I would definitely get a pedestal table. However I would get one with one pedestal not two. I have a round,single pedestal table in my eating area. Without the leaf it is 48" and with the one leaf, it extends to 72" and then it is more of an oval. I have had up to 12 people at the table. The pedestal lets you have more people seated around the table. I've had it since the kids were little(it's 25 years old) and always kept the leaf in. Now that everyone is gone, and have been for quite awhile I finally took the leaf out about 2 months ago. Hope that helps.

I completely agree that you need a one pedestal table. It's much easier to squeeze more people in without table legs in the way.

I wouldn't have 364 days of a crowded space all for one day. I think you need to come up with a special plan for that day that allows you to live in comfort during the year.
I have had meals at a friends home around a "temporary" table". The homeowner keeps a large sheet of plywood that is placed over two tables then covered with a table pad and table cloth. I think they fit at least 15 around that table. Extra chairs were pulled from around the house. You could even design a table that utilized saw horses. All of that could be stored in your garage during the year.

We once held a dinner party at our house with 35 people. Since the forcast was for very cold weather we rented tables and moved a lot of our living room furniture out to our garage (to store, not use). Our great room became one large dining room. All of the tables had table cloths, candles, table scapes.

Here is a link that might be useful: Small Space Dining Rooms Better Homes Gardens

denali 2007, can you tell me the brand of your table? I haven't seen a single pedestal table that can expand to the length I'd like. Also I've been looking at rectangular tables rather than the oval I have now. I just like the looks of them better. But, will I regret that change in this narrow room? I'm also concerned about chair size. Do I look for something similar in size to what I have now or can I go bigger. It's really intimidating trying to figure these things out. This is a large investment and I'd hate to get the furniture only to find it's all too large. It would be so much easier if I could bring home chairs and see how they look in the room. Somehow I don't think furniture stores would let me do that. :)

I have a Canadel set in my kitchen and I really like it. I did see this table and thought it would be nice to not have to store leaves.

Here is a link that might be useful: Stowleaf table

sjt I don't know who the maker of my table is. We bought it from a store long out of business, but they specialized in just oak tables of all sizes and shapes. Cella had a great idea of getting a table big enough for your space and then using a piece of plywood over it. I have a friend who does that for all her gatherings. You could get one of those cut it yourself table pads then put a table cloth over it and who knows? FWIW a round or oval table is esier to fit more chairs around.

SJT -- you didn't ask this, but I thought I'd offer my experience with Canadel . . . in our last house, we had a Canadel double-pedestal dining room table and chairs, matching bar-height chairs plus 4 extra chairs for our screened porch table in another style, but that went with the dining room table. I LOVED every piece, and they held up beautifully. After 6 years of daily 3-meals-a-day use, the table top still looked pristine. I will admit that one chair had some toothmarks on the back, where one baby grandson did some sneaky teething, but that's about all.

In negotiations for selling our house, the potential buyers asked for the dining room set because it matched the bar chairs, which were staying. My DH said yes, and I almost cried. I must admit, the style fit that lake house, and wouldn't look right in the new house, but still! I loved it.

I agree -- a round pedestal table would work beautifully in your space.

Just a thumbs-up for Canadel -- and, no, I don't work for them.

hostagrams--I really appreciate your comments about Canadel. I've been doing some research for the last couple of years and that brand seems to give me the type of set 'm looking for in the price range I want to spend. I don't want to have to baby the table all the time. Did you use placemats all the time, or did you set the plates directly on the table? I don't like tablecloths on the table except for special occasions.

I have been looking at a double pedestal table for a long time and really hadn't thought about a single pedestal. Do you all think the double pedestal would still look too cluttered? Our current table is 42" x 60". I may take out the center leaf and see how a 42" round table will work, but that seems kind of small even though it's just DH and me. It's the only table we have and we use it for everything. I would think any larger circumference would be too close to the wall. I do totally understand what you all are saying about only needing the additional space a few days of the year. It makes a lot of sense. But I also don't know if we'd be comfortable with anything smaller than what we currently have.

I can't say enough about my Canadel table. I also have a small space. It's just the the three of us, myself, DH and DS. I wanted to be able to eat at a table not an island. I found a narrow rectangle table worked best for us. What I like most about Canadel are all the options you have. We use placemats to eat on and it's held up great! I think for the price it's a very nice choice.

marybeth1--thanks for the picture. Can you tell me what's the color of your tabletop and chairs? It looks like it would work for me. Also, what is the width of your table. I love the two tone look of your table and kitchen.

If anyone has pictures of one or two pedestal tables I'd love to see them.

sjt, the table top and chairs are Amaretto Washed Antique finish (28A). It is a solid table no leaves 36 x 60 but it also comes 36 x 48 with either 1 or 2 leaves. I was all set to order the Havana Washed color but I saw it on display and it had allot of orange tones in it. It is so hard to order out of a book. Lucky for me the place I ordered from had allot on display. Hope that helps.