THE IDEAL TABLE

Evening Star, Issue 22261, 12 February 1936, Page 14

THE IDEAL TABLE

FIRMNESS AND FANCY Tables may be dear to fancy or they may be something which always needs management and negotiation. The ideal table, both for working and ’for meals, is the kitchen table. While there seem to be social reasons against kitchen tables, there is no reason why their sterling qualities should not be embodied in a more socially distinguished wood. That is to say, their straightforwardness, their solidity, their habit of carrying easily all that is placed upon them, might be carried out more luxuriously and without the frills or eccentricities which adorn most of the tables one meets (states an English journal). The gate-legged table, for instance, is never really comfortable. It may be useful because it folds up, but many people have gatelegged tables which are never folded up. The sofa-table, if well set on its four feet, is elegant and has something of the advantages of a refectory table. If set on two groups of four feet it is, of course, more solid, though it may not be more beautiful. It takes up a minimum, of room, seats people easily, and is light to move.

Of the newer tables those that are low have great advantages in a drawing room. The newer tea tables are preferable to those flimsy Oriental affairs which fold up at the wrong moment. Similarly the fold-up table with immense flaps is to be avoided. Hardly ever is it really level. The best table to choose is one that will balance well first. This means that the legs must be proportionate to the top, as they are in a kitchen table. Generally a table is more comfortable if it projects a little beyond the legs, instead of being flush with them. A table should hold at least six people comfortably if it is to be used for meals. Refectory tables have many advantages of solidity and elegance combined, especially if they have a foot rail on either side. '