Most Eichholtz dining tables feature a wooden top, and almost all of them are veneered. This may sound like a compromise, but for these table lengths, it is quite the opposite. This page explains why, what distinguishes the individual veneer patterns, and how to recognise a good top before you order it.
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Veneer or solid wood: the honest answer
Solid wood is a living material. It absorbs and releases moisture, expanding in summer and contracting in winter, by up to one percent across the grain. For a table top measuring 300 centimetres in length and 115 centimetres in width, this means over a centimetre of movement in width. This is why furniture manufacturers have not built large table tops from a single piece for centuries: either they divide them into narrow, glued lamellae with alternating grain direction, or they apply a veneer to a dimensionally stable substrate.
A veneer is real wood, thinly peeled or sliced from the trunk. The difference from solid wood is not in its appearance, but in the underlying support structure. And this has an advantage that solid wood cannot offer: because all sheets come from the same section of the trunk, the grain pattern runs continuously across the entire top, often mirrored in the centre. A solid top made of glued lamellae can never achieve this.
The veneer patterns in our assortment
- Oak, straight-grained: calm, parallel pattern. The most understated option, compatible with any chair.
- Open-pore oak: the pores remain visible and tactile, giving the surface a matte, textile-like rather than lacquered appearance.
- Crown veneer: the cut meets the trunk in such a way that a crown-like pattern emerges in the centre. On a long table top, this is the true design statement.
- Burr veneer: from the rootstock, wildly grained and assembled in small panels. This is the most elaborate pattern and the one that tolerates the least other elements next to it.
- Walnut and ash: warmer or lighter than oak, otherwise equivalent.
The colour tones range from natural and washed to mocha and brown, anthracite, ebony-look, and through-dyed black. For the darker finishes, the pore structure remains visible, distinguishing them from a lacquered surface.
Dining Table Americana300 x 110 cm
Dining Table Atelier L300 x 115 cm
Dining Table Glenmont300 x 120 cm
Dining Table Harmonie L300 x 116 cm
Dining Table Melchior 300 cm300 x 115 cm
Dining Table Remington 300 cm300 x 115 cm
Dining Table Rubicon L300 x 115 cm
Extendable Dining Table Atelier L280 x 100 cm
How to recognize a good tabletop
Three things you can check in fifteen seconds. First, the edge: With clean work, the veneer pattern continues over the edge or is framed by a visible solid wood strip. Second, the joint mirror: With mirrored veneers, the annual rings must meet exactly at the central joint. Third, the surface in grazing light: Position yourself so that the window shines flat over the panel. Waves, glue bleed-throughs and sanding marks can only be seen this way.
Wood in everyday life: what is normal and what is not
An oiled or matt lacquered wooden panel will show signs of use, and with this material, this is not a defect but rather its principle. What you can do: Use coasters for hot pots, do not leave wet glasses on the surface, and quickly wipe up spilled liquids. What you should not do: Drag microfiber dry over the surface, as this will polish it unevenly. Keep the room humidity above 40 percent in winter, otherwise even veneered panels will crack at the solid wood edges. Underfloor heating directly under the table is the most common reason for dryness damage. For detailed care >> Care page.
Wood versus stone
Wood is warm, light enough to move, and forgiving of everyday use, though it will show marks. Stone is cool, heavy, immovable, and flawless, until it is no longer. If you are torn between the two, the room usually decides: In an old building with floorboards and many textiles, wood is more harmonious; in a bright new building with screed and glass surfaces, stone is more suitable >> Marble dining table.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a veneered panel less valuable than solid wood?
No, for long lengths, it is the more durable solution. Solid panels react to room climate and can warp over three meters, while a veneer on a stable substrate remains straight and displays a continuous grain pattern.
Can a veneered table top be sanded?
Only very carefully, as the veneer layer is thin. Small scratches can be filled with oil or wax; for larger damages, a veneer specialist is the right choice, not a belt sander.
Which wood color suits bright rooms?
Washed and natural oak maintains brightness, while dark finishes position the table as a counterweight. In small bright rooms, a dark panel can quickly appear like a hole; in large rooms, it acts as an anchor.
Personal advice
We advise you personally and online. Send us your room dimensions or a photo at info@casa-luxury.de and we will put together a suitable selection for you.
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Further in the guide: Eichholtz Dining Tables · Marble Dining Table · Oval Dining Table · Quality and Materials · Care