Technology is being applied to most modern aspects of our lives today, whether it is cars, phones or medicine. So why not home improvement? With smart houses on the horizon and environmentally friendly ideas being sounded out, the last frontier to be conquered is the kitchen/dining room area. DB Fletcher has a novel solution that takes a traditional family centerpiece, the kitchen table, and updates it for your convenience without losing the traditional pleasures of a shared meal.

It’s called the Capstan Table, and it’s a beautiful round wooden table, available in a variety of finishes. Click on the YouTube link and watch the small version of the table transform into a larger version with the push of a button. Expanding by 73 percent, it provides a surprising degree of flexibility with such a historically immovable object. Not only that, but even the transition itself is lovely to watch. The table rotates and rises while a star-shaped depression in the middle changes to accommodate your size preference. Unexpected last-minute guests dropping in? No problem. Thanksgiving dinner too sizeable for your facilities? Now you can fix that without the usual hassle.

Watching the video inspired a range of reactions from people. Some drew a parallel to popular Hollywood franchises, such as Transformers and James Bond. It is futuristic and sleek enough to easily merit such a comparison. Others noted it looked like something that belongs in an evil lair. When the majority of reactions to a simple kitchen table draw upon beloved pop culture stereotypes, I’d say it’s a sign the designers are onto something. The rest of the comments speculated on availability, origins and price.

Which is not cheap. The UK-based company has a reputation for superior furniture, great quality and inclusion of the customer’s ideas. Ranging anywhere from 25K to almost 100K, this novel invention comes at a price.  Gilded Life, a luxury style guide that reviews all kinds of products, had some warm words of praise for the Capstan table.  “DB Fletcher makes only a handful of Capstan Tables every year, and each one is made exclusively to fit the buyers design specifications. DB Fletcher can make their Capstan Tables with marble, granite, glass, exotic wood, metal, or a combination thereof.” 

Lighting systems can also be installed. Whether you’d like it automated or manual, both appear to be relatively easy. I’ve seen so-called expanding tables on television commercials before, and they always look to be more trouble than they’re worth. As the video shows, it only takes one person to loosen the screw underneath and gently rotate the table.

Interestingly enough, the Capstan Table is an innovative idea that’s not entirely original. Its’ designers credit Robert Jupe’s 1985 patented design, with various improvements for today’s world. Something of the past somehow lingers around this piece, for DB Fletcher is not an easily accessibly company. In fact, they do not venture overseas and do everything from the UK. If you want the table, you must figure out your specifications and approach them.

This reminds me of older times, when people didn’t go to IKEA for their furniture but to the village carpenter and blacksmith team. It may sound silly or overly romantic, but the fact that I can’t go to my local high-end furniture store and get a factory-line version of this table intrigues me. It shows that DB Fletcher won’t compromise on design or quality just to attract more customers or mass-produce a desirable product. It’s a futuristic kitchen table with integrity.