diff --git a/crudkit/core/base.py b/crudkit/core/base.py
index c66aaf3..2204778 100644
--- a/crudkit/core/base.py
+++ b/crudkit/core/base.py
@@ -11,26 +11,37 @@ class CRUDMixin:
 
     def as_dict(self, fields: list[str] | None = None):
         """
-        Serialize mapped columns. Honors projection if either:
-            - 'fields' is passed explicitly, or
-            -
+        Serialize the instance.
+            - If 'fields' (possibly dotted) is provided, emit exactly those keys.
+            - Else, if '__crudkit_projection__' is set on the instance, emit those keys.
+            - Else, fall back to all mapped columns on this class hierarchy.
+        Always includes 'id' when present unless explicitly excluded.
         """
-        allowed = None
+        if fields is None:
+            fields = getattr(self, "__crudkit_projection__", None)
+
         if fields:
-            allowed = set(fields)
-        else:
-            allowed = getattr(self, "__crudkit_root_fields__", None)
+            out = {}
+            if "id" not in fields and hasattr(self, "id"):
+                out["id"] = getattr(self, "id")
+            for f in fields:
+                cur = self
+                for part in f.split("."):
+                    if cur is None:
+                        break
+                    cur = getattr(cur, part, None)
+                out[f] = cur
+            return out
+
         result = {}
-        for cls in self.__class__.__mro__:
-            if not hasattr(cls, "__table__"):
-                continue
-            for column in cls.__table__.columns:
-                name = column.name
-                if allowed is not None and name not in allowed and name != "id":
-                    continue
-                result[name] = getattr(self, name)
+        for cls in self.__clas__.__mro__:
+            if hasattr(cls, "__table__"):
+                for column in cls.__table__.columns:
+                    name = column.name
+                    result[name] = getattr(self, name)
         return result
 
+
 class Version(Base):
     __tablename__ = "versions"
 
diff --git a/crudkit/core/service.py b/crudkit/core/service.py
index 39226d3..f84d276 100644
--- a/crudkit/core/service.py
+++ b/crudkit/core/service.py
@@ -81,8 +81,8 @@ class CRUDService(Generic[T]):
             for eager in spec.get_eager_loads(root_alias, fields_map=rel_field_names):
                 query = query.options(eager)
 
-            if root_fields or rel_field_names:
-                query = query.options(Load(root_alias).raiseload("*"))
+            # if root_fields or rel_field_names:
+            #     query = query.options(Load(root_alias).raiseload("*"))
 
             if filters:
                 query = query.filter(*filters)
@@ -98,26 +98,43 @@ class CRUDService(Generic[T]):
             # Only apply offset/limit when not None.
             if offset is not None and offset != 0:
                 query = query.offset(offset)
-            if limit is not None:
+            if limit is not None and limit > 0:
                 query = query.limit(limit)
 
-        # return query.all()
         rows = query.all()
 
-        try:
-            rf_names = [c.key for c in (root_fields or [])]
-        except NameError:
-            rf_names = []
-        if rf_names:
-            allow = set(rf_names)
-            if "id" not in allow and hasattr(self.model, "id"):
-                allow.add("id")
+        proj = []
+        if root_fields:
+            proj.extend(c.key for c in root_fields)
+        for path, names in (rel_field_names or {}).items():
+            prefix = ".".join(path)
+            for n in names:
+                proj.append(f"{prefix}.{n}")
+
+        if proj and "id" not in proj and hasattr(self.model, "id"):
+            proj.insert(0, "id")
+
+        if proj:
             for obj in rows:
                 try:
-                    setattr(obj, "__crudkit_root_fields__", allow)
+                    setattr(obj, "__crudkit_projection__", tuple(proj))
                 except Exception:
                     pass
 
+        # try:
+        #     rf_names = [c.key for c in (root_fields or [])]
+        # except NameError:
+        #     rf_names = []
+        # if rf_names:
+        #     allow = set(rf_names)
+        #     if "id" not in allow and hasattr(self.model, "id"):
+        #         allow.add("id")
+        #     for obj in rows:
+        #         try:
+        #             setattr(obj, "__crudkit_root_fields__", allow)
+        #         except Exception:
+        #             pass
+
         return rows
 
     def create(self, data: dict, actor=None) -> T:
diff --git a/crudkit/ui/fragments.py b/crudkit/ui/fragments.py
index d30e24b..cef0f3c 100644
--- a/crudkit/ui/fragments.py
+++ b/crudkit/ui/fragments.py
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
+import os
+
+from flask import current_app
 from jinja2 import Environment, FileSystemLoader, ChoiceLoader
 from sqlalchemy.orm import class_mapper, RelationshipProperty
-from flask import current_app
-import os
+from typing import List
 
 def get_env():
     app_loader = current_app.jinja_loader
@@ -32,10 +34,15 @@ def render_field(field, value):
         options=field.get('options', None)
     )
 
-def render_table(objects):
+def render_table(objects, headers: List[str] | None = None):
     env = get_env()
     template = get_crudkit_template(env, 'table.html')
-    return template.render(objects=objects)
+    if not objects:
+        return template.render(fields=[], rows=[])
+    proj = getattr(objects[0], "__crudkit_projection__", None)
+    rows = [obj.as_dict(proj) for obj in objects]
+    fields = list(rows[0].keys())
+    return template.render(fields=fields, rows=rows, headers=headers)
 
 def render_form(model_cls, values, session=None):
     env = get_env()
diff --git a/crudkit/ui/templates/table.html b/crudkit/ui/templates/table.html
index b4abd80..4005c0c 100644
--- a/crudkit/ui/templates/table.html
+++ b/crudkit/ui/templates/table.html
@@ -1,12 +1,20 @@
 <table>
-    {% if objects %}
+    {% if rows %}
+    <thead>
         <tr>
-            {% for field in objects[0].__table__.columns %}<th>{{ field.name }}</th>{% endfor %}
+            {% if headers %}
+                {% for header in headers %}<th>{{ header }}</th>{% endfor %}
+            {% else %}
+                {% for field in fields if field != "id" %}<th>{{ field }}</th>{% endfor %}
+            {% endif %}
         </tr>
-        {% for obj in objects %}
-            <tr>{% for field in obj.__table__.columns %}<td>{{ obj[field.name] }}</td>{% endfor %}</tr>
+    </thead>
+    <tbody>
+        {% for row in rows %}
+            <tr>{% for _, cell in row.items() if _ != "id" %}<td>{{ cell if cell else "-" }}</td>{% endfor %}</tr>
         {% endfor %}
-    {% else %}
-        <tr><th>No data.</th></tr>
-    {% endif %}
+        {% else %}
+            <tr><th>No data.</th></tr>
+        {% endif %}
+    </tbody>
 </table>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/inventory/routes/index.py b/inventory/routes/index.py
index d189140..fd02776 100644
--- a/inventory/routes/index.py
+++ b/inventory/routes/index.py
@@ -16,11 +16,23 @@ def init_index_routes(app):
     def index():
         session = get_session()
         work_log_service = CRUDService(WorkLog, session)
-        work_logs = work_log_service.list({"complete__ne": 1, "fields": ["start_time"]})
-        print(work_logs)
-        logs = render_table(work_logs)
+        work_logs = work_log_service.list({
+            "complete__ne": 1,
+            "fields": [
+                "start_time",
+                "contact.last_name",
+                "work_item.name"
+            ],
+            "limit": 10
+        })
+        headers = [
+            "Start Time",
+            "Contact Last Name",
+            "Work Item"
+        ]
+        logs = render_table(work_logs, headers)
 
-        return render_template("index.html", logs=logs)
+        return render_template("index.html", logs=logs, headers=headers)
 
     @bp_index.get("/LICENSE")
     def license():