The Transformer Table’s eponymous product is by far the most popular innovation from the brand, and for good reason. The solid wood tables are designed to shrink to an 18-inch-deep console table and just as easily stretch to become a nearly 10-foot-long dining table that can seat up to a dozen people. To change the size, all you have to do is pull the ends apart so they glide along the metal supports, extend it to the desired length, and then set the expansion panels in place (one panel for a four-person table; five panels for a 12-person table) (Rivera, 2023).
In addition to the dining table, the Transformer Dining Set also comes with a Transformer Bench, which operates under the same expansion principle. In its smallest form, the boxy bench seats one person (at 28.5 inches long), although when you add all five panels, it grows to fit up to six people (at about 135 inches long). The bench also came pre-assembled, which was a joy to see. Because I don’t use all of the panels, they cleverly nest right inside the bench itself, so I don’t have to find somewhere else to store them in my single-closet apartment (Rivera, 2023).
The Transformer Coffee Table was the one piece in the order that required assembly, but once built it acts both as a chest for all of the table’s panels, and also as a WFH workhorse. That’s because the lift-top table raises up to serve as a surface for my trio of drinks (water, coffee, tea), a desk for my laptop, and sometimes even a dining table for my bowl of popcorn while watching whichever reality TV dating show I’m watching (Rivera, 2023).
Analysis
I found this article helpful in my research and later design process of my project because it’s a great example of how design can make limited space work. In big cities like New York, apartments are usually very small and have no room for big dining tables to host a big group of guests. However, the author gives the Transformer Table positive feedback and appreciates its functionality, versatility, and high-quality design. In my project, I would also like to explore some similar approaches in the frunk space. Not just adding more storage spaces but also exploring other functionalities that people would love to see in the front cargo area.
Reference
Rivera, S. (2023, December 21). The transformer table that makes hosting a breeze in my small apartment. Apartment Therapy. https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/transformer-table-review-37357283
