diff --git a/ethcore/src/migrations/mod.rs b/ethcore/src/migrations/mod.rs
index b9a00a15e..6cc4a13a8 100644
--- a/ethcore/src/migrations/mod.rs
+++ b/ethcore/src/migrations/mod.rs
@@ -28,4 +28,4 @@ mod v10;
 pub use self::v10::ToV10;
 
 mod v11;
-pub use self::v11::ToV11;
+pub use self::v11::TO_V11;
diff --git a/ethcore/src/migrations/v11.rs b/ethcore/src/migrations/v11.rs
index 8795cf364..e33de6170 100644
--- a/ethcore/src/migrations/v11.rs
+++ b/ethcore/src/migrations/v11.rs
@@ -14,33 +14,13 @@
 // You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 // along with Parity.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-
 //! Adds a seventh column for node information.
 
-use util::kvdb::Database;
-use util::migration::{Batch, Config, Error, Migration, Progress};
-use std::sync::Arc;
+use util::migration::ChangeColumns;
 
-/// Copies over data for all existing columns.
-#[derive(Default)]
-pub struct ToV11(Progress);
-
-
-impl Migration for ToV11 {
-	fn pre_columns(&self) -> Option<u32> { Some(6) }
-	fn columns(&self) -> Option<u32> { Some(7) }
-
-	fn version(&self) -> u32 { 11 }
-
-	fn migrate(&mut self, source: Arc<Database>, config: &Config, dest: &mut Database, col: Option<u32>) -> Result<(), Error> {
-		// just copy everything over.
-		let mut batch = Batch::new(config, col);
-
-		for (key, value) in source.iter(col) {
-			self.0.tick();
-			batch.insert(key.to_vec(), value.to_vec(), dest)?
-		}
-
-		batch.commit(dest)
-	}
-}
+/// The migration from v10 to v11.
+pub const TO_V11: ChangeColumns = ChangeColumns {
+	pre_columns: Some(6),
+	post_columns: Some(7),
+	version: 11,
+};
diff --git a/parity/migration.rs b/parity/migration.rs
index c2d5c0797..445724325 100644
--- a/parity/migration.rs
+++ b/parity/migration.rs
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ pub fn default_migration_settings(compaction_profile: &CompactionProfile) -> Mig
 fn consolidated_database_migrations(compaction_profile: &CompactionProfile) -> Result<MigrationManager, Error> {
 	let mut manager = MigrationManager::new(default_migration_settings(compaction_profile));
 	manager.add_migration(migrations::ToV10::new()).map_err(|_| Error::MigrationImpossible)?;
-	manager.add_migration(migrations::ToV11::default()).map_err(|_| Error::MigrationImpossible)?;
+	manager.add_migration(migrations::TO_V11).map_err(|_| Error::MigrationImpossible)?;
 	Ok(manager)
 }
 
@@ -201,6 +201,10 @@ fn migrate_database(version: u32, db_path: PathBuf, mut migrations: MigrationMan
 	// migrate old database to the new one
 	let temp_path = migrations.execute(&db_path, version)?;
 
+	// completely in-place migration leads to the paths being equal.
+	// in that case, no need to shuffle directories.
+	if temp_path == db_path { return Ok(()) }
+
 	// create backup
 	fs::rename(&db_path, &backup_path)?;
 
@@ -212,9 +216,7 @@ fn migrate_database(version: u32, db_path: PathBuf, mut migrations: MigrationMan
 	}
 
 	// remove backup
-	fs::remove_dir_all(&backup_path)?;
-
-	Ok(())
+	fs::remove_dir_all(&backup_path).map_err(Into::into)
 }
 
 fn exists(path: &Path) -> bool {
diff --git a/util/src/kvdb.rs b/util/src/kvdb.rs
index 1714ce22f..043b3d983 100644
--- a/util/src/kvdb.rs
+++ b/util/src/kvdb.rs
@@ -410,6 +410,29 @@ struct DBAndColumns {
 	cfs: Vec<Column>,
 }
 
+// get column family configuration from database config.
+fn col_config(col: u32, config: &DatabaseConfig) -> Options {
+	// default cache size for columns not specified.
+	const DEFAULT_CACHE: usize = 2;
+
+	let mut opts = Options::new();
+	opts.set_compaction_style(DBCompactionStyle::DBUniversalCompaction);
+	opts.set_target_file_size_base(config.compaction.initial_file_size);
+	opts.set_target_file_size_multiplier(config.compaction.file_size_multiplier);
+
+	let col_opt = config.columns.map(|_| col);
+
+	{
+		let cache_size = config.cache_sizes.get(&col_opt).cloned().unwrap_or(DEFAULT_CACHE);
+		let mut block_opts = BlockBasedOptions::new();
+		// all goes to read cache.
+		block_opts.set_cache(Cache::new(cache_size * 1024 * 1024));
+		opts.set_block_based_table_factory(&block_opts);
+	}
+
+	opts
+}
+
 /// Key-Value database.
 pub struct Database {
 	db: RwLock<Option<DBAndColumns>>,
@@ -434,9 +457,6 @@ impl Database {
 
 	/// Open database file. Creates if it does not exist.
 	pub fn open(config: &DatabaseConfig, path: &str) -> Result<Database, String> {
-		// default cache size for columns not specified.
-		const DEFAULT_CACHE: usize = 2;
-
 		let mut opts = Options::new();
 		if let Some(rate_limit) = config.compaction.write_rate_limit {
 			opts.set_parsed_options(&format!("rate_limiter_bytes_per_sec={}", rate_limit))?;
@@ -460,22 +480,7 @@ impl Database {
 		let cfnames: Vec<&str> = cfnames.iter().map(|n| n as &str).collect();
 
 		for col in 0 .. config.columns.unwrap_or(0) {
-			let mut opts = Options::new();
-			opts.set_compaction_style(DBCompactionStyle::DBUniversalCompaction);
-			opts.set_target_file_size_base(config.compaction.initial_file_size);
-			opts.set_target_file_size_multiplier(config.compaction.file_size_multiplier);
-
-			let col_opt = config.columns.map(|_| col);
-
-			{
-				let cache_size = config.cache_sizes.get(&col_opt).cloned().unwrap_or(DEFAULT_CACHE);
-				let mut block_opts = BlockBasedOptions::new();
-				// all goes to read cache.
-				block_opts.set_cache(Cache::new(cache_size * 1024 * 1024));
-				opts.set_block_based_table_factory(&block_opts);
-			}
-
-			cf_options.push(opts);
+			cf_options.push(col_config(col, &config));
 		}
 
 		let mut write_opts = WriteOptions::new();
@@ -768,6 +773,42 @@ impl Database {
 		*self.flushing.write() = mem::replace(&mut *db.flushing.write(), Vec::new());
 		Ok(())
 	}
+
+	/// The number of non-default column families.
+	pub fn num_columns(&self) -> u32 {
+		self.db.read().as_ref()
+			.and_then(|db| if db.cfs.is_empty() { None } else { Some(db.cfs.len()) } )
+			.map(|n| n as u32)
+			.unwrap_or(0)
+	}
+
+	/// Drop a column family.
+	pub fn drop_column(&self) -> Result<(), String> {
+		match *self.db.write() {
+			Some(DBAndColumns { ref mut db, ref mut cfs }) => {
+				if let Some(col) = cfs.pop() {
+					let name = format!("col{}", cfs.len());
+					drop(col);
+					db.drop_cf(&name)?;
+				}
+				Ok(())
+			},
+			None => Ok(()),
+		}
+	}
+
+	/// Add a column family.
+	pub fn add_column(&self) -> Result<(), String> {
+		match *self.db.write() {
+			Some(DBAndColumns { ref mut db, ref mut cfs }) => {
+				let col = cfs.len() as u32;
+				let name = format!("col{}", col);
+				cfs.push(db.create_cf(&name, &col_config(col, &self.config))?);
+				Ok(())
+			},
+			None => Ok(()),
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 // duplicate declaration of methods here to avoid trait import in certain existing cases
@@ -886,4 +927,54 @@ mod tests {
 		let expected_output = Some(PathBuf::from("/sys/block/sda/queue/rotational"));
 		assert_eq!(rotational_from_df_output(example_df), expected_output);
 	}
+
+	#[test]
+	fn add_columns() {
+		let config = DatabaseConfig::default();
+		let config_5 = DatabaseConfig::with_columns(Some(5));
+
+		let path = RandomTempPath::create_dir();
+
+		// open empty, add 5.
+		{
+			let db = Database::open(&config, path.as_path().to_str().unwrap()).unwrap();
+			assert_eq!(db.num_columns(), 0);
+
+			for i in 0..5 {
+				db.add_column().unwrap();
+				assert_eq!(db.num_columns(), i + 1);
+			}
+		}
+
+		// reopen as 5.
+		{
+			let db = Database::open(&config_5, path.as_path().to_str().unwrap()).unwrap();
+			assert_eq!(db.num_columns(), 5);
+		}
+	}
+
+	#[test]
+	fn drop_columns() {
+		let config = DatabaseConfig::default();
+		let config_5 = DatabaseConfig::with_columns(Some(5));
+
+		let path = RandomTempPath::create_dir();
+
+		// open 5, remove all.
+		{
+			let db = Database::open(&config_5, path.as_path().to_str().unwrap()).unwrap();
+			assert_eq!(db.num_columns(), 5);
+
+			for i in (0..5).rev() {
+				db.drop_column().unwrap();
+				assert_eq!(db.num_columns(), i);
+			}
+		}
+
+		// reopen as 0.
+		{
+			let db = Database::open(&config, path.as_path().to_str().unwrap()).unwrap();
+			assert_eq!(db.num_columns(), 0);
+		}
+	}
 }
diff --git a/util/src/migration/mod.rs b/util/src/migration/mod.rs
index 50464444f..6ec465517 100644
--- a/util/src/migration/mod.rs
+++ b/util/src/migration/mod.rs
@@ -127,6 +127,9 @@ pub trait Migration: 'static {
 	fn pre_columns(&self) -> Option<u32> { self.columns() }
 	/// Number of columns in database after the migration.
 	fn columns(&self) -> Option<u32>;
+	/// Whether this migration alters any existing columns.
+	/// if not, then column families will simply be added and `migrate` will never be called.
+	fn alters_existing(&self) -> bool { true }
 	/// Version of the database after the migration.
 	fn version(&self) -> u32;
 	/// Migrate a source to a destination.
@@ -149,6 +152,8 @@ impl<T: SimpleMigration> Migration for T {
 
 	fn version(&self) -> u32 { SimpleMigration::version(self) }
 
+	fn alters_existing(&self) -> bool { true }
+
 	fn migrate(&mut self, source: Arc<Database>, config: &Config, dest: &mut Database, col: Option<u32>) -> Result<(), Error> {
 		let mut batch = Batch::new(config, col);
 
@@ -162,6 +167,26 @@ impl<T: SimpleMigration> Migration for T {
 	}
 }
 
+/// An even simpler migration which just changes the number of columns.
+pub struct ChangeColumns {
+	/// The amount of columns before this migration.
+	pub pre_columns: Option<u32>,
+	/// The amount of columns after this migration.
+	pub post_columns: Option<u32>,
+	/// The version after this migration.
+	pub version: u32,
+}
+
+impl Migration for ChangeColumns {
+	fn pre_columns(&self) -> Option<u32> { self.pre_columns }
+	fn columns(&self) -> Option<u32> { self.post_columns }
+	fn version(&self) -> u32 { self.version }
+	fn alters_existing(&self) -> bool { false }
+	fn migrate(&mut self, _: Arc<Database>, _: &Config, _: &mut Database, _: Option<u32>) -> Result<(), Error> {
+		Ok(())
+	}
+}
+
 /// Get the path where all databases reside.
 fn database_path(path: &Path) -> PathBuf {
 	let mut temp_path = path.to_owned();
@@ -244,7 +269,7 @@ impl Manager {
 
 		let db_root = database_path(old_path);
 		let mut temp_idx = TempIndex::One;
-		let mut temp_path = temp_idx.path(&db_root);
+		let mut temp_path = old_path.to_path_buf();
 
 		// start with the old db.
 		let old_path_str = old_path.to_str().ok_or(Error::MigrationImpossible)?;
@@ -256,28 +281,42 @@ impl Manager {
 			let current_columns = db_config.columns;
 			db_config.columns = migration.columns();
 
-			// open the target temporary database.
-			temp_path = temp_idx.path(&db_root);
-			let temp_path_str = temp_path.to_str().ok_or(Error::MigrationImpossible)?;
-			let mut new_db = Database::open(&db_config, temp_path_str).map_err(Error::Custom)?;
+			// slow migrations: alter existing data.
+			if migration.alters_existing() {
+				temp_path = temp_idx.path(&db_root);
 
-			// perform the migration from cur_db to new_db.
-			match current_columns {
-				// migrate only default column
-				None => migration.migrate(cur_db.clone(), &config, &mut new_db, None)?,
-				Some(v) => {
-					// Migrate all columns in previous DB
-					for col in 0..v {
-						migration.migrate(cur_db.clone(), &config, &mut new_db, Some(col))?
+				// open the target temporary database.
+				let temp_path_str = temp_path.to_str().ok_or(Error::MigrationImpossible)?;
+				let mut new_db = Database::open(&db_config, temp_path_str).map_err(Error::Custom)?;
+
+				match current_columns {
+					// migrate only default column
+					None => migration.migrate(cur_db.clone(), &config, &mut new_db, None)?,
+					Some(v) => {
+						// Migrate all columns in previous DB
+						for col in 0..v {
+							migration.migrate(cur_db.clone(), &config, &mut new_db, Some(col))?
+						}
 					}
 				}
-			}
-			// next iteration, we will migrate from this db into the other temp.
-			cur_db = Arc::new(new_db);
-			temp_idx.swap();
+				// next iteration, we will migrate from this db into the other temp.
+				cur_db = Arc::new(new_db);
+				temp_idx.swap();
 
-			// remove the other temporary migration database.
-			let _ = fs::remove_dir_all(temp_idx.path(&db_root));
+				// remove the other temporary migration database.
+				let _ = fs::remove_dir_all(temp_idx.path(&db_root));
+			} else {
+				// migrations which simply add or remove column families.
+				// we can do this in-place.
+				let goal_columns = migration.columns().unwrap_or(0);
+				while cur_db.num_columns() < goal_columns {
+					cur_db.add_column().map_err(Error::Custom)?;
+				}
+
+				while cur_db.num_columns() > goal_columns {
+					cur_db.drop_column().map_err(Error::Custom)?;
+				}
+			}
 		}
 		Ok(temp_path)
 	}
diff --git a/util/src/migration/tests.rs b/util/src/migration/tests.rs
index 852b96a8d..31226ec49 100644
--- a/util/src/migration/tests.rs
+++ b/util/src/migration/tests.rs
@@ -226,3 +226,26 @@ fn pre_columns() {
 	// short of the one before it.
 	manager.execute(&db_path, 0).unwrap();
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn change_columns() {
+	use kvdb::DatabaseConfig;
+
+	let mut manager = Manager::new(Config::default());
+	manager.add_migration(::migration::ChangeColumns {
+		pre_columns: None,
+		post_columns: Some(4),
+		version: 1,
+	}).unwrap();
+
+	let dir = RandomTempPath::create_dir();
+	let db_path = db_path(dir.as_path());
+
+	let new_path = manager.execute(&db_path, 0).unwrap();
+
+	assert_eq!(db_path, new_path, "Changing columns is an in-place migration.");
+
+	let config = DatabaseConfig::with_columns(Some(4));
+	let db = Database::open(&config, new_path.to_str().unwrap()).unwrap();
+	assert_eq!(db.num_columns(), 4);
+}