At Artabelle Furniture, we love creating bespoke furniture that combines timeless design with sustainable craftsmanship. One of our recent commissions involved transforming an old mango wood bookcase into a beautiful round dining table with striking X-frame legs, giving new life to timber that might otherwise have gone to waste.
Our customer approached us with a unique request: to create an elegant round dining table using timber salvaged from an existing bookshelf. The original bookcase was made from solid mango wood, and after careful calculations, we determined that there was just enough material to create a tabletop measuring 104 cm in diameter. Additional timber was sourced to craft the distinctive crossed legs.
This project perfectly demonstrates how reclaimed wood furniture can combine sustainability, quality craftsmanship and timeless style.
Transforming a mango wood bookcase into a custom dining table
After carefully dismantling the bookcase, each board was thicknessed to achieve a consistent finish. Tongue-and-groove joints were then created to ensure a strong and durable tabletop. Once the boards had been glued together, a custom trammel bar was used to cut a perfectly round shape.
Because the boards were a little thin, we built up the thickness of the circumference by building a decagon consisting of ten blocks mitered at 72 degrees on each edge. We then trimmed the edging flush to the circumference.
Handcrafted X-frame dining table legs
One of the most interesting aspects of this bespoke dining table was the design of the base. Our customer wanted four legs intersecting at their centres, forming two elegant X-frames. Achieving both stability and visual balance required careful planning.
Our master furniture maker began by producing a full-size template to calculate the correct angles and dimensions. Using this pattern, he cut and shaped the four legs before assembling them into two X-shaped frames using traditional cross-halving joints. The finished base provides exceptional strength while giving the table its distinctive contemporary character.
Finishing the solid wood dining table
Once construction was complete, the entire table was carefully sanded and prepared for finishing. Four coats of satin lacquer were applied to protect the timber and enhance the rich natural grain of the mango wood.
The result is a stunning handmade dining table that blends modern design with traditional craftsmanship. Installed in the customer’s home, the finished piece looked perfectly at home and demonstrated how reclaimed timber can be transformed into elegant bespoke furniture built to last for generations.
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