Looks like you have lots of ideas now for tabling ... and even have your husband working on it already. If you need more ideas, as to what to do with the under area of your new cabinet, take a look at the many previous threads of how other quilters personalized that area for storage that works. One of the best to me are those that have nails on the ends to hang their quilting rulers.

Being that you like to sit up to your table, when pinning, you might want to consider enough overhang, so that the chair (and you!) can sit up to it, without your knees/legs getting in the way!!!

For a chair, a stool can work fine or look at adjustable drafting chairs. I have one for my sewing machine, as I found that the upper limit of a regular desk chair, was still a bit low (ergonomics come into play again!). The drafting chair lowest is about the same as the highest of a regular desk chair .... and then you can go higher! When I need a chair at my cutting table, it works perfect.

I have a desk and placed a premade 4 ft counter top from Lowes on it for cutting. Since it has a rolled edge, it doesn't scoot around while in use (pushed against the edge of the desk and wall). The desk drawers are used for storage and knee area for additional storage container. If I change the color of the room, I can easily repaint the desk. I am in an apartment so it fits snugly into a living room corner without sticking out. My pegboard sits on top for upright storage as well.

Without reading the other posts, I have an old large buffet type folding table. I am short but using it for cutting still hurts my back. I've solved that problem by simply removing the rubber feet from it and using 6 inch lengths of pvc pipe to raise it. I've added endcaps to protect my carpet. This way I can have a standard height table if I want to use it with my sewing machines to give me more free-motion space or add the legs whenever I want it higher. Cheap remedy that works for me.

Shoot, forgot about that part when I told hubby my needs. I'd better update him.

Would not be hard to add casters on the bottom.

NJ Quilter,
My DH built me a wooden version of this Joann's table with rollers. I have it on carpet and it does not budge-sometimes even difficult to push it aside. The table at Joann's was unstable so a friend copied the dimensions and made one from wood for his daughter and we copied his dimensions. It has 2 lower shelves and it opens to be 36' x' 60 ". Big enough for one of those huge cutting mats!! It folds down to 16 inches and get shoved aside when company comes and sleeps in that room. DH made it high enough so that I don't have to bend for anything (I am 5ft 8 in tall). I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!!!!

Whew! better now that too late ... and once you tell him, I bet he will agree that it would be important to allow that extra overhang. However, it will make it a bit awkward for getting into the underneath storage, so you may want to consider that too.

My table is approx3.5ft wide by 5 feet long. It has 9 cubby holes on 4 sides underneath the top. I saw it on this board and had a friend to make it to the height of my kitchen island, I had casters put on the bottom so I could move it away so I can get to the quilting frame. Normal location is in the center of the room. I have two of the large cutting mats covers the whole top.

You might try looking at a Habitat for humanity store or some place that sells used building materials. I have a kitchen cabinet that has a larger piece of plywood on top and is covered so I can use it as an ironing station or a cutting station the shelves and drawers are great for added storage. The added plus is that it is on wheels so I can move it easily.
Best of all it is an old cabinet so all solid wood construction!

The one I have was purchased from Keepsake Quilting and is quite sturdy. No issues with it at all except I wish it was a bit lower but I manage ok.