New table top on existing table?



This is my current dining table. It was a freebie in perfect condition. Solid oak top and everything, but it was soooo dark and gloomy, so we sanded the top, painted and stained it, and sealed it. But big parts of the top had water marks and even spaghetti marks. Yes, spaghetti.....
I really want to remove the existing table top and replace it with something more farmhouse like. And NOT oval! This table can be extracted and inserted with an extension plate in the middle, but we almost never use it. Only when we have bigger dinner parties, like twice a year. Even though we are "only" a family of four, we would very much like to still be able to lengthen it when needed.
So I have narrowed my options down to these two:
1) replace the top with fully length lumber, and place insert tabs on the ends, by pulling out "holders" from underneath to place the tab on. This way, we never have to really "pull apart" the table any more to insert the middle tab.
2) Lay new lumber, but section it of at the middle, "framing" it (see picture) and leaving us with the alternative to use an insert plate on the middle.
What would be the option to most likely leave us with a good, or even great result? And what would look the best? (see pictures)
And if anyone have photos of similar projects , I would LOVE to se them!
Thank you! :)
(All "option" pictures are from the internet, and are not mine)






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Priscilla Crigger on Mar 29, 2016
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Barbara on Mar 29, 2016
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Emily on Mar 29, 2016
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Tone on Mar 30, 2016
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