What's hot: Rutherford dining table by Emerson et Cie
Date introduced: April 2011
Description: The Rutherford dining collection has a classic mid-century design that features tapered wood turnings and "simplified silhouettes." The table frame and legs are made of solid acacia, and the top is made with myrtle burl and walnut veneer accents. It is shown here in a two-tone, rub through finish and retails at $5,998.
Why it sells: Dealers like the clean, simple and transitional lines of the set, which makes it suitable for both formal and informal dining areas. The beige fabric on the chairs offers an additional layer of contrast when set against the two-tone finish of the table.

What's hot: 1679 dining table by Harden Furniture
Date introduced: October 2011
Description: The 1679 is part of the Cabinetmaker's Cherry collection. It is made with solid cherry and comes standard with the natural edge top shown with the bark removed. The dining table has a standard size of 80 inches wide by 44 inches deep, but can be custom ordered by the inch up to 12 feet wide. Retailing at $7,800, the table is shown with the 3415 arm chairs and the 3416 side chairs and the 1685 china. All are part of Cabinetmakers Cherry.
Why it sells: Gail Cave, a manager and buyer at Green Front Furniture in Farmville, Va., said she likes the table because of the look, the quality and the craftsmanship. "It has a very rich look to it no matter where you put it," she said. "And depending on the chairs you use, it can be more casual or more formal. The chair you put with it will predict the formality you have with that table." This, in turn, gives the item broader appeal and opens sales up to customers with both formal and informal dining areas in their homes.

What's hot: Omni dining table by Century
Date introduced: April 2000
Description: This soft contemporary table is made with solid maple and maple veneers in a checker pattern across the top. It is shown here in a brown, high gloss finish. It is 78 inches wide and 46 inches deep and comes with two 22-inch leaves. Table retails at $8,995.
Why it sells: Mike Forwood, of Austin, Texas-based Louis Shanks said his stores have carried the set for about two and a half years. He likes the clean lines of the table as well as the shape of the chair. "It has a nice shape and scoop to it, so it is nice to sit in," he said. Forwood also likes the ability Century offers to customize the set in multiple finish options and sizes. "That way the consumer can put their own stamp on it. They don't want what their next door neighbor has."

What's hot: Elba dining table by Councill
Date introduced: April 2010
Description: This double ped table features a radial matched crotch walnut field surrounding a center medallion of walnut burl, with double borders of zebrawood and walnut burl separated by ebony and holly inlays. The edge band and apron also are done in crotch walnut. The pedestal is a shaped, rounded column with hand-carved, stylized laurel leaves resting on a walnut veneered base supported by hand-carved paw feet. Gold or silver accents are standard on the laurel leaves and paw feet. The table retails at $21,450.
Why it sells: The veneer story on the surface of this piece is what has people talking about this table. "It's just a unique wood story with all the different veneer applications," said Carlton Mallory, Councill CEO. "It is very visually appealing. People buying luxury products aren't interested in buying just what someone else has."

What's hot: Oxford Classics by Henredon
Date introduced: October 2009
Description: Oxford Classics is an 18th century British-influenced collection made with Philippine mahogany solids and swirl and crotch mahogany veneers and satinwood and rosewood inlays. It is shown in a standard wood finish called Legacy, but also comes in multiple finish options available in the Henredon Custom Paint Finish program. The dining table retails at $12,500 and the china in the background retails at $22,935. Arm and side chairs shown retail at $1,349 and $1,200 respectively.
Why it sells: Joe Steele, III, vice president of Carolina Furniture of Williamsburg, Va., said the group is an updated version of a similar collection that had more formal design elements such as fretwork and more heavily carved accents. "Oxford Classics is generating business again.... They cleaned up the group and made it more relevant to today's consumer," Steele said, adding that the finish also has a warmer brown and less reddish tone than its predecessor. "It is not delicate and highly carved and it has nice veneer work. That is the key to appealing to a younger demographic."

What's hot: 260 round dining table by Henkel-Harris
Date introduced: October 2011
Description: This table is made with an eight-piece pie matched crotch okume veneer with an eight-inch center inlay of jewel box walnut burl. It also has a jewel box walnut border, a shaped walnut edge profile and a 12-piece conforming apron separated by pullout slides for leaves. Each of the six perimeter leaves is supported by two pullout slides. It extends to 84 inches round with the leaves. The base is a solid wood tapered column with reeded design elements and ring turnings at the base.
Why it sells: This photo shows a display at Pittsburgh retailer Artifacts. The table is shown with chairs bearing a silver leaf finish and green patent leather seating in a faux crocodile pattern. Michael Terral, vice president at Artifacts, put it simply: "I feel that Henkel-Harris is among the finest furniture being made in the U.S. today, and we like the direction of transitional styling this table has taken. I particularly like the selection of woods that Henkel- Harris uses. Where most companies go for the lowest priced wood they can find, Henkel-Harris goes for the most expensive wood they can find. I didn't have any reservation buying it for my store," he said, noting that the table retails at nearly $21,000.