When no dining table on the market had the right scale, Robyn designed a sixteen-foot table with a sculptural antique gold base and built the entire room around it.
In Robyn's Words
Every project has a story, and this one began with family.
When my clients purchased this home in Melville, the dining room immediately caught their attention. It was one of the main reasons they chose the house. With a large extended family, they wanted a home where everyone could gather comfortably for holidays, birthdays, and Sunday dinners. They envisioned a room that would become the heart of the home, filled with laughter, conversation, and memories for years to come.
Their request was simple. They wanted the largest dining table that could comfortably fit the space.
At first, I began searching through my manufacturers. I looked at countless dining tables, hoping to find one that had the right proportions and the right presence. While there were many beautiful options, none of them felt right for this room. Some were too short. Others lacked the scale the space deserved. I knew that if we settled for something that was simply “close enough,” the room would never reach its full potential.
So instead of compromising, I decided to design the table myself.
Creating custom furniture is something I truly enjoy. Throughout my career, I have designed custom ottomans, sofas, mantels, cabinetry, built-ins, and many other pieces for clients. Every home is different, and sometimes the perfect piece simply doesn’t exist until you create it. That is one of the things I love most about interior design. It allows me to solve problems creatively while giving my clients something completely unique.
For this home, the dining table would become the centerpiece of the entire design.
The finished table measures an impressive sixteen feet long, making it large enough to accommodate the family’s gatherings while remaining perfectly scaled to the room. Every detail was thoughtfully considered, but the real showpiece is the custom base. Rather than choosing a traditional pedestal or simple legs, I designed a sculptural base finished in a warm antique gold. It adds movement, reflects light beautifully, and creates an elegant contrast against the dark tabletop.
The antique gold finish also ties into the custom console positioned along the back wall, allowing the furniture to feel connected instead of competing for attention.
One of my favorite moments during this project was seeing the custom base delivered and installed before the tabletop arrived. Standing alone in the room, it almost looked like a piece of modern sculpture. Without the top in place, you could truly appreciate the craftsmanship and the scale of the design. It was exciting to finally see months of planning come to life, and it confirmed that the proportions were exactly right. Even before the table was complete, we knew it was going to become the focal point of the room.
Once the table design was finalized, we shifted our attention to the rest of the space. I always believe that a room should tell one complete story. Every finish should support the next, and every detail should feel intentional.
We selected textured wallpaper to bring warmth and dimension to the walls without overpowering the room. A generously sized area rug was chosen to anchor the sixteen-foot table while softening the dark wood floors. Above the table, the dramatic chandelier adds another layer of interest and helps balance the scale of the furniture below.
The dining chairs were another important design decision. Rather than selecting something that simply matched, I carefully coordinated the upholstery with the tones in the table and surrounding furnishings. Those subtle relationships between color and texture are what make a room feel polished. Most people may not immediately recognize why a space feels so cohesive, but those thoughtful details are what create that feeling.
People often ask me why custom furniture is worth the investment. Projects like this are the perfect answer. Custom design isn’t just about creating something that no one else has. It’s about designing specifically for the way a family lives. This table wasn’t created simply because it would look beautiful. It was created because it solved a problem that no standard piece could solve.
It allows this family to gather together comfortably around one table without sacrificing style or proportion. That is something you simply cannot achieve by forcing a standard-sized piece into an extraordinary space.
As the project came together, the transformation was remarkable. The once-empty dining room became warm, inviting, and sophisticated. The wallpaper added texture. The lighting created drama. The custom furniture gave the room personality. Every layer worked together to create a space that feels elegant without feeling formal.
Most importantly, it feels lived in.
That is always my goal. Beautiful interiors are important, but they should also support the people who live there. A home should never feel like a showroom. It should feel welcoming, comfortable, and designed around everyday life.
Today, this dining room is exactly what my clients dreamed of when they first walked into the house. It is where holidays will be celebrated, birthdays will be toasted, and generations of family members will gather around one table. Knowing that this room will be filled with so many meaningful moments makes the project even more rewarding.
Looking back, this is one of those projects that reminds me why I love what I do. Designing a custom sixteen-foot dining table was certainly exciting, but creating a space that brings people together is what makes the work truly meaningful.
When you walk into this room today, I hope your first thought is exactly what mine was when everything was finally in place.
Wow.
This project was completed as part of Robyn's dining room design work work for homeowners in Melville, NY.
After searching countless manufacturer options, nothing had the right proportions or presence for the room. Rather than settle for close enough, Robyn designed the sixteen-foot table herself so the family could gather around one table without sacrificing style or scale.
Instead of a traditional pedestal or simple legs, the base is a sculptural design finished in warm antique gold. Delivered and installed before the tabletop arrived, it stood alone in the room like a piece of modern sculpture.
Textured wallpaper, a generously sized area rug, a dramatic chandelier, and chairs upholstered to coordinate with the table's tones all support one complete story, so every finish feels intentional and cohesive.
About the Author
Founder & Principal Designer•Interiors by Just Design
Robyn is the visionary behind Interiors by Just Design, bringing decades of experience and an impeccable eye for detail to every project. Her signature approach centers on casual elegance, timeless, classic pieces layered with texture, light, and the natural materials that define refined coastal living across Long Island and the Hamptons.
25+ Years Experience · 150+ Manufacturer Partners · Full-Service Design Firm