Dining Tables

Chocolatelovinggran

I shall eat my Christmas lunch at my daughter's house at an Ercol table on Ercol chairs inherited from my son in law's grandparents. Interestingly, the chairs are much smaller and lighter than modern ones.

If the chairs are the same as ours they’re probably Elm and Beech, lighter woods than oak.

I shall eat my Christmas lunch at my daughter's house at an Ercol table on Ercol chairs inherited from my son in law's grandparents. Interestingly, the chairs are much smaller and lighter than modern ones.

I have an oblong table that seats 3 at each side. We can squeeze one at each end if necessary using two kitchen chairs.
We found putting felt pads on the chair legs makes them slide easily into place (on a laminate floor).
We also put felt pads on the bed legs and it slides easily for cleaning.

Some years ago we inherited an Ercol dining suite, table, 8 chairs, buffet, sideboard, trolley, that has been in the family since new in the 1960s. It seats 10 and like for others it holds many memories of family gatherings, especially at Christmas.

These small teflon glides are fixed on our Dining Room chair legs, work well.

We had a G plan with centre leaf as urmistongran describes, but DH bought a 17th century table with centre rectangle and two large semi- oval sides which can fold down.
I think the swivel cushion is worth a try, OP

When we moved to this house, almost 30 years ago, we brought our G plan dining table, chairs and sideboard, (bought as a wedding present by DH’s parents) with us. It was lost in a much bigger, room, so after a couple of years, while, we decided to buy a new set and a local charity came and took it away. I’m aghast to see they are now for sale, second hand, at far more than was paid for it in ‘72!
It was replaced by an oblong Cherrywood table with six chairs and a large wall unit and we were told that it was better to leave the middle leaf in place, so the table top would age evenly.
However, if, and when I ever decide to downsize, this will be one item, I won’t be taking with me.

With formal dining a thing of the past for us now, we have a large farmhouse table in the dining area of the kitchen which sits on two pedestals and seats eight comfortably as knees don’t touch the pedestals.

The two ends pull out to reveal a butterfly fold centre

Mine does that too (different make), to seat 8.
I do like yours, very neat.

Mine's littered with Christmas cards at the moment, no photo sorry 😀

Urmstongran

This is my wonderful dining table. G Plan, bought in 1974 and used every day since. The two ends pull out to reveal a butterfly fold centre thereby seating an extra two people. At a squish we’ve sat 8 at it over the years.

When I look back I’ve had my dad sat at it, my in laws, dear aunts and friends - all no longer with us. I couldn’t swap it now. It’s my memories table.

As an aside, when my dear mum was struggling with her mobility, at any table we were at, we used to get mum to just pull out a chair and sit down, no shuffling - and we used to gently slide the table towards her. It was only a couple of inches. Always worked fine, do it gently and slowly, even in a restaurant!

Oh, I love that set and its so nice you have such lovely memories as well.

This is my wonderful dining table. G Plan, bought in 1974 and used every day since. The two ends pull out to reveal a butterfly fold centre thereby seating an extra two people. At a squish we’ve sat 8 at it over the years.

When I look back I’ve had my dad sat at it, my in laws, dear aunts and friends - all no longer with us. I couldn’t swap it now. It’s my memories table.

As an aside, when my dear mum was struggling with her mobility, at any table we were at, we used to get mum to just pull out a chair and sit down, no shuffling - and we used to gently slide the table towards her. It was only a couple of inches. Always worked fine, do it gently and slowly, even in a restaurant!

bikergran

How about trying those little slider things you can put under each chair leg, you can buy various sizes, they are like teflon coated (buy the good ones not the cheap ones) I put them under our heavy dining chairs as my late dh couldn't pull his chair out, but with these on they were great, even when you were sat on them.Maybe a quickfix solution for now) srewfix sell them and various other places.

I didn't know about those, thank you will look for some.

We have felt pads on the legs of the kitchen table and chairs but they need changing frequently.

I was going to suggest the slides feet for the chairs. What flooring do you have?

Wheat about an office chair? You could unscrew the armrests if they are in the way. You can adjust the height and if you keep the casters well oiled (or graphite if they are plastic or carbon) and push it about quite easily.

Thanks everyone,
bikergran, Ive tried the slider things, but I cant seem to slide!! (A diet me-thinks).
Nanagem, I will give this suggestion a try, might just solve the problem.

How about trying those little slider things you can put under each chair leg, you can buy various sizes, they are like teflon coated (buy the good ones not the cheap ones) I put them under our heavy dining chairs as my late dh couldn't pull his chair out, but with these on they were great, even when you were sat on them.Maybe a quickfix solution for now) srewfix sell them and various other places.

I have a drop leaf antique oval table but have light-weight modern chairs.
I like mixing old and new furniture.

Yep, wonderful oval drop leaf for me too. Had it sixty years now and both of us are still going (I think!)

Round tables occupy far more space than rectangular ones. I have a rectangular one which has 1 removable section. I have kept that section in the garage, as I hardly have the whole family together here. I usually take them out for a meal, which is so much easier.

Lathyrus

I have an oval one that was my mothers.

It seats two on each side and then two more on the curve at either end. It also opens up in the middle to extend so that two people can sit in the centre on each side, making eight in total if necessary.

Plus the oval shape means there are no corners to bump yourself on.

It is the perfect table😬

I have the same one😆well, not the exact same one otherwise it would be yours.
Oval tables are the best.

Try getting one of these it’s been a godsend www.amazon.co.uk/Hardcastle-Rotating-Swivel-Cushion-Mobility/dp/B00LLHNP8U/ref=asc_df_B00LLHNP8U/?hvlocphy=1006984&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&psc=1&hvnetw=g&hvadid=309858036128&hvpone&hvlocint&hvpos&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt&tag=gransnetforum-21&hvtargid=pla-716329789427&hvrand=1644390451383407527

The four legs come just before the curve starts at either end, so nobody ever has to sit on a leg.

I didn’t realise till now how much I love this table🥰

I have an oval one that was my mothers.

It seats two on each side and then two more on the curve at either end. It also opens up in the middle to extend so that two people can sit in the centre on each side, making eight in total if necessary.

Plus the oval shape means there are no corners to bump yourself on.

It is the perfect table😬

I have had a round table and it was surprisingly easy to sit a good number of people round it because it had a leg in the centre so there were no table legs to negotiate with the chairs. the downside was that if anyone leant on it too hard it would tip up.

We have very solid, heavy oak chairs and I find them difficult to manoeuvre into position once seated on them. I don’t think that it would be an improvement with a round table. Could you try that out sitting at a display table in a shop?

Mine's rather old, oblong, extendable but it is on pedestals so no-one has a leg in the way.

Can you return it? You might find one secondhand on Gumtree or Ebay.