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Expandable tables aren’t new. I remember crawling underneath tables as a child to help my mom insert additional leaves for holiday meals. I also remember going into the depths of the basement to find those leaves and getting scared because, as a child, everything in the basement looked like a monster. The Transformer Table solves that problem. 

I live in a modern condo in downtown Toronto and love the idea of an expandable table. Most days I want a small table, but I would like to accommodate more people for something like a themed dinner party. Yet many expandable tables don’t match my decor and I don’t have a scary basement to store the extra leaves. 

Enter the Transformer Table. I first learned about it through an Instagram ad. I did some digging and found out that the company is based out of Montreal and the tables are made in Canada. The table comes with a coffee table to store the leaves when you’re not using them. You can also get an expandable bench to go with the table set. 

Transformer Table: It can work as a desk for one or extend to accommodate 12 people. At its largest, it spans 10 feet and holds up to 750 lbs. It’s built from solid wood sourced from North America. Leaves are easy to add and remove.

Dimensions: 30”H x 38”W x 18″L – 118”L

Transformer Coffee Table: Made from hardwood, it can store up to all five Transformer Table leaves. 

Dimensions: 18”H x 25.25”W x 37.25”L

Transformer Bench: Similar to the Transformer Table, the bench is ready to expand and collapse. It can start small to fit one person and extend to fit six. It’s also made from hardwood.  

Dimensions: 18″H x 14″W x 28″L – 128″L 

The finishes: There are four finish options for the tables and benches: solid acacia wood, black oak, mahogany hardwood and birch grey.

Prices: Transformer Table ($1,999) | Transformer Table + Transformer Bench ($2,599) | Transformer Table + two Transformer benches ($2,999)

Where to buy: ca.transformertable.com

How it feels and looks: I tried the black oak Transformer Table, coffee table and bench. They look beautiful, sleek and modern. It’s not my mother’s expandable table. 

The Transformer Table is chic and functional. It looks good small and when it’s expanded. Latches at the bottom to release and secure each leaf make inserting and removing leaves easy. The black finish is a bit textured with small grooves. I like the look and it’s easy to clean: Just use water or wood-friendly cleaners. 

The coffee table also looks fabulous. It’s simple and structured and it’s easy to store the Transformer Table’s leaves IN the coffee table (sounds very Zoolander ). 

The bench is just as easy to expand and collapse and the extra panels live within the bench. It’s really comfortable, as comfortable as a hardwood bench could be. I’ve sat on it for many consecutive hours and it’s more than OK. 

Setting up the table set: Everything is so heavy. I cannot stress this enough: Setting up the table is not a one-person job. You need at least two people who are ready to lift. Everything comes pre-built, so no need for assembly, but you still need to get everything into your space and out of the boxes. With all the panels, the Transformer Table weighs 165 lbs, the bench 99 lbs and the coffee table 83 lbs (all averages, may vary based on colour). That’s 347 lbs of pure North American hardwood goodness. 

My favourite features: The look and function. The black oak finish is perfectly modern. The Australian Acacia is great for more natural interior decor and the American Mahogany and Siberian Birch are sophisticated and neutral as well. Each item is bold but can play a supporting role. And the main attraction, the extendable feature of the table, works extremely well. The table can stay in a compact condo-friendly size most of the time and expand when it’s time for a themed party. Also, love that the company is Canadian and the products are manufactured in Canada.

My least favourite feature: I can’t really knock the weight. It’s heavy, it should be heavy, it’s just something that was a challenge for me. I’m also not sure how the tables and bench will wear. I’ve only tried it out for two months and during that time a small bit of the black oak finish chipped. Considering the cost of the table, I was surprised to see this happen. I emailed the company and they sent me some black paint to go over the chipped area. It did the trick and it hasn’t been a problem since.

Recommendation: If you’re looking for a table that can accommodate many different group sizes, then the Transformer Table could be a good option. If you’re going to get the table, I recommend getting the bench and coffee table too. The look, feel and function of all the products are exactly as advertised and they look better in person than online. In terms of durability, I think the structure of the table could stand the test of time. I’ve read other online reviews and haven’t seen anything about chips in the finish, so maybe it’s exclusive to my experience or the Dark Oak colour. Just something to note. 

Check out the complete Transformer Table line.

The company also has the Transformer Couch and Transformer Outdoors .

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