Spotted this clever hack in the Inside Out Magazine this week (their Renovating & Decorating Guide 2012) using cake stands from table legs and china.  Using an epoxy adhesive to glue together, the legs were painted first, then the plates were glued to the wooden legs (note some of the bases (saucers) are placed upside down to achieve visual balance and greater stability).  Full instructions (and more projects like this) are in the Inside Out Magazine Renovating & Decorating Guide.  I purchased my copy online through Zinio here.  Above project by Tamara Maynes, Styling Vanessa Colyer Tay, Photograph Craig Wall.