It's nice to shake it up once in while, right? Well, ok, the reason it's Top 6 Saturday and not the usual Top 5 Friday is because I was hanging out with Rod and Nat of Marriage Under Construction yesterday...for like 3 hours!! Alicia, Video Dude Earl and I showed up at their half-way-completed house in west Toronto, intending to be all professional and stuff. But within minutes, the five of us were joking around and hanging out on that huge couch they found in Episode 3. On top of it all, Rod and I quickly realized we knew each other way back when God was a child, and had us a good ol' time going down memory lane! Small world... We did manage to get a great interview and a walk-through of their house, so look for that over the next few weeks. (Check out Alicia's Tweets of yesterday's hangout for a sneak peek!)
But that's not why you're here. I like to use these Top 5/6 posts to serve up a little inspiration, and on today's menu we've got small space dining ideas. Having surfed my heart out for smart examples, I can tell you that not having the space doesn't meant you can't have style, comfort and even drama...
The Round Table
Left; Apartment Therapy, right; IKEA's Docksta table
A round table is definitely the winner when outfitting a small dining space. No angles means more flexibility, allowing you to place chairs however you wish. The photo on the left shows just how small you can go, but overwhelmingly, the round table of choice seems to be a version of Eero Saarinen's '50s icon. If you don't have the $2,000, IKEA kindly interprets it for you for around $300. I've sung the praises of this table before, and still feel the love -- It's the perfect little soldier.
The Custom Pull-Out
Left; House and Home via Apartment Therapy, right; Channel4
I'm not sure how realistic the example to the right is -- those drawer seats need to be pretty sturdy -- but I do love the idea. The photo on the left however is certainly worth considering. The solid piece of wood pulls out from beneath the top of the console, which in fact can be a unit you take with you. So it's a good option for renters.
The Kitchen Island Extend
Left; kitchenideas.com.au, photo by Robin Utracik, right; the LongIsland Cooking table via Trendir.
A girlfriend of mine has a pretty compact home with an open-concept first floor doing triple duty: kitchen, living and dining room. The room is basically a long rectangle with the kitchen occupying the back wall, just like in the photo above, but smaller. She has an island just like that, except the dining extension is not glass, but a beautiful piece of reclaimed wood. It looks awesome. Not only that, all the food can stay on the kitchen island, and the narrow 'table' can be solely for place settings. What if you're in a condo or even a rental? Then splurge on this: the LongIsland Cooking Table. It's a sleek stove, cooking station and dining table in one! The butcher block insert slides to either side, so you can turn it into a long table once you no longer need the cooking space. (Manufactured by Alno Kitchens, whose website seems to have gone off line. Look to your local luxury kitchen retailer for availability.)
Banquette Comfort
Left; CountryLiving.com, right; Patricia Gray Inc.
Besides being stylish, the banquette is repeatedly cited as the space saver of the century. If the digs are yours, then you can build in a comfy nook in a chosen corner, as in the photo on the left (note the round table). But if you're in a rental, then consider the design by Patricia Gray ( above right.) Here, a movable banquette does double duty as a sofa, and the -- surprise! -- Docksta table and two chairs can easily swing up against the window, and out of the way. A very practical and budget friendly idea.
When Two Become One
Left; House and Home
This really depends on the right side table. But if your style is such that would allow for your couch to be flanked by two tall side tables -- they would need to be over 30 inches to work -- then you can make them do double duty. Here, two Barbara Barry side tables come together to form a compact little table, between a bench and two occasional chairs. Re-jig, and you've got a living room again. Barbara Barry is $$$, but you can improvise with a simple folding table such as the one on the right -- these types of tables tend to be taller than most.
Old Dog, New Tricks
Ivy Design via dvice.com
It's a table that folds up flush with the wall, the legs fold down, and -- tada! -- it's a picture frame. Choose any photo/poster you like and slide it into the frame, which ends up on the underside of the table surface when it's down. I don't know why wherever I've seen it featured, people hate on it so much... It's just an old idea made kinda cute and clever. I give it the tumbs up!
Have your own small space dining solution? Share please!
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