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Collection Review
One Collection, Endless Rooms: The Multi-Functional Appeal of Sunny Designs Malibu
What every Sunny Designs Malibu piece costs, where else it works in an open floor plan, and who should skip it.
Executive Summary
The Malibu collection by Sunny Designs is crafted from oak and oak veneers and sits in Furniture Fair's Better tier of quality. Individual pieces range from $151.99 for the drink table to $1,618.99 for the bar cabinet, with the 5-piece dining set priced at $1,347.99. It is an ideal fit for open-concept floor plans that need coordinated multi-room style, but households needing an expandable dining table with leaves or water-washable upholstery should look elsewhere due to its fixed 76-inch tabletop and Code S fabric seats.
Below: every piece's price and size, what a full room costs, four things to know before you buy, and Ryan Storts' take from our Cold Spring store.
Why Does Single-Purpose Furniture Fight You in an Open Floor Plan?
Many newer homes in our area feature open floor plans. Walls between kitchens, dining spaces, and family rooms have largely disappeared, replaced by expansive, connected living zones.
A formal dining table that can only ever sit in a dedicated dining room, or a credenza that looks out of place outside a dining space, limits how you use your home. When you host a large gathering, rearrange for the holidays, or move into a new layout with different dimensions, rigid pieces fight you every step of the way.
The Sunny Designs Malibu collection takes a more adaptable path. Built with clean silhouettes, warm neutral finishes, and balanced proportions, each piece easily shifts roles as your household routines evolve.
What Is Malibu Made Of? Oak and Oak Veneers
The Malibu 4-door dining server highlights the collection's weathered oak grain and chevron veneer craftsmanship.
The Malibu collection is built with a mix of oak and oak veneers in a weathered finish. Using oak veneers provides the rich, authentic grain character of real hardwood while helping prevent the surface warping that solid planks can experience through changing seasons. For buyers, that means everyday durability, natural warmth, and dependable stability without custom hardwood prices.
The "Better" Quality Tier Rating
At Furniture Fair, we grade furniture across Good, Better, and Best tiers. Malibu sits squarely in our Better tier: crafted with oak and stable oak veneers in a weathered brown finish, delivering dependable everyday construction and eye-catching design without custom-order price premiums.
Every Malibu Piece: Price, Size, and Where Else It Works
Each card gives the current price, the size, and one other room where the piece works.
A substantial 76-inch rectangular surface framed by broad panel-style trestle legs. The weathered brown finish reveals natural oak grain textures.
Dimensions: W76" x D36" x H30"
Seating: 4 to 6 people comfortably
Base Style: Grounded panel legs
Cleaning Code: S (Solvent-based)
Primary Room Role
Central dining table for everyday meals or family gatherings with coordinating side chairs.
Alternative Room Role
Spacious executive desk in a home office or library. The 36-inch depth easily holds dual monitors and project materials with zero corner leg interference.
A 72-inch tall cabinet with locking double doors, integrated LED interior lighting, dedicated wine storage, shelving, and two felt-lined accessory drawers.
Dimensions: W38" x D22" x H72"
Special Features: LED lighting & key lock
Internal Storage: Wine storage & 2 felt drawers
Material: Oak & Oak Veneers
Primary Room Role
Entertaining hub in dining rooms or living spaces, keeping glassware, bottles, and barware organized.
Alternative Room Role
A coffee station in the kitchen, or a lockable supply cabinet in a home office.
Two tables that tuck neatly together or separate instantly to double your usable surface space when entertaining guests.
Dimensions: W21" x D18" x H21"
Configuration: 2-Piece Nesting Set
Finish: Weathered Brown Two-Tone
Weight: 49 lbs (set of 2)
Primary Room Role
Living room side tables beside a sectional or sofa, keeping remotes, beverages, and reading lamps close at hand.
Alternative Room Role
Tiered bedroom nightstands or split plant stands in a bright sunroom, providing flexible multi-level display without crowding narrow floor plans.
A compact 36-inch storage unit with slim black decorative hardware and concealed interior storage. Available in warm brown or dark contrasting door fronts.
Dimensions: W36" x D16" x H34"
Door Finish: Brown or Dark Gray Fronts
Hardware: Slim decorative handles
Weight: 190 lbs item weight
Primary Room Role
Accent chest for entryways or living room corners, concealing games, shoes, media accessories, or seasonal home decor.
Alternative Room Role & Value Comparison
A bedroom chest, or accent storage in living areas. Sizing and value note: pairing two accent cabinets side by side gives you 72 inches of storage for $1,077.98, while the single 4-door Malibu Server provides 76 inches of storage with adjustable shelves for $988.99.
A 60-inch console featuring a curved profile and a lower open display shelf for books, baskets, and decorative accents.
Dimensions: W60" x D14" x H30"
Silhouette: Softly curved ends
Display: Open bottom storage shelf
Depth: Slim 14-inch footprint
Primary Room Role
Positioned behind a floating sofa in an open-concept living room to ground the seating area and display lamps and family photos.
Alternative Room Role
A streamlined hallway drop zone for keys and mail, or a shallow office wall credenza positioned underneath a wall-mounted display screen.
An 18-inch circular ottoman with a removable top revealing concealed interior storage, wrapped in a rich two-tone weathered finish and tailored upholstery.
Dimensions: W18" x D18" x H18"
Function: Removable lid with storage
Weight: 26 lbs
Material: Oak & Oak Veneers
Primary Room Role
Living room footrest and hidden storage for cozy knit throws, board games, or electronic gaming gear beside an accent chair.
Alternative Room Role
Pair two or three together in the center of the living room as a soft modular cocktail table, or use as vanity seating in a walk-in primary closet.
A 48-inch bench wrapped in black textured polyester fabric with softly rounded upholstered ends and oak wood framing accents along the base.
Dimensions: W48" x D18" x H24"
Style: Sculptural curved silhouette
Frame: Oak and oak veneer accents
Upholstery: Black textured polyester fabric
Primary Room Role
Foyer and entryway bench, providing a spot to put on shoes.
Alternative Room Role
Foot-of-the-bed bench in a primary bedroom suite for extra pillows, or an accent seat in a hallway or home office.
A broad 76-inch storage credenza with four cabinet doors, slim black decorative handles, and flexible interior storage for dining or living room essentials.
Dimensions: W76" x D16" x H34"
Doors: Four door cabinet
Interior Storage: Adjustable shelves
Weight: 190 lbs item weight
Primary Room Role
Dining room buffet for serving dishes, table linens, and entertaining platters during family meals and holiday gatherings.
Alternative Room Role
Low-profile living room media credenza beneath a wall-mounted TV, or an expansive hallway storage console in an open floor plan.
A contemporary dining chair featuring soft gray fabric upholstery over a cushioned seat and gently curved back, supported by splayed back legs in a weathered oak finish.
Dimensions: W18" x D20.5" x H34"
Upholstery: Gray fabric cover
Profile: Curved back with splayed legs
Cleaning Code: S (Solvent-based)
Primary Room Role
Everyday dining seating around the Malibu table, with a cushioned gray fabric seat and a curved back.
Alternative Room Role
Pull-up accent chair for a bedroom vanity or home office desk when you need an attractive, supportive seat that tucks neatly away.
Other Coordinating Pieces in the Collection
Looking for other coordinating pieces in the collection? Malibu also includes the compact Malibu Drink Table ($151.99), designed with a small footprint to hold a beverage or book beside any sofa or accent chair.
What Does a Malibu Room Actually Cost?
When furnishing an open floor plan, looking at individual price tags only tells half the story. The 5-piece dining set includes the 76-inch dining table plus four upholstered side chairs. Because the table comfortably seats six, extra chairs are sold separately. Below are two realistic room packages showing the complete investment for a dining room and an open-concept living zone.
Package A: Complete 6-Seat Dining Room
$2,748.96
- 5-Piece Dining Set: $1,347.99 (table plus 4 side chairs)
- 2 Additional Side Chairs: $411.98 ($205.99 each, sold separately)
- Malibu 4-Door Server: $988.99
Gives you a fully furnished six-seat dining arrangement with 76 inches of concealed buffet storage.
Package B: Open-Concept Living Zone
$1,256.97
- Malibu Sofa Table (Console): $628.99
- Nesting End Tables (Set of 2): $358.99
- Round Storage Ottoman: $268.99
Creates a coordinated living room perimeter with display shelving, tiered side tables, and concealed storage.
Delivery & Professional Assembly Considerations
The Malibu dining table and dining set require assembly upon arrival. With Preferred Delivery ($189.99), you choose the day, get a 2-hour window by text and email the night before, and the furniture is opened and inspected ahead of time and assembled in your home. Curbside delivery ($59.99) arrives wrapped or in factory packaging. Learn more about delivery scheduling and options on our delivery options explained page. Every Malibu product page lists a limited warranty, so ask your salesperson for the coverage details before you buy.
From the Showroom Floor: Room Planning Advice
When decorating an open floor plan, coordinating finishes and balancing furniture scale can quickly become tricky. We asked veteran Furniture Fair store manager and room planning consultant Ryan Storts how he approaches multi-functional collections.
When someone walks into our Cold Spring showroom with an open floor plan, the most common trap is buying furniture that only knows how to do one job. If you move in two years or just want to rearrange for Thanksgiving dinner, rigid furniture fights you. What I really appreciate about Malibu is the scale and versatility. You can take that dining table and make it a killer home office desk, or park the bar cabinet in a kitchen nook as an espresso pantry, and it never looks like an afterthought. It just fits naturally into how families actually live today.
Ryan's measuring tip: Before you buy the table, tape out 76 by 36 inches on your floor and pull a chair out on each long side. If you can still walk behind the chairs, it fits.
What Should You Know Before Buying Malibu?
No collection fits every household, and understanding practical tradeoffs before purchasing helps you make the right call. Here are four honest considerations to keep in mind:
1. Oak Veneers Cannot Be Sanded Down Like Solid Hardwood
The collection uses oak and oak veneers to provide stability and resist seasonal warping. However, if a deep gouge or heavy dent penetrates the veneer layer, it cannot be sanded down and refinished the way thick solid lumber can. We recommend using placemats, coasters, and felt pads on decorative accents to protect the surface finish over time.
2. The Dining Table Is Fixed at 76 Inches with No Leaf
While the 76-inch table seats six people comfortably, it has a fixed top without extension leaves. If your family regularly hosts eight, ten, or twelve guests for Thanksgiving or holiday dinners, 76 inches will feel tight. Read our dining table size guide for sizing guidelines, or explore Mavin custom dining for solid wood tables you can order with a 12-inch leaf, an 18-inch leaf, or two 12-inch leaves.
3. Cleaning Code S Fabric Rules Out Water-Based Spot-Cleaners
The upholstered seats on the side chairs, accent bench, and ottoman carry Cleaning Code S. That means you must use water-free solvent cleaners rather than standard water-based foam soaps or carpet sprays. In busy households with toddlers or spill-prone everyday eaters, spot-cleaning fabric requires a little more care than wipe-clean wood or performance leather.
4. The Bar Cabinet Is 72 Inches Tall and Must Be Anchored to the Wall
At 6 feet tall, the Malibu bar cabinet is a vertical storage piece with substantial upper doors. Tall freestanding furniture should always be anchored to wall studs to protect young children and pets from accidental tip-overs. Furniture Fair provides free anti-tip safety restraint kits at every showroom location through our Anchor It program, aligned with safety recommendations from the Consumer Product Safety Commission at AnchorIt.gov.
Who Should Buy Malibu, and Who Should Skip It?
No single furniture collection is right for every home. Here is our direct evaluation of who will love Malibu and who should explore alternative options in our showrooms.
Malibu Is an Ideal Fit If
- You have an open-concept living and dining layout and want finishes to flow seamlessly without clashing.
- You appreciate warm, modern transitional style with clean lines and organic wood grain textures.
- You want comfortable, tailored fabric upholstery on dining chairs and accent seating that complements modern, neutral spaces.
- You value multi-functional furniture that can be moved or repurposed as your family needs change over time.
- You want reliable hardwood construction in the affordable "Better" quality tier.
You Should Likely Skip Malibu If
- You need an expandable dining table with extension leaves to seat 8, 10, or 12 people for holidays. The Malibu table has a fixed 76-inch surface.
- Your home aesthetic leans heavily toward formal traditional styling, ornate carvings, or high-gloss mahogany finishes.
- You prefer all-wood dining seating or leather upholstery instead of soft fabric-cushioned chairs and benches.
- You are furnishing an extremely small studio apartment where a 76-inch table or 60-inch sofa console overwhelms floor space.
Malibu Collection Specifications & Pricing at a Glance
| Piece | Current Price | Dimensions | Primary Material | Key Multi-Functional Role | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dining Table | $628.99 | 76"W x 36"D x 30"H | Oak & Oak Veneers | Executive Desk / Workstation | - |
| Bar Cabinet | $1,618.99 | 38"W x 22"D x 72"H | Oak & Oak Veneers / LED | Kitchen Pantry / Office Storage | - |
| Nesting Tables | $358.99 | 21"W x 18"D x 21"H | Two-Tone Oak & Oak Veneers | Bedside Nightstands / Accent Pair | 49 lbs |
| Accent Cabinet | $538.99 | 36"W x 16"D x 34"H | Oak & Oak Veneers / Metal Hardware | Linens Chest / Credenza Pair | 190 lbs |
| Sofa Console | $628.99 | 60"W x 14"D x 30"H | Curved Oak & Oak Veneer Profile | Entryway Drop Zone / Office Credenza | 100 lbs |
| Storage Ottoman | $268.99 | 18"W x 18"D x 18"H | Oak & Oak Veneers / Concealed Box | Cocktail Cluster / Vanity Stool | 26 lbs |
| Accent Bench | $538.99 | 48"W x 18"D x 24"H | Textured Polyester & Oak Frame | Bed Footboard / Entryway Seating | - |
| Dining Server | $988.99 | 76"W x 16"D x 34"H | Oak & Oak Veneers / 4 Doors | Dining Buffet / Media Credenza | 190 lbs |
| Side Chair | $205.99 | 18"W x 20.5"D x 34"H | Oak & Gray Fabric Upholstery | Dining Seating / Desk Chair | - |
Care & Maintenance: Everyday Upkeep Guide
Proper care keeps your furniture looking its best for years. The upholstered pieces in the Malibu collection, including the side chair seats, accent bench, and storage ottoman, carry an industry Cleaning Code S rating.
Caring for Code S Fabric Upholstery
Cleaning Code S applies specifically to upholstery fabrics. It means you should clean fabric surfaces with pure solvent-based cleaning agents (mild water-free dry-cleaning fluids or professional upholstery solvents). When spills occur on the dining chair seats, accent bench, or ottoman, immediately blot with a clean, dry white cloth. Never rub or scrub the fabric, and always test any solvent cleaner on a hidden area first.
Caring for Oak and Oak Veneer Wood Surfaces
For everyday wood care across tables, cabinets, and consoles, simply dust regularly with a clean, soft dry cloth along the grain. For light soil or sticky fingerprints, use a barely damp cloth followed immediately by a dry towel to wipe up any residual moisture. Avoid harsh abrasives, bleach, or silicone-based furniture waxes that can dull the weathered finish.
The Verdict: Is Sunny Designs Malibu Worth It?
You came here wondering whether one collection could cover your dining area and living space without looking matched-up or locking you in.
Today, the Sunny Designs Malibu collection reflects how open floor plans actually function. By combining a weathered mix of oak and oak veneers with tailored upholstery, these pieces bridge dining areas, living zones, and entryways with coordinated, multi-functional ease.
Looking ahead, as your living space evolves, these versatile pieces continue to adapt to new layouts rather than forcing you to replace furniture whenever you rearrange or move.
Choose Malibu if: You want coordinated, multi-functional oak furniture in an accessible Better quality tier that easily transitions between dining and living spaces.
Look elsewhere if: You need an expandable dining table for large holiday gatherings (see our Mavin custom dining guide for expandable table options) or require water-washable upholstery for high-spill areas.