Plato is credited with explaining to the world that “necessity is the mother of invention.” The ancient Greek philosopher was likely unaware how that time-honed phrase might apply to a dining room table.

            Nearly two decades ago, New York-based interior designer Tori Golub sought a solution to incorporate a kid-friendly dining room table into her apartment. “I wanted a table in the middle of the space that was light and translucent,’’ she explained. “But I didn’t want my young son running into glass corners. I was looking for a clear material that could be made into a table.”

            Golub found the solution with LIGHTBLOCKS, using the Classic Ice resin style for the table. Since that first project, Golub has collaborated with LIGHTBLOCKS to create dining room tables for hundreds of clients in all shapes and sizes ranging from 7 to 10 feet.

            “I’ve designed lots of different shapes,’’ Golub says. “Organic, rectangular, or oval, it all depends on the space and the project. What’s nice about the material is that you can do anything you want.”

            LIGHTBLOCKS products comprise the entire table and allow Golub flexibility in designing shapes and sizes that suit her clients.

            “It doesn’t argue with any piece of furniture that you want to put with it,’’ she explains. “It’s also extremely durable, and it’s a good, customizable solution that has become a good option for my clients in lots of different applications.”

            Besides design flexibility, tables made with LIGHTBLOCKS architectural resin panels are stain resistant. Coffee, wine and other products frequently consumed at a dining table can leave a lasting, unwelcome impression. Golub and her clients have found them durable and easy to maintain.

            “Clients have been very receptive,’’ Golub says. “When you think about a table, it’s either you’re getting a wood table and then you have to worry about putting a glass on it, or if it’s marble, which can also be susceptible to stains. The LIGHTBLOCKS material hasn’t changed in 20 years, I know I can use it, I can work off of it and I can eat off of it.”

            Custom-made furniture for any project can be expensive. The availability of material, design complexity and shipping all play a major role and can expand the delivery timeline. In the two decades of her association with LIGHTBLOCKS, Golub has found the process expedient and stress free. Most tables are delivered within 4-6 weeks.

            As an interior designer, it’s important for Golub to have a dependable source for her projects to produce tables that are durable, timeless and reek of quality.

            “I provide a basic plan with the elevation, dimension, edge detail and radius edge, or anything that I might want incorporated into the design,’’ Golub says. “Then LIGHTBLOCKS prices it, puts it together and sends a picture of it built in the factory. Then it gets packed and shipped. It’s great to have a vendor who is reliable and delivers exactly what I’m looking for.”