Interior designers know about planning in advance and especially for holiday entertaining. All right, I know it’s mid-September but I am still sending an alert. If you are the designated family member to  host this season, it’s time to consider all options and get started. Our sad economy isn’t a quick resource anymore. Deliveries are worse than ever due partly to the fact that factories have laid off employees and stopped stocking extra goods. As a result, lead times and delivery cycles are stretching out.

Yet, in these times a connection seems even more important.  We  look forward to eagerly welcoming family and friends  into our homes.  In today’s economy with many folks working from home, dining rooms serve a dual function as home offices too. There are practical considerations occuring in our dining rooms other than eating.

 Narrow tables such as the one shown in the photo are perfect for dual function. Pushed against a wall, this table offers generous work surface area during the week.  On a weekend or for a holiday, it serves another purpose entirely as a dining table. Think of a table less than 42 inches wide as an optimal size.