Trestle Breakfast Table

• Detailed cut list and plans including a PDF and a SketchUp file (Metric and Imperial).
• Hours of detailed video instruction showing every step of the build.
• All videos and plans are digital and will be available for download upon purchase.

• Building a compact trestle table that comfortably seats six without taking over the room
• Balancing aesthetics, proportion, and everyday function in a real piece of furniture
• Using full-scale mockups to refine the shape, size, and details before committing to the final build
• Starting with slabs, including part selection, grain orientation, and visual layout
• Flattening slabs and preparing thick workpieces for milling and joinery
• Creating clean, nearly invisible glue seams in thick tabletop glue-ups
• Making and using curved templates for shaping the tabletop
• Safely template-routing thick workpieces
• Creating strong, large-scale mortise and tenon joinery for a sturdy trestle base
• Adding an elegant under bevel to lighten the look of a thick tabletop
• Using prefinishing to make assembly and finishing easier
• Applying a natural, low-yellowing finish to white oak

• Materials: 30bf of 10/4 or thicker hardwood for the base; 40bf of 9/4 or thicker hardwood for the top. Alternatively, the base can be built by gluing up stock and the top can be made from thinner stock adjusting the height of the base accordingly.
• Tools: Jointer, Planer, Bandsaw, Table saw, Router, Mortiser (or alternative), Random Orbit Sander, Spindle Sander (helpful but not required), Chisels, Power Planer (or hand plane), Domino (or biscuit joiner or router with a slot cutting bit)
• Bits: pattern and flush trim bits (minimum 1-1/4" cut length), 1/4" core box bit, dado stack

Build a compact, elegant breakfast table with a trestle base, curved tabletop, and refined white oak finish.

The Trestle Breakfast Table brings smart design to real-life spaces where every inch matters. Sized for a breakfast nook, kitchen dining area, or smaller dining room, this table keeps the footprint compact while still seating up to six people comfortably. The trestle base lets you pull up a chair from any side, giving you more usable seating without a maze of table legs in the way.

This project balances beauty and function, making it a satisfying build from start to finish. Gentle curves on all four sides give the tabletop a softer, more refined look than a standard rectangle. An elegant under bevel lightens the look of the top, so the table feels graceful while still remaining strong and practical.

Throughout the course, you’ll build the skills needed to create a sturdy, beautiful table that fits perfectly in a casual dining space. We’ll cover grain orientation and part selection, large mortise and tenon joinery, template routing for thick workpieces, curved template creation, tabletop shaping, under bevels, and finish choices that give white oak a clean, natural appearance.

Whether you need a table for a breakfast nook, a kitchen dining space, or simply want a smaller table with big design appeal, the Trestle Breakfast Table gives you a practical, approachable furniture project packed with refined details.