This isn't one of the sexiest design products you'll see on Apartment Therapy today but it could be one of the handiest, particularly as you make plans to entertain over the holidays.
Round Tabletop Extenders
Maybe your space is small enough that day to day you're limited to a small, cafe size table without leafs. Or maybe you don't even have a table set up on a daily basis, but you stow a card table for when you have to use a table. Adding a 54" tabletop extender allows you to squeeze in eight people at a table that typically fits four. Yes, it will be cozy snug for eight but you can do it! Perhaps more importantly to us, creating a round dining experience is so much more intimate than rectangular.
Tabletop extenders are typically available in 48" or 54" inch diameters and they fold in half for easy storage. Of course, you're going to want to cover the less than attractive vinyl top with a good looking tablecloth. Check out the tabletop extender pictured above from Grandin Road ($79.99 for 48", $99.99 for 54").
Other than the obvious tables with extendable sides or tables with leafs, have you created your own type of tabletop extender?
Comments (7)
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This is brilliant! It's so simple and obvious that I'm embarrassed not to have thought of it myself. It may be the solution I choose for my kitchen, which was the subject of a "good questions" post a few weeks ago: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/good-questions/options-for-storagefriendly-dining-tables-good-questions-098943
view romateamo's profile
this is really smart. thanks!
view carrefour_ny's profile
What happens if somebody leans on the edge?
view ladymantle's profile
simple and genius. really.
view photomonica's profile
My someday project: covering mine with veneer in a starburst or optical illusion pattern so that I don't have to disguise it with a tablecloth (mine has recessed hinges so it would be possible to recover it on the hinge-free side).
@ladymantle: I have one, got mine from Freecycle, it turns my 4 person round table into a table for 8. I have a very sturdy pedestal table, and it's fine with the larger top, people can lean their elbows on the edge of the extender and the only real problem would be if someone attempted to sit on it. My extender is cumbersome, quite heavy, it's virtually impossible for me to put on the table myself so I generally ask someone to help me the day before or shortly before dinner (so I can set the table properly before guests arrive).
AT: My big challenge, in a dining room where the table changes from 4 to 8, is that the table is situated in two different spots depending on how many people I seat (so what modern LIGHT FIXTURES are adjustable for this type of setting? without doing the hook in the ceiling and swagging a chandelier because I really dislike that look). Using this sort of dining arrangement means the center of the table can vary by as much as 2' in the dining room.
view Rucy's profile
When I needed to increase the size of my table I just bought a big square piece of heavy plywood and stapled felt over it. When I need it, it doubles the size of my small round table from 4 to a tight 8. Because it's so heavy it's very stable. When I'm not using it, it slides under my bed.
Cheap and easy peasy.
view elvedon's profile
Reminds me of going for Dim Sum ;-) awesome idea to have a table add-on that folds and so will fit into a closet.
view scarletdog's profile