Expert: Eileen Cronk - 7/29/2007

Question
QUESTION: I have a beautiful french farm table which I used for many years with some small Windsor chairs.  As my family has grown, the windor chairs are no longer suitable since we are not so petit any longer.  However, finding any chair short enough to fit under the table and still have thigh room is almost impossible.  Is there any way I can have the height of the table increased 6 inches, so I can use some other chairs I have from my formal dining room?  We are down-sizing and I am getting rid of my formal dining room table.  Thank you.  I live in Boulder, Colorado, USA.

ANSWER: Hi Phyllis
Nice to hear from you.
All eating tables are 29 or 30 inches high from floor to top of table.
Chairs are made with this in mind.
Table skirts are usually 3 or 4 inches in depth.
I wish you could tell me the height of your table and the depth of the table skirt...any chance of getting that?
If I knew the measurements, then we could figure how much the table needs to be made higher.
And I suspect the table is now lower because the casters were removed sometime in its life.
This could make the table 2 to 3 inches shorter.
So could you also look on the bottom of the legs and see if there is holes there where the casters could have been?
To just add 6 inches to a tables height will not work.
The scale must be right.
Please get back to me with this info.
Kindest regards
Eileen




---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The skirt is 5 inches, beginningat 23 inches up the leg of the table.  The actual top of the table is about an inch thick.  So the overall height is 29 inches, but the depth of the skirt makes it difficult to use with contemporary chairs.  There are holes in the bottom of the legs for casters, by the way.  Where can I find some suitable for this table?
Thanks,
Phyllis

Answer
Hi again Phyllis
I just measured my table to be certain...its old too.
I have 25 1/2 inches from the floor to where the skirt starts, and a four inch skirt with a 3/4 inch thick top.
So yes, the five inch skirt is certainly part of the problem here.
Now I am going to go out on a limb here and say that your table was perhaps not intended for an eating table but a work table.
But that does not solve your problem LOL
So the way I see it, you need to add 2 1/2 inches to the legs to get the 25 1/2 inches I have.
And personally for me my table is an inch too high for my comfort but fine for hubby.
Adding 2 1/2 inches in height to your table will give you 31 1/2 inches overall height. Too much for comfort I fear, but certainly trying the castors can cause no harm.
These old castors can be found in most antique/ junk stores.
Most places will have a supply in the back room.
My choice would be to take the table apart and reduce the 5 inch skirt to a 3 inch skirt.
I could do this quite easily and most wood shops could also.
Thanks for getting back to me.
Interesting question and I hope I have helped.
Kindest Regards
Eileen