Re: Dining Room Table Size
From: Diane Simpson (cohoworld.std.com)
Date: Sun, 3 Dec 2000 20:50:56 -0700 (MST)
Here are a few letters from my "Kitchen Eqipment" archives. Plus my own
observation from assisting my elderly father that old people need to have
chairs with arms on them that come all the way out to the edge. In order to
sit down they need to reach behind them, put their hands on the arms of the
chairs and then gently let themselves down.

--Diane(:^]

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Date: Mon, 20 May 1996 23:27:28 -0700
From: Joani Blank <jeblank [at] hooked.net>
To: cohousing-l [at] mtn.org
Subject: Common Kitchen Furnishings
Message-ID: <199605210725.AAA13006 [at] mom.hooked.net>


Coupla' hints about CH furnishings.

>snip<

3. Consider dining room tables with pedestals if you can afford them.
Depending on the shape of table, legs near the edge can contribute to
inflexiblility in relation to the number of people who can comfortably sit
at each table. Your funky first furniture will teach you a lot.

Joani


Date: Thu, 24 Jul 1997 00:24:37 -0700
From: Joani Blank <jeblank [at] ic.org>
To: cohousing-l [at] freedom.mtn.org
Subject: Re:  common house furniture
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970724002102.006ead58 [at] pop.dnai.com>

Hi there Tierra Nueva,

1. It is more important to get folding chairs, IMHO, than folding tables.
Stacking chairs are actually much better--usually sturdier and more
attractive. (If kids or others stand on folding chairs they have a tendency
to collapse) Folding tables--where the top itself folds--are almost always
flimsy. The ones with non bending tops and folding legs, are usually
pressboard and are very heavy, but I guess if you get smaller ones......

2.  I recommend starting with the odds and ends of everyone who moves in
for both chairs and tables.You'll probably have plenty. Live with it for a
while to see what size tables work best in what arrangements for your
group. After six months or a year living there, you will have a really good
idea of what you want.  Then you can buy attractive matching stuff.

3. Tables which seat 6 cozily and can be expanded to 8 seem to be the very
best size.

4.  If your tables have leaves, be sure that the legs are placed so that
you have maximum flexibility in chair placement. Our tables here at Doyle
Street have enough table top to seat 10 easily, but because the leaves are
small and the legs are at the corners, the only numbers that really work
are 4, six and eight. and no one can sit at the ends unless the leaves are
out and then those on the ends are far from the people on the sides.
Pedestal tables are the best IMHO, but they tend to be expensive unless you
get them at a restaurant supply house, then they are sometimes quite ugly.
Restaurant supply places do often have quite attractive  stuff as well, and
sometimes you can even find a whole bunch of matching attractive used
tables--maybe even chairs--from a restaurant that is going out of business.
 The dealers often know about these even if they are visible on the
showroom floor.

5. You didn't ask, but since it pertains to the dining room, do whatever
you can to quiet-en your dining room. You may fantasize that your common
dining area will be like a pleasant restaurant, but it is really different
when a) there are proportionately more kids around, and b) everyone knows
everyone else quite well.

Joani Blank

Date: Wed, 25 Feb 1998 13:52:09 -0700
From: Deborah Behrens <debbeh [at] auto-trol.com>
To: "'cohousing list'" <cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org>
Subject: RE: design of kitchen area
Message-ID: <087D1A676F70D111B6CA00401C60F36E01D5FB [at] 
stonehenge-1.auto-trol.com>

>snip<
Tables, chairs - mismatched is ok to start with, even if it looks funky.
When replacing with new, replace the chairs first - table cloths will
cover a multitude of sins on the tables.  Stackable/foldable tables and
chairs are great, otherwise you end up with tables and chairs lining the
sides of the room when you want the center clear.  You may need to go
with more than one style of chair to suit everyone's comfort level.  OK
to get some non stackable, but make sure the majority are stackable or
foldable.  A storage closet big enough for some table/chair storage, on
the same floor as the dining room would be handy too.


                         ~___~
                         (0 0)
 +--------------------ooO-(_)-Ooo---------------------+
 | Debbie Behrens               debbeh [at] auto-trol.com  |
 | Highline Crossing Cohousing     H: (303) 797-7779  |
 | 1611 W Canal Ct                 W: (303) 252-2215  |
 | Littleton CO 80120              Fx:(303) 252-2249  |
 |       Rocky Mountain Cohousing Association         |
 +----------------------------------------------------+


>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Date: Sun, 03 Dec 2000 17:20:25 -0700
>From: Becky Schaller <bschaller [at] theriver.com>
>To: Multiple recipients of list <cohousing-l [at] freedom2.mtn.org>
>Subject: Dining Room Table Size
>Message-ID: <B6503158.1386%bschaller [at] theriver.com>
>
>
>I just searched the archives to find the best size for dining room table. I
>saw 3'- 5' mentioned. Someone else said 2 1/2 feet is the best width.  What
>size have people found to be the best size of table for dining and
>conversation? We're looking at 3' x 6' because that's what people remember
>as our architect's  recommendation.   We're planning on buying tables soon.
>
>Becky Schaller
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>End of COHOUSING-L Digest 563
>*****************************


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   @@@@       Diane Simpson  http://jpcohousing.org        @@@@
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