How to Make Rustic Large Country Kitchen Tables

A rustic-style kitchen table is the ideal addition to a country kitchen, or any kitchen where you want to evoke the warmth of pastoral living. For the best results, reclaimed lumber should be used at least for the table top to give that truly weathered and wizened feel. A rustic table is also more forgiving to make than a high-end table as basic joins and carpentry are acceptable, so even novice woodworkers can pull off an attractive and sturdy kitchen table.

Things You'll Need

1-by-12 lumber, 72 inches, 3 pieces
2-by-4 lumber, 26 inches, 2 planks
4-by-4 lumber, 30 inches, 4 planks
Wood glue
F-clamps

Drill
1/2-inch wood screws, 2
5-inch wood screws
Wood finish

Instructions

- 1
  Lay a plank of 72-inch, 1-by-12 lumber flat on a work surface and apply wood glue to one of the edges. Abut a second piece of 72-inch, 1-by-12 lumber along the glued edge and clamp the pieces together with an F-clamp, so that a 24-by-72-inch piece of lumber is formed.
- 2
  Leave the glue to dry before attaching a third piece of 72-inch, 1-by-12 lumber besides the first two, so that you end up with the table top measuring 36-by-72 inches. Choose a side for the top of the table top, and turn it face down so the underside is exposed.
- 3
  Lay two planks of 2-by-4 lumber across the underside of the table top, five inches in from either end and centered, so there are five inches over at each end of the 2-by-4 planks as well. The 2-by-4 planks should have a 4-inch face touching the underside of the table top.
- 4
  Drill two pilot holes sized for 2 1/2-inch wood screws five inches in from either end of both 2-by-4 planks, as well as two pilot holes in the center of the 2-by-4 planks. There will be six holes in total on each plank.
- 5
  Secure the 2-by-4 planks to the underside of the table top with 2 1/2-inch screws driven through the pilot holes.
- 6
  Clamp a piece of 30-inch, 4-by-4 lumber upright to the inside edge of the 2-by-4 planks, one on each end, so that the side of the 4-by-4 table legs are flush with the ends of the 2-by-4 planks attached to the underside of the table top.
- 7
  Drill two pilot holes sized for 5-inch wood screws through the table legs into the 2-by-4 lumber planks, so there are two holes through each leg. Secure the legs with 5-inch screws driven through the pilot holes.
- 8
  Drill a final pilot hole through the other side of the 2-by-4 planks into the legs, positioned between the two screws that attach the legs from the other side. Secure the legs from this side with a 5-inch screw driven through the pilot hole.
- 9
  Finish the table with the wood finish of your choice. To carry on the rustic theme, a wax or oil finish is ideal.

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