what do you like in a chess table

The chairs are wrong as pfren pointed out, with the new placement of chairs, clocks will have a space on the table.

Which reminds me of the kicking barriers we've seen in tables used in pro-matches (even with Korchnoi and his good friend Petrosian).

Sometimes you get an opponent who really likes to stretch his legs into your territory.

You'd need a good-sized table to make such a barrier practical, I suppose. Also loses some elegance as furniture?

A few more inches on the short sides of that table might be good. Or, have the board be adjustable to allow the buyer to decide whether s/he wants elbow room or leg room/place to put items.

IM Pfren is right. It is the chairs that are misplaced. The space is needed to place the chess clocks.

I wouldnt buy the table in #28 due to not having borders on all 4 sides . 

I think you need chairs with armrests, so the players don't need to put their elbows on the table.  Also helpful is casters on the chairs so that they could be rolled back a little for a change in perception and posture.  Personally I like a chair  that you can adjust height (I like to be more elevated above the board then most people) and tilt forward.  I actually wouldn't put my knees under the table, but would tilt the chair forward with my feet under the chair and my elbows on the armrests when on move.  When not on move I would probably stretch my legs and lean back (which results in the chair rolling back not my opponent being kicked).  This is the way I play at the computer.  I have an office chair that breaths well another important requirement.

A two board table would be good for bughouse.

room for score sheet and room for clock is appreciated.
all tables appear to be good but are missing this.

maybe a cup holder like they have on poker tables.

the table could have a score sheet holder builtin in leather.

Well I did put a kicking barrier on my table (mainly because on my prototype the legs needed reinforcement the production model will have thicker legs)

Ill get some photos today if I get the drawer fronts done.  It is not yet stained though.

As per piece styles go stauntons are very nice but expensive to make from wood due to manhours.  I have actually debated making a 2d set that matches online play and a traditional style.

I'd like to see something like wooden 2d disks with laser-engraved piece design of the traditional kind. Weighted, felted, and the right size for standard boards.

Considering all the oddball sets being sold, there's a place for such a set in many players' shelves. I imagine it'd be pretty simple to manufacture as well.

all chairs in the pictures are not really good for playing chess. you have to sit 4 hours or more therefore if you want chair and table for chess.
I think you should consider 2 office chairs they are designed for comfort and sitting many hours.

Here are the pics (sorry for quality taken on my Android instead of wife's dslr)  the table needs sanding and finish.  Would love to know what you guys think and what stain colors would be best.  Thanks JB

Looks nice, even unfinished. Seems like it came together in a flash.

In production it will take about 3 days to make a batch of tables- the longest time being the chessboard.  But you save time by doing several at once.  Also better wood means less cleanup and cleaner cuts.  Cedar does not cut clean but it's all I have in house.

2d pieces is an interesting idea and I'd love to have such a set, but you are going to study kids there, so I believe classic pieces fits better. Made of any wood, even plastic, but common standard shape.

Well I need to figure a way to make the pieces affordable- cause 32 handmade pieces can get expensive quick.  My wife is thinking of casting them in pewter while Im looking at turning them on my lathe.  I could also make ceramic ones pretty easy.

But the 2d ones would be economical to make.  Here in the southern US we are having hard economic times and so I have to figure out how make these affordable.

Well, let me explain my point. Viewangle of 1st and 8th rank differs that makes flat pieces not so comfortable to use; they lay on the table, so you see opponent's pieces upside down; flat piece is something with a symbol of piece on it, instead of piece itself. Imagine there are hieroglyphs on them instead of pictures. Children ain't familiar with both so there is no difference. I mean, do not use flat pieces to teach kids until you totally have to. It is collection stuff not for everyday use. Ceramic handmade pieces sounds awesome, but there are kids, you know. I believe you need something unbreakable.

a drinks cabinet underneath or on the side ,small fridge for ice and shelf for glasses

No cnc's in my part of the state of Arkansas.  But my wife carves signs and uses routers to carve so she would love your idea!  (oh if happen to have a cnc laying around your not using we sure be grateful ;)  )

Likes a lot (and the partition will keep my opponent from playing footies with me:).