Folding bench - hinge question

[Aggrajag]

The better half has taken to sewing with a passion and like myself is struggling for space. We've got a "chill room" (it was a dining room but is too small for a dining table!) where we have a 2-seater settee a 1m square games table and a record player. There isn't room to swing a cat.

I was originally thinking of laying a piece of wood across the settee for her to have space to place stuff, rather than working space, and it can be stored behind the settee when not in use. But face it that's not much use.

I'm now thinking of creating a bench that is fastened to the wall just above the settee and is still stored behind the settee but we pull the settee out, lift up the bench, pop out some legs and roll the settee back underneath. A bit of a faff but then she's got a sturdy usable bench that we can mostly hide when necessary.

So it needs to hinge downwards to fold away but I'm also thinking it needs to hinge upwards to enable the legs to be pulled out from under the benchtop over the settee that's likely still partly in the way. So I need a double jointed hinge. I've never used one. Is it workable or is there a better solution?

 

[Aggrajag]

This sort of thing.

 

[Bod]

Most hinges work through at least 135 degrees.
so your hinged bench idea will work, without any problems.
I would suggest using piano hinge, to create a strong edge, small No3 screws are still available, but you will need to hunt them out. (Screwfix, Homebase e.t.c. don't keep them. Try specialist suppliers.)

Bod

 

[Aggrajag]

135 degrees, of course, I've obviously not got my brain in gear! I can't think why I thought they'd only do 90 *slaps forehead*

 

[nev]

or...

a picture and picture frame that fold down to become the table

another version
http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/picture-table

 

[Aggrajag]

That is epic!