Should I drill holes in the skirting board or try another solution to fit the marble top hall stand with brass frame in the intended nook?
Asked by Leon Williamson 
3 weeks ago
Last Updated: October 31, 2024
Hey everyone, seeking some advice here. Made a mistake with the measurements and now this marble top hall stand (only the brass frame is shown in the picture) doesn’t quite fit in the space I had planned for it. Should I drill holes in the skirting board or do you have any other creative solutions? Thanks a lot.
You know, it’s pretty impressive how the 4 feet can bend inwards at a 45-degree angle from the bottom crossbar.
Can you tell me how far off the measurement is?
If the issue is only with the bottom legs, I suggest building a small stand for it to stand on.
Put a wooden or black/frosted glass shelf on the bottom, add new legs slightly closer to the middle so they rest on the carpet, and make sure the last crossbar doesn’t touch the skirting.
How about building a little shelf for it to sit on?
Construct a platform that matches the height of the skirting and place it above? Maybe use a matching skirting board on the front to conceal the front part of the platform?
Stevenson, that’s exactly what I would do as well.
You’ll definitely notice the whole top of the platform, Stevenson.
Suggested painting it to match the flooring.
Try a different approach. Anything else will look better.
Swap the baseboard with square stock so that the table can rest on it.
Or
Cut out the baseboard where the legs are and add plinth blocks.
Or
Create a 2×4 frame that fits inside the baseboard, place finished plywood on top, add trim to the front of the frame, stain the plywood dark to match the carpet, and make the side gaps less visible. This way, you can easily remove the platform without needing any repair work if you decide to change things up later.
Opt for a larger hammer
Is often seen as 😆
Is it possible to turn it upside down?
You could create a cool wooden base with legs for the marble top to sit on, adding a unique touch.
Before making any changes, double check if the marble top fits. It would be frustrating to redo the baseboards only to discover later that there is an overhang and the top doesn’t fit.
Hey , it actually fits inside the top frame.
I bet $10 no one will even realize. 😏
Have you considered taking off the rubber feet to see how much extra space that provides?
Yeah, did it and got very close. Just need to adjust about 5mm on each leg.
Look for a brass welder. Remove the middle section and then weld it back on.
If I were you, I’d try to find a nearby welder to adjust it. Messing with the skirting will only make it look jerry-rigged.
You could construct a frame using a couple of 2x4s with a plywood top that extends over the baseboards (to provide the extra legroom you need). Stain it the same color as the stand. For the front, you can also stain it or add a piece of baseboard (matching the current ones) to make it look like that space was intended for that piece.
I suggest removing the molding and searching for something similar but slimmer (while keeping the old molding in case you decide to remove the table).
That’s a simple one-hour fix for someone with decent brazing skills. Simply cut 2” from the center, insert a 6” section of inner diameter rod/tube, braze it back together, then cut & re-braze the 45’s and strap. Any reputable welding shop should be able to handle this, or even a DIY enthusiast with a brazing torch.
Once you place the piece in that corner, you won’t require the baseboard on the side or behind it. Take them out, place the piece, reattach the base with returns on both sides for a polished appearance, and savor the result!
If you manage to determine the base, are you confident that the marble top will fit properly?
Use a hole saw to create a hole for each leg and keep the plugs for later repairs, or add a matching base to elevate the floor.
Look for a thinner wood piece instead of the molding, paint it white, and then attach it.
If I were you, , I would do the same thing. Just look for thinner baseboards.
The simplest solution is to trim around 4 inches off the bottom or until the horizontal frame is resting on the molding. Use clear or white rubber pads (around 1 inch wide strips) between the metal and molding. This way, it will be the correct height and hardly noticeable. Eventually, you may even forget about it after a few decades.
Should the skirt be taken off?
Create a base for it to be raised above the bottom board
Are there any parts hanging off the marble top? If there are, it might not be important for the frame to match.
If possible, remove the wood and carefully drill it. Give it a try. If it doesn’t work, you can move on to plan B with new trim or a platform
Wouldn’t it be simpler to ask the machinist to repair the hall stand? I bet it won’t cost much to fix it so you can avoid damaging your home.
Trim is pretty inexpensive and simple to replace, so I don’t see any harm in putting a few holes in the baseboards to make room for the furniture.
Hey, instead of spending a bunch of money and time modifying the trim, you could have a machinist fix the table for like $40. Just a thought.
Trim the molding to stop at the front leg. (Save the pieces in case you relocate or swap out the table)
I might have skipped the base in that area and simply created a wall-mounted frame for the marble top.
I believe the simplest solution would be to trim the baseboard molding to ensure the frame fits properly in the space. Once the marble is added, you may need to make minor adjustments to the wallboard and use caulk.
Thank you everyone for the suggestions. The marble fits well, with just a 5mm gap on each leg after taking off the rubber feet. I might look into having the bottom legs trimmed and welded back by 10mm.
Hey , have you thought about mounting the marble as a floating shelf instead? You could get rid of the base that way, depending on the size/weight.
Look for another option that works in that space. Leave the molding as is.
Get a small stand or some wooden block feet from Amazon. Personally, I would use stained 2 by 4s to elevate it above the trim boards.
Remove the base trim around the feet area.