Good Questions: Alternatives for a Dining/Working Table?

Sara sent us a good question from Seattle: We are dying to redecorate our apartment and need all the help we can get. We've rented it for almost 3 years and it is time from some improvement. My husband and I have a small one bedroom in Seattle (roughly 650 square feet I think). The main space is the living room and there is no dining or office areas. We currently have a bulky desk in the living room, but are looking for something that can serve as a desk and eating area...

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Ideally it would have storage so we could hide office clutter, but also work as a dining/table. We found the Bedford Project Table at Pottery Barn, but it is spendy and maybe too large. Does anyone know of any other possibilities for our fairly small living/dining/office area (roughly 14" by 13" though oddly shaped)?

Please share your ideas for a good table for a dining room that also functions as a workspace with Sara in the comments below...

Comments (10)

I take it you mean that your space is 14 ft by 13ft - not inches. Because in that case, I agree, the Pottery Barn thingy is much too big.

Also, I do kind of remember someone else asking a similar question regarding an alternative to the unit pictured. Might want to search the archives.

I had bookmarked the ikea hack to make a similar piece using kitchen cabinets. With a little revision it could have more leg access on the 4 sides.

http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/2008/10/spring-chicks-to-die-for-craft-room.html

Hi, this is Sara that posted the question. Thank you for all the comments. potluck you're right...it's definitely feet, not inches. :)

I do have a floor plan and will post when I get home tonight. Our living area is a PITA. We've got a bar (with no overhang, so stools don't really work), a corner fireplace, a balcony door, and a small part of the wall that comes into the living space (I think it houses plumbing/wires or a support beam).

I did see the post in AT LA about the Bedford table, but I am really looking for something that will work for eating and working and doesn't look like a desk.

Personally, I think that many tables work well as desks, so instead of looking for a desk-cum-dining table, I'd look for the opposite. Depending on your style, I'd go for something like Target's Satami table, which would look great as both.

Of course, if you really love the Bedford table (but not its price tag), you may want to consider Target's budget version.

Keep in mind that the "budget version" of the Bedford table Erin linked to is just the table top, not the whole piece.

Although the link for the budget version by Target is just to the tabletop- the idea is great! What about using two shelves and a flat surface and making your own? That would be very customizable to your needs and style!

I fell in love with this exact desk from PB but when I saw it in store it was much smaller than I had imagined. It also didn't lend itself to being a dining table for more than two people. I showed it to my dad and he was able to make a table that is an incredible solution! It looks just like this table but has a hidden leaf so it can be extended to seat 6 people comfortably. Because of the size of it and the fact that I'm a renter moving around every few years he made the 'legs' or bookcase-like ends so it could be used as standalone storage when the table top was removed. It's wonderful! Get creative, you can have just about anything made, just think out your needs very clearly.

I saw a table like the Pottery Barn version at Costco Home in Kirkland last week. Was thinking about it for my condo as well. I think it was actually quite a bit cheaper as well. Hope this helps!

How about creating one by putting 2 Ikea Akurum Base cabinets as the base and one of the Ikea Numerar Countertop as a countertop/working area.

1. Ikea Akurum Base Cabinet
- Dimension - 24" x 12"
- Price - $90 x 2 = $180

2. Countertop
- Dimension - 49" x 25"
- Price - $60

Total Cost approx. $250.