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I don't know too much about getting things custom made, but it seems like this would be the type of thing that would be worth it. You could have it made to the exact dimensions you wanted it, which would be awesome, and maybe they could build it in a similar style to the Ikea one so that you could fold it up and put it away when not in use. Again, it might be expensive but if you entertain so much and it'll get used over and over then it might be worth it in the long run!

I like the Ikea one shown at the Remodelista link.

Design Within Reach has a neat stainless table that folds down out of the way. I dont have dimensions but I think there is a store in Cambridge - no?

I don't have a great suggestion but even if you find a 24" wide table that would leave only 18" on each side for your diners to sit. This seems WAY too cozy for my taste - how would anyone get up from the table without disturbing everyone else? Custom made seems to be your only option or lining everyone up to look out over the railing. I too liked the Ikea on Remodelista. Good luck

I agree with Alice - 18" is a very tight squeeze. Even if you tried to use two round tables with four people at each (which might actually be fun), I don't think you can make it fit comfortably.

I'd recommend just using the porch for cocktails and doing your seated dinners inside.

If you're dead set on trying it, though, Target (and I'm sure others like them) sells 48"x24" collapsible banquet tables for $59.99: http://tinyurl.com/2xmden

Good luck, and congrats on your new home!

Kate, did you try calling Ikea to see if you could have them ship the table to you? Once several years ago I am pretty sure they sent me something in the mail--as I recall, ordering it was a weird process and the shipping fees were high, but it might be worth it if those tables are what you really want (and if your other option is getting something custom made and presumably pricey).

We have a kind of similar space problem inside our house--our table is usually against a wall in the kitchen area, and when we have people over we pull it out and it's a tight squeeze to get everyone in there--but you have to work with what you have, and nobody has ever refused to come over for dinner because they don't have enough space to scoot their chair back.

If I were you I'd get the skinny table and generally keep it pushed against the house or the banister (you could even eat that way with a smaller group), and pull it out only for bigger dinners.

Congratulations on your new place!

I would put a long narrow table against the railing, sit 2 at each sides and the rest 4 or 5 in the long part of the table. You would have more space to move around. And facing the neibourhood is nice!

That porch is for a clothesline and mops. That's why it's off the kitchen and long and skinny and has a view of the roof next door. helloat has it right: cocktails on the service porch and then dinner inside.

Thanks for all the ideas, guys! MrGreen, your comment cracked me up because I said the exact same thing ("This was meant for a clothesline") when I saw it. Still, we'd love to eat outside, and the view is slightly less grim now that two huge trees that were out of the photo are covered in leaves, so I will keep looking for skinny tables. And I'll call IKEA's 800 number, that's a good idea.

I think 4 people at that 44" x 25" Ikea table will be very tight.