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Home Decorating

Game Tables...Do you have one?

15 years ago

Reading estreya's topic about the game table she may purchase reminded me to do this topic.

Dh and I decided to get one for the living room. There's plenty of space in the back, and it will be used a great deal. He's a member of the Amer. Chess Federation, and I'll be doing my crafty things on it. But we don't want one with a chessboard built in, he uses the one he made.

So what constitutes a game table? I've looked at them online and they all look like dining room tables, or smaller tables with a built-in chess board.

Do any of you have one, and if so would you show it to me? I'm wondering if we should get just a smallish, square "plain" table, kitchenette size.

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Comments (6)

yborgal
15 years ago
This game table has been in our family since 1972. It has a formica top that looks like slate. Right now it's in our upstairs bomus room, but it previously was in our family room where it served as a game table, casual eating spot and craft table.
mary_lu_gw
15 years ago
We don't have one, but have been looking for one. The older, antique tables that were often called game tables (like the one estreya is looking at) were a smaller table. The top was hinged and folded down in half when not in use. It was unfolded/opened when used to play games. We have the perfect spot for one in our bay window and keep looking at auctions for just the right one.
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Aha! Okay, here's how I'd do it, if bringing a TV into the dining room doesn't work: First, set up the TV room for the purpose. Perhaps that means moving the coffee table out of the way. Put a spare tray table, if you have one, next to where you'll be seated but out of the way. You can put things like S&P, condiments, pitchers, and maybe even a serving dish there. Things that don't fit on the tray you're eating from. Next, bring in proper eating height and firmness chairs. It's two of you, right? If there are youngsters involved, they can sit wherever, but it'll feel better for you, I think, if you have a proper chair to sit in, rather than the sofa. Just a couple of card chairs in front of the sofa could work. Consider what the best mode of transport may be. It might not be carrying TV trays from the kitchen. Maybe you can "set the table" in the TV room on the trays, but use a serving tray that you feel secure with for carrying the plates of food. Also, consider some game day decorations to make the dinner space feel intentional, rather than like indoor tailgating on a blustery day, where everything is a bother. Lastly, you mentioned paper plates. I'm assuming it's because china seems wrong on a TV tray. When we were kids escaping the adult conversations, we had regular kitchen dishes on our TV trays, with placemats, napkins, and glasses. That might not work well in your home, or it feels precarious. If so, why not treat yourself to some openstock Corelle? Or go kitsch and get some melamine football plates to cute things up? Whatever you'll feel comfortable with under the circumstances. Or, if you need it to be "real" and "pretty", you could get a couple of Polish Pottery C.A. stoneware plates, which I think are at least as durable as Corelle. I'm thinking that if you can make the eat with the TV situation comfortable, it won't matter what you decide to make for dinner. :)
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igloochic
15 years ago
I'll have to check out the other thread. I have one for sale. I really do like it though. It was a perfect table for our sofa (high arms and it was exactly the same height). But it folded in half when not used in that position. I used to have it next to a window and just unfolded it for crafts.

Dang you're sort of talking me into keeping it LOL
estreya
15 years ago
Oakleyok, i don't know very much about game tables (even though i now have one), but my gut feeling is that your craft needs are going to necessitate something much more substantial than what an antique game table would provide. If you got really fortunate and found one that was meaty enough for your use, you'd probably pay through the nostrils for it.

I think your instinct is spot on about looking for a "kitchen nook" type table that strikes you. You'll have a lot more style options, it will likely be more affordable, and you'll get more functionality from it. Plus, lots of small kitchen tables for sale on CL in may different styles (including antique) if CL shopping is your cup of tea.

Just my two cents ... :)
Oakley
Original Author
15 years ago
e, so glad you bought the table! We'll probably look at the smaller ones, and I'd prefer a table that folds also. Dang, we used to have an antique table like that which belonged to my dh grandmother, but we didn't have the room for it and gave it to his brother. I wonder if they'd give it back? lol.

My craft right now is pressed flowers, so it doesn't take up a lot of space. And I like jigsaw puzzles, so it would be nice to have one that did open up!
estreya
15 years ago
Oh, i love pressed flowers! Back when the earth was still cooling, i made a flower press for myself (actually, hubby and i made it together) from an old telephone book, two thin pieces of wood, and huge metal C-clamps. I'm sure if i looked, i'd still find many flowers and ferns in there.

The crafting of pressed flowers is delicate enough to probably work on a game table. I don't know why, but i was imaging something more rigorous with lots of cutting and banging. :) I hope you find a table that's just as esthetically appealing as your husband's heirloom, and you'll make your own history with it. :)

PS: Is his brother very attached to the table do you know? Maybe it's just viewed as a space filler, and they wouldn't mind parting with it.

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