Dinette Design Best Practices

[estock]

So I'm looking to design a Dinette for the front of my 77 Sovereign 31, and I've been looking at lots of pictures an threads I've taken some measurements and made some initial drawing but I keep getting stuck. I had a few questions about design and best practices from people who have built them. I would love to make the plans available when I'm done.

Wood - plywood or stick framed? what thickness of ply do people use?
Joints - what type of plywood joints have people used? screws, corners? glue?
Height - any recommendations on height? I've read where some pedestals don't retract as much as they say, so perhaps it should make it higher than 15"
Pedestal - I've read that some pedestals are unstable ( was looking at less expensive ones ) so should I use 2 telescoping pedestals ? should I try to build my own pedestal?
Cushions - seems like there is two approaches, stand alone cushions like a couch? or cushions that have the plywood at the bottom. DIY cushions ? or should I try to find ones online?
Dimensions - as I said I made some drawings, but having some trouble figuring out what the most comfortable scenario would be, as far a depth and such.

Any other info would be great

[dbj216]

Greetings from Colorado: A Brooklyn Airstreamer is a rare find indeed. Hopefully your trailer is upstate out of the congestion.

I built a dinette in my son's Globetrotter. I can share what I did that may prompt some ideas for you.

Wood - plywood or stick framed? what thickness of ply do people use?
I used red oak dimensional lumber in 3/4" by 1 1/2" for the framework. It is strong wood. Then I boxed it in with 1/2" plywood.

Joints - what type of plywood joints have people used? screws, corners? glue?
I used screws mostly. I wanted to be able to disassemble the thing if needed.

Height - any recommendations on height? I've read where some pedestals don't retract as much as they say, so perhaps it should make it higher than 15"
My cushions were standard 4" thickness. My pedestal collapsed to about 13". The table is the support for sleeping cushions.

Pedestal - I've read that some pedestals are unstable ( was looking at less expensive ones ) so should I use 2 telescoping pedestals ? should I try to build my own pedestal?
I used a high quality marine pedestal that telescoped down. It is very stable. Some pedestals are flimsy. We wanted stout.

Cushions - seems like there is two approaches, stand alone cushions like a couch? or cushions that have the plywood at the bottom. DIY cushions ? or should I try to find ones online?
We purchased foam on line. We cut it to fit our plan. My wife made the cushion covers. Big job. We did not have any plywood bottom supports.

Dimensions - as I said I made some drawings, but having some trouble figuring out what the most comfortable scenario would be, as far a depth and such.
The foam came in 24" widths, so that is our sitting surface depth.

Here are a couple of photos of the dinette. My son wanted to entertain in his trailer; card games and the like. And he wanted a big sleeping area to crash on. So be it. We did it.

A dinette is not useful for us. They are useful for family traveling. We only eat about 30 minutes a day. Dinettes are not comfortable for evening sitting for us. We prefer the Airstream couch and a fold out table for eating. The couch makes into a bed for sleeping. To each his own.

David