Day 2: A Love Letter to Our Dining Room Table

Dear Dining Room Table,

I remember the day we bought you, all those years ago in Pottery Barn.

Your curvy legs, sleek top, and black distressed finish immediately drew us in. But what we loved most about you was that where every other dining room table was rectangular, you were square. You sat 8 comfortably closed, but then opened up with not one, but TWO inserts, to proudly sit 12 lucky dinner guests. 

You were so special that we forwent the regular old chairs that "matched" your style, and instead, went rogue with sueded, velvet chairs (from a competitive retailer, no less) because you were unique, and your chairs should be, too.

There's was nothing we loved more than to dress you up for parties and holidays. 

We soon learned that what we loved most about you – your square shape – was also your Achilles heel: it was nearly impossible to find table cloths that fit you perfectly. But being the improviser that I am, I improvised a solution: I discovered I could cover your 60-inch square frame with decorative shower curtains, whose 72"x72" sizing draped perfectly across your glossy top, with just enough material hanging down over the sides.

Voila! 

We celebrated many great years together, and when we moved, you transitioned beautifully, sliding right into an open-concept floor plan and your new home. You were ready, once again, to be the focal point at parties.

But then, our relationship changed.

We had a baby.

Soon, your beautiful, seasonal runners were replaced with tablecloths that were never removed.

Your artfully created centerpieces of candles, gourds and floral arrangements were pushed to the side, or moved off of you entirely.

Our Kate Spade China was replaced with Sophie the Giraffe.

Linen napkins were a distant memory as muslin burp cloths materialized.

Wine glasses were replaced with...well, who are we kidding? We didn't give up wine.

And as our little got older, the memories of the times we spent together faded even more. Until I never saw your naked glossy top again. You were constantly covered in stuffed animals, blocks and books.

Just a normal meal, with 25 cars staring at us.

Then our little toddler discovered Cars, and you were transformed from a table that once hosted dinner parties to a race track for cars, trucks and tractors of all sizes. As he would press the cars down and scoot them around your perimeter, I could almost hear them making grooves in your beautiful wood.

But this is your life now, and I hope you love it as much as we do.

Yes, that's a shower curtain-turned-tablecloth right there, folks.
And a Fall centerpiece hanging on by a thread.

And don't worry, I promise to clear you off every now and then, and restore you to all of your entertaining glory.

Love,
the kk's