Huge craft table

[mrspez07]

PDQ:
A bit of a vent and looking for trouble-shooting ideas.

So my brother had built himself a garage workbench that folds down from the wall and then can be detached and move around the room, like this (not his): youtu.be/veFh_Zwp1LA
I mentioned that would be a great craft or quilt table but had no idea where I would put one since we’re considering remodeling the basement. Cue delivery of my Christmas present yesterday:


This is 4’x6’ and 30” off the ground, it is soooo huge and heavy (and this isn’t its permanent home). The supports for the legs are on the outside instead of the middle, making it hard to roll up to it in a chair and put your feet under it, too low to be ergonomic standing while cutting or ironing. He mentioned he would add wheels and tweak it if needed. I’m not sure how much though. I also think it’s too big to mount to the wall (too heavy, even if I can find wall space). I’m also going to have to get rid of my other stuff (including a table from my DHs family he’ll be resistant to get rid of, but doesn’t want to use elsewhere, a whole separate battle).
I’d love for him to have asked me what would work best and ideal sizing questions. I would have gone with something closer to 3x5 and counter height. He also got the same size table for my niece...for puzzles (face palm).

He has a bad habit of building really big things that are not very functional, such as a huge toy box that is 2.5Hx3Wx5L, that the boys now use for a reading nook that we’ll have to get rid of in the next few years.

How do I have him rework this to be functional for sewing/crafting?

[brewco]

Can you try to sell this and have him re-build something to the specs you want? Just let him know it doesn't work for your space now that you have it there.

[msn06]

Maybe something like this: I really appreciate the effort, thought and time you put into my table. Unfortunately it is not going to be functional in my space as is. I really need to make it smaller and taller so I am able use it and save my back while cutting. While I love the idea of such a large surface to work on, it won’t work in its designated location.

[pierogigirl]

I'm annoyed for you. That's huge and many people would have no place to put it. Hopefully he can remake it or just take it out of your house. I would not be amused to get that for my kids for puzzles.

[aprilsails]

I just measured and that’s larger than my extra large dining table (without the leafs). That’s absurd and belongs in a large wood shop not inside a house. I would ask him to make it smaller if that is even useful. Taller too. Ugh that is super awkward.

[mrspez07]

Well, we talked about modifications that may be possible the next day, which made me feel better, it could be narrower but still needed to be long because of the table legs and the way they fold under. on Christmas Eve, he gave me an option of the table (door #1) or door #2, a different gift. It was awkward but I chose #2, and it was a cadence and speed tracker for my bike/trainer (a tiny, hand-held thing!. He’s going to eventually come get the table and take it away.

[aprilsails]

I’m glad that is resolved but understand how it would be so awkward. Leave it to a brother.