As the size of our living spaces decreases, dining rooms often no longer exist and dining tables don’t operate as just places to eat. They are now work and meeting places, desks, craft benches, homework spaces and small business production areas! We spoke to a couple of readers to recommend the best place to buy a dining table in Singapore.
8 Seater White Quartz Dining Set from Gallery 278
Recommended by Rowena Cleeton, Krishnan Narayanan, Harry, Ollie and Alex – British
As we were expecting our third child, we needed a bigger dining table. We were looking for something contemporary but also unique and bespoke.
After seeing a photo of a table from Gallery 278 (in Expat Living, as it happens!), we decided to pay the store a visit. We found the whole experience extremely impressive: it was like a treasure trove and the hospitality was very special. (They gave us homemade bread and iced tea before we even started talking about our dining table.) The process of planning the design of the table was seamless and we even got to see the workshop in which it would be made – lovely to see old-fashioned hand craftsmanship still alive and kicking in 2022.
Our purchase was a large eight seater oval-shaped white quartz table with a grey grain. We were looking for something that felt clean and fresh – hence the white – but with a distinctive character – hence the grain – with enough space for our frighteningly large family (!) and guests. They were able to customise the wooden legs so the colour fit with the wooden legs of the dining chairs we’d already bought – plus the grey grain matches the colour of the fabric of the chairs.
We’re delighted with every aspect of our experience with Gallery 278. The staff are highly knowledgeable, responsive and helpful, plus they are extremely friendly, and good with children. The shopping experience was both fun and productive. And it wasn’t just about the one trip to their studio and workshop: they kept us updated with photographs, and allowed us to continue to make little but important choices throughout the process. We would definitely buy from them again (and hope to get some homemade bread again next time)!
Gallery 278
203A Henderson Road (Wing A), #11-01 & 02
6737 2322 | gallery278.com
Solid Wood Dining Table from Island Living
Recommended by Jackson Walker – Australian
I love entertaining and I was looking to upgrade my previous, smaller dining table to one that would comfortably seat eight people. I was looking for a robust, solid wood table but in a dark stain so it wouldn’t compete with the existing timber and terracotta tones in the apartment.
Being relatively new to Singapore, I have relied on word of mouth and searching online for where to look for new furniture. Island living has been recommended on various occasions.
Island Living has a great online platform, but the physical showroom was what I needed to see to understand the quality of the pieces that I’d shortlisted before making my decision.
I purchased a Molly dining table in solid teak with a black stain. The table is contemporary and sleek in design with slightly rounded edges. Although it’s a very modern piece, there is a rustic vibe to it, which I love.
In addition to the dining table being exactly what I wanted; it was in stock and able to be delivered and assembled onsite by the Island Living delivery team within a week of purchase. Perfect!
I absolutely love the table and how it works in the space. We have recently had guests staying from overseas and hosted several dinners, and I’m enjoying setting the new table with my dinnerware; the black finish really shows off the items I’ve collected over the years.
We had a fantastic experience with Island Living and would absolutely purchase from them again.
Island Living
8 Kaki Bukit Ave 1, #06-04
8028 2571 | islandliving.sg
Suar wood dining table from Woody Antique House
Recommended by Travis and Jeanette Rogers, American
We moved to Singapore last September and wanted to find a local piece that would be large enough for our family of five plus guests. We were looking for something that would provide a “wow factor” and be memorable for years to come.
We found Woody Antique House online when searching for local furniture stores. Their selection of inventory and reviews stood out to us. The staff were very welcoming from the moment we walked through the door – they’re knowledgeable about their stocked furniture and antique items and were able to sell us on our pieces without making us feel overly pressured. They also worked with us on pricing and provided a seamless delivery experience.
We ended up purchasing three items: a large suar wood live-edge dining table, a bar cabinet and a shoe cabinet. The table measures 210cm by 105cm and is made of a solid piece of suar wood from Indonesia. The chairs are on their way so we have replacement chairs at the moment.
We love our table. After looking at live-edge tables in several different shops around the island, this one was the perfect fit for us. It’s one piece of wood, and the live edge is just right with angles not so extreme that you can’t sit at the table and eat, but enough to be noticeable. The wood grain is gorgeous, and the overall design is so simple. We love the joinery at the base, which gives it an antique feel.
Woody Antique House
#01-05, 13 Dempsey Road
6471 1770 | woodyantique.com
This article first appeared in January’s edition of Expat Living Magazine. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe, so you never miss a copy!
