Entertaining at home has never been as popular as right now.  With all the cooking shows on television and the fabulous cook books now available, so many of us have now found our ‘inner-chefs’.  The dinner party has become the ‘au courant’ style of entertaining; sitting around the dining table sharing wonderful conversation, food, wine and laughter (more wine, more laughter!).  The party often starts in the kitchen but usually ends gathering around a table – the dining table.  Most homes have a dining room but so often the space must serve double or triple duty therefore the dining table is also a work desk, craft table, place to do homework or just a handy surface to place all stray belongings.  For small spaces a dining table is not always a possibility given square footage restrictions so a surface to dine and entertain at becomes a design challenge.  The kitchen island is now being designed with entertaining in mind.  Coffee tables that convert into dining tables are becoming popular.  A console table can be pulled into duty also.  Of course there is always the door removed from its hinges method – I have a client who has done this for years.  So I thought I would share with you my own dining table solution for small spaces.  My dining table, originally my parents’, is a mid-1950’s Duncan Phyfe style that was built by Drexel Furniture.  The table and matching buffet are both made of dark stained mahogany and have bow fronts.  It is a lovely table that blends well with my contemporary décor.  Mind you I would like to replace the chairs with something more modern i.e. Panton, Eames chairs.  But the best part about this table is the ‘secret’ small space design adaptability.  With 3 leaves my table seats up to eight people comfortably but with the removal of the leaves and the flip of the top, my table converts to a small desk.  Ingenious!  My ‘dinette’ table was the ‘high tech’ solution to small spaces during the 1950 and 1960’s.  An idea that is well worth copying.  

Dining Table extended to sit 6

Dining Table converted to Desk

 All images via Modmissy