The top is the part of a dining table you see, touch and spill on every day, so it is the first decision to get right. Here is how the stones we work with differ, and how we help families choose between them.
Natural stone or sintered stone
Any table design we make can be fitted with a natural stone top: Italian marble, onyx or Pandora quartzite. Many of the tables in our photographs use sintered stone, a manufactured surface that copies the veining of marble. Both are good choices. They suit different homes.
Italian marble
Marble is the classic. No two slabs carry the same veining, so your table is one of a kind. It is also a softer, more porous stone: acidic spills such as lemon, tamarind or wine can dull a polished surface if they sit, and a marble top is happiest with a sealer and a quick wipe after meals.
Onyx
Onyx is the statement stone. Its banded, sometimes translucent patterns are the most dramatic of the group, and it is usually chosen for a table that is meant to be admired, in a dining room that is used for occasions more than for everyday meals. It is delicate, so it asks for the most care.
Pandora quartzite
Pandora quartzite gives you the flowing, veined look of marble in a harder natural stone. If you want the character of real stone and would rather worry a little less about marks, it is a strong middle path.
Sintered stone
Sintered stone is the practical option. It needs no sealing and it suits a table that children use for homework and every meal of the day. If a family dining table is the brief, we usually suggest it first, and we are glad to price a sintered top and a natural stone top side by side so you can compare.
How to choose
- Daily family table with children: sintered stone, or Pandora quartzite if you want real stone.
- A table for occasions and entertaining: onyx or Italian marble.
- You love the idea of natural veining and accept that a stone top shows its age: Italian marble.
- Not sure: ask to see physical samples of two or three stones in the studio, in the light of your own room if you can.
The base matters too
A heavy stone top needs a base that looks right and carries it well. We make the base to suit the top: sculpted timber, steel, or a metal-finish plate, drawn together with the stone so the proportions agree.
See the stones in person
Every table is made to order in our own factory, and the studio in Gachibowli is the place to see stone samples side by side. Book a design session and bring your room measurements, and we will draw the table for your space. Starting prices for our dining tables are in our price guide.