marble top, only it is way too low to be a practical work table. I have been thinking about ways to build up height in the legs but they all seem ugly and cluttery! If you have a good idea – let me know!
I keep coming back to this inspiration photo from stylist Lucyina Moodie. Long oval table with iron base, a lamp and some display items. And note the simple sisal like runner – that is the final decision for my white painted stairs too!
Related Posts
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What’s Cooking? Peri Wolfman’s Kitchens Through the Years and That Marble-Topped Bakers Table
Image credits: 1-2, 5-6 & 10. me, 3. credit unknown, via Cote de Texas, 4. Weranda, photo credit: Andreas von Einsiedel, via Boxwood Terrace, 7-8. via Live Auctioneers, 9. via Tone on Tone, 11. Lucyina Moodie
No suggestions for how to raise it but the sides on the schooldesk are to die for. I swear I see a C & M monogram in there. What a fabulous find!
Maybe you could take off the wooden desk, flip the iron part over, using the old base as the supports for a marble top and highlighting the curved graceful legs. It would make for a lovely side table.
Hi Jacqueline,
How about using some old ironwork railing (rectangular simple shapes) that would fit with the base to create a raised and longer frame on top of which to put the marble ?
I guess it would be hard to find though.
Other option : remove all wood (including under the legs), distance the supports and create a shelf on top, add yet other ironwork supports (ironwork railing or other) on top of shelf to complement the movement and height of the others and place marble top.
Still, the challenge is in finding something that would fit.
Maybe you could raise the desk by adding metal industrial casters and a set of drawers under a marble top or add a butcher’s block to get it to a workable height. Vintage casters are really expensive(probably more than what you paid for the desk!) but new ones are fairly cheap and could easily be sprayed to match the base. The wooden crossbar would have to be replaced to accommodate a longer top or you could remove it completely and add wooden slats across the bottom to create a shelf. Just some ideas but maybe too different from the look you’re going for.
Hi there again,
A while back I was looking for Thonet chairs and I came across this online shop in Tokyo selling chairs, table bases, table tops etc. It just occurred to me that I’d seen table bases very similar to the ones in your photos on their site. The table bases come disassembled and I’m not sure about the quality because the prices are rather cheap. I’m sure you would prefer something authentic but anyway check them out. Their Thonet chairs seem quite nice.
http://www.idea-housewares.jp/table-leg/table-leg_02.html
Great link! And I really could get a marble top and build just the kind of piece I am looking for. Only irony of course, is that it is on the wrong country! Thanks Mary!!!
Thanks SO much for the shout out! I appreciate it 🙂 I had another table very similar to the one with the oval top you love….that also sold. They are not difficult to find…..keep looking. I do love your wooden school desk…it is charming the way it is! Thanks, again 🙂
Cheers,
Loi
I am stil looking! Dying to visit your store….one of these days!
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BTW, do you have another blog on blogspot? I visited that about a week ago…..no activities there….thought you had deleted everything. So glad to find you again. I had visited this blog previously…..
Loi
I don’t have another blog, although I have an email address for You Tube videos I post on my blog. I think your blog has me logged in there automatically for comments. When I commented today on your new bathroom post I realized that was happening and corrected it to WordPress. Cheers!
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Got it…..I’ve book marked your blog site! L