Have you noticed all the new, elongated dining tables with plenty of room for a crowd? Sometimes they’re called “gathering” or “refectory” tables, reminiscent of those used for monk’s dining halls in monasteries. In the Mediterranean regions of Europe, they adopted these for non-religious use in the 16th century, first in Italy then traveling to France and finally to Germany and Flanders.
Some create an industrial loft ambiance, like the Village Trestle table shown above, while some convey a Tuscan homage and are inspired by old, time-worn church or library furniture, like the Refectory table from Hooker Furniture, below.
