Just been perusing the Jayson Home Fall Flea Market full of to-die-for antiques and other items, when I spied this late 19th century marble-topped cast iron table from France…
Close-up
…And this Belgian one with a salvaged oak top.
Close-up
Now I have talked a lot about the perfect kitchen island for my tiny Victorian beach cottage here. And just a few weeks ago I waxed endlessly about my long-term dream island from Peri Wolfman’s house here. And we all know that whatever I choose will be antique, but all of a sudden, the particular charm of a cast iron table base has really caught my attention. It wasn’t just these offerings at Jayson Home either. I saw one, brought all the way from France, at the Oedo market that day out shopping with Peri. I loved it – it was sold of course – and I wasn’t dragging it back to the US anyway (imagine the carbon footprint on transport from France to Japan to the USA). But I think the idea has been germinating in the back of my mind for a while.
The more I think about it I realize the idea is not a new one for me. I looked at a similar one this summer in Asbury Park at the great cast iron and garden furniture store.
It had a great rusty patina (I can hear some of you chuckling at that idea) but I also might have considered painting it. It was actually too small and once again sold to boot, but I liked the idea then. It was also missing its marble top.
Side view
So I went off to check that magic market of all things – eBay – and came up with a few gorgeous, but wildly expensive options (the items at Jayson have pretty hefty price tags too), including this 1920s French marble-topped butchers table with bull head details.
Amazing, but too large and at over $8000, definitely not the answer. But liking this idea…What say you all???
Image credits: 1-4. Jayson Home, 5-9. me, 10-11. via sillyrabbits95428q90
Related Posts:
Ingenious Repurposing…Unusual Kitchen Islands and Printers Drawers
What’s Cooking? Peri Wolfman’s Kitchens Through the Years and That Marble-Topped Bakers Table
I love the concept….might mention I have a sister-in-law who used an old singer sewing machine base and added a wood or marble (?) top to use as a work surface in her old farmhouse kitchen.
While searching eBay I saw a lot of those bases – they are great – but too small I think. Love the idea for a farmhouse kitchen!
Love the idea, but there is no storage….. am sure you know that though!!
Sometimes there is space for a shelf below – I am hoping for something like that. But don’t think I am not struggling with the practicality issue….
Keep searching, it’s waiting somewhere in the world for you!
I know it is….but in the meantime, I can’t move forward with the kitchen. But maybe thinking about it all is more fun than having it all finished anyway.
That Jayson Home and Garden one….love! Is there enough room in your kitchen for an island? Why did I just ask that dumb question?