The cross-leg base is the whole design, and it is a structural decision before it is an aesthetic one.

On a conventional four-leg table, the supports sit at the corners, which is exactly where the end seats and the outer side seats want to be. The Fairford's X-frames sit well inboard, so chairs pull in cleanly at every position around the table. On a 200cm table that is the difference between comfortably seating eight and seating six with two people apologising.

The X itself is a genuinely old form, used in refectory and trestle tables for centuries because it braces a long span without needing a heavy apron under the top. That is why you can see straight through the base, and why a two-metre table reads as light rather than solid.

Then the elm. A hardwood with a wandering, interlocking grain, denser than pine and warmer in character than oak, with far more variation from board to board. On a top this size the grain is the pattern, which is why the finish leaves it visible rather than covering it.

The waxed finish is applied to penetrate rather than coat, so it protects the timber while leaving the surface tactile rather than glassy. Wax also has the practical advantage of being repairable at home: a scuff can usually be waxed out with a soft cloth, where a damaged lacquer needs stripping and refinishing.

• Cross-leg base, so chairs pull in at every seat rather than straddling a corner leg
• Seats six to eight, with two comfortable places at the ends rather than token ones
• Solid elm, denser than pine and more characterful than oak
• Waxed finish that keeps the grain visible and can be refreshed at home
• Pale limewashed tone that lightens a room rather than weighing it down
• Chunky top with a chamfered edge, substantial without looking heavy
• You can see through the base, which keeps a two-metre table feeling light
• No apron underneath, so there is nothing catching your knees
• Genuinely unique grain, since no two pieces of elm are the same

Room size. Allow at least 60cm of clearance on all four sides for chairs, and ideally 90cm where people walk behind seated guests. That means a room of roughly 320cm by 220cm as a working minimum.

Chair height. At 78cm the table pairs correctly with a seat height of around 45cm to 50cm, which covers most of our dining chairs.

Benches. A cross-leg base takes a bench along either side without a corner leg in the way, which is worth knowing if you want to seat more in the same footprint.

The last row is the honest one. A cross-leg base has a low stretcher running between the two X-frames, which some people rest their feet on and others notice. It sits low and central, well clear of where anyone actually sits.

A cross-leg base gives you options a four-leg table does not. A bench along one side and chairs along the other reads as considered rather than matched, and it seats more people in the same run. Woven or rattan chairs suit pale elm particularly well.

Pale limewashed elm is cool-leaning, so it wants warm neutrals rather than more cool tones. Chalk, oatmeal, warm plaster and putty all work. Against a deep olive or charcoal wall it reads beautifully as a pale silhouette.

This is a pale table, so give it something darker somewhere. Dark glazed stoneware, an aged brass pendant or black-framed art on the wall. All-pale rooms flatten without one deeper note.

Hang a pendant so the base sits 75cm to 85cm above the tabletop. On a 200cm table, two smaller pendants spaced evenly usually beat one large one. Warm bulbs at 2400K to 2700K, as cool light drains limewashed timber completely.

A runner rather than a full cloth, so the grain stays visible. Washed linen napkins, a shallow bowl of foliage and a pair of candles. The timber is the styling.

Solid elm. A hardwood with a wandering, interlocking grain, which gives it both its distinctive appearance and a natural resistance to splitting. Denser than pine and more individual in character than oak, with warmer undertones and far more variation from board to board. Because it is solid timber rather than veneer, the grain continues through the piece and the top can be sanded and refinished decades from now.

Waxed limewashed finish. Applied to penetrate rather than coat, so the surface is smooth and tactile rather than glassy, and the pale tone lets the grain read clearly. Repairable at home with a clear furniture wax.

Cross-leg base with central stretcher. Two X-frames braced by a low stretcher, which is what carries a two-metre span without an apron under the top.

Chamfered top edge. The angled edge on a chunky top is what stops it looking like a slab. It catches light along the perimeter and softens the whole profile.

Grain, knots and tone vary from table to table because this is genuine solid timber. That variation is the material working as intended.

Everyday care. Dust along the grain with a soft dry cloth and wipe spills promptly rather than letting them sit. A waxed surface is more absorbent than a lacquered one, which is the trade for how it looks and feels.

Mats and coasters. Under anything hot or wet. On a pale limewashed top, a red wine ring or a hot pan mark shows more readily than it would on a dark finish. This is worth taking seriously.

Refresh with wax. A clear furniture wax once or twice a year nourishes the timber and keeps the finish even. Avoid silicone based polishes and all purpose sprays, which build up on wax and dull it over time.

Placement. Keep it clear of a radiator, since prolonged dry heat is harder on solid timber than anything else in a normal home, and out of prolonged direct sunlight, which will lighten one end unevenly if only that end sits in the sun.

What to expect. Elm moves slightly with the seasons and the finish continues to develop. Small marks accumulate. If you want a surface that stays exactly as it arrived, a solid waxed timber table is the wrong choice.

Your table is checked before it leaves us and packed with the care solid timber needs. Allow 10 to 14 days, travelling with our specialist furniture courier, who will call ahead to arrange a time that suits you. Full details on our delivery page.

At 200cm, measure your access route as well as your room. Doorways, hallway turns and stairwell corners all matter, and we would rather work it through with you beforehand. Reach us via our contact page or live chat.

If it is not right once it is in the room, our returns process is straightforward, and everything is covered by our guarantees and warranties.

0% interest-free finance is available at checkout, and our price match promise stands if you find the same piece for less elsewhere. Furnishing a restaurant or a holiday let? Ask about trade accounts.