We have a thin raised kitchen table (with bar stools):

I would like to build a simple extension for it so that more people fit around the table. Something like this (or this) would be ideal, but since I have limited skills (and time), I just tried to improvise something simple.

What I had in mind was to buy two appropriately-sized pieces of wood (about half the current length of the table) and affix them as "side-wings", one on each lateral side towards the leg-end, using hinges. These extensions would then hang vertically in the regular configuration when the base table suffices; and be raised horizontally when the table needs to be extended. Since the addition would be symmetric, I reckoned that the central support foot (pictured) would still be enough, as long as each of the wings has its own support from underneath.

The plan is simple enough, but aside from doing the measurements and buying the two pieces of wood (easy), I have no idea how to start:

• how do I choose the type of hinge, and how do I mount it on each piece of wood, as well as on the existing table!
• what kind of support would each wing need to stay upright, that is itself foldable when the wing is folded downwards?

I am also open to other suggestions for how to extend this table side-ways, in case the hinged&supported lateral wings solution does not seem optimal. I am grateful in advance for any suggestions!

We have a narrow raised kitchen table (with bar stools):

I would like to build a simple extension for it so that more people fit around the table. Something like this (or this) would be ideal, but since I have limited skills (and time), I just tried to improvise something simple.

What I had in mind was to buy two appropriately-sized pieces of wood (about half the current length of the table) and affix them as "side-wings", one on each lateral side towards the leg-end, using hinges. These extensions would then hang vertically in the regular configuration when the base table suffices; and be raised horizontally when the table needs to be extended. Since the addition would be symmetric, I reckoned that the central support foot (pictured) would still be enough, as long as each of the wings has its own support from underneath.

The plan is simple enough, but aside from doing the measurements and buying the two pieces of wood (easy), I have no idea how to start:

• how do I choose the type of hinge, and how do I mount it on each piece of wood, as well as on the existing table!
• what kind of support would each wing need to stay upright, that is itself foldable when the wing is folded downwards?

I am also open to other suggestions for how to extend this table side-ways, in case the hinged&supported lateral wings solution does not seem optimal. I am grateful in advance for any suggestions!

We have a raised kitchen table (with bar stools) that is very thin:

I would like to build a simple extension for it so that more people fit around the table. Something like this (or this) would be ideal, but since I have limited skills (and time), I just tried to improvise something simple.

What I had in mind was to buy two appropriately-sized pieces of wood and affix them as "side-wings", one on each lateral side, using hinges. These extensions would then hang vertically in the regular configuration when the base table suffices; and be raised horizontally when the table needs to be extended. Since the addition would be symmetric, I reckoned that the central support foot (pictured) would still be enough, as long as each of the wings has its own support from underneath.

The plan is simple enough, but aside from doing the measurements and buying the two pieces of wood (easy), I have no idea how to start:

• how do I choose the type of hinge, and how do I mount it on each piece of wood, as well as on the existing table!
• what kind of support would each wing need to stay upright, that is itself foldable when the wing is folded downwards?

I am also open to other suggestions for how to extend this table side-ways, in case the hinged&supported lateral wings solution does not seem optimal. I am grateful in advance for any suggestions!

We have a thin raised kitchen table (with bar stools):

I would like to build a simple extension for it so that more people fit around the table. Something like this (or this) would be ideal, but since I have limited skills (and time), I just tried to improvise something simple.

What I had in mind was to buy two appropriately-sized pieces of wood (about half the current length of the table) and affix them as "side-wings", one on each lateral side towards the leg-end, using hinges. These extensions would then hang vertically in the regular configuration when the base table suffices; and be raised horizontally when the table needs to be extended. Since the addition would be symmetric, I reckoned that the central support foot (pictured) would still be enough, as long as each of the wings has its own support from underneath.

The plan is simple enough, but aside from doing the measurements and buying the two pieces of wood (easy), I have no idea how to start:

• how do I choose the type of hinge, and how do I mount it on each piece of wood, as well as on the existing table!
• what kind of support would each wing need to stay upright, that is itself foldable when the wing is folded downwards?

I am also open to other suggestions for how to extend this table side-ways, in case the hinged&supported lateral wings solution does not seem optimal. I am grateful in advance for any suggestions!