diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6fb8a67..cb7cce6 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -37,6 +37,23 @@ image_tag user.avatar.url(:medium), size: user.avatar.image_size(:medium)
 image_tag user.avatar.url(:thumb), size: user.avatar.image_size(:thumb)
 ```
 
+If you want to use a different column extension you can either set it in an initializer for all models
+
+```ruby
+  # uses User#avatar_sizes instead of User#avatar_meta
+  Paperclip::Meta::Attachment.default_meta_data_attribute = :sizes
+```
+
+Or you can for specific models by adding a method to the model
+
+```ruby
+  class User
+    def meta_data_attribute
+      :sizes
+    end
+  end
+```
+
 ### Internals
 
 The meta column is simple hash:
diff --git a/lib/paperclip-meta/attachment.rb b/lib/paperclip-meta/attachment.rb
index c3c2eeb..f3907c2 100644
--- a/lib/paperclip-meta/attachment.rb
+++ b/lib/paperclip-meta/attachment.rb
@@ -1,24 +1,43 @@
 module Paperclip
   module Meta
     module Attachment
+      @@default_meta_data_attribute = :meta
+
+      def self.default_meta_data_attribute
+        @@default_meta_data_attribute
+      end
+      
+      def self.default_meta_data_attribute=(attrib)
+        @@default_meta_data_attribute = attrib
+      end
+      
       def self.included(base)
         base.send :include, InstanceMethods
+        base.extend ClassMethods
         base.alias_method_chain :save, :meta_data
         base.alias_method_chain :post_process_styles, :meta_data
         base.alias_method_chain :size, :meta_data
       end
 
       module InstanceMethods
+        def meta_data_attribute
+          if instance.respond_to?(:meta_data_attribute) 
+            instance.meta_data_attribute
+          else
+            Paperclip::Meta::Attachment.default_meta_data_attribute
+          end
+        end
+        
         def save_with_meta_data
           if @queued_for_delete.any? && @queued_for_write.empty?
-            instance_write(:meta, meta_encode({}))
+            instance_write(meta_data_attribute, meta_encode({}))
           end
           save_without_meta_data
         end
 
         def post_process_styles_with_meta_data(*styles)
           post_process_styles_without_meta_data(*styles)
-          return unless instance.respond_to?(:"#{name}_meta=")
+          return unless instance_respond_to?(meta_data_attribute)
 
           meta = populate_meta(@queued_for_write)
           return if meta == {}
@@ -67,8 +86,8 @@ def write_meta(meta)
 
         # Return meta data for given style
         def read_meta(style, item)
-          if instance.respond_to?(:"#{name}_meta") && instance_read(:meta)
-            if (meta = meta_decode(instance_read(:meta)))
+          if instance_read(meta_data_attribute)
+            if (meta = meta_decode(instance_read(meta_data_attribute)))
               meta[style] && meta[style][item]
             end
           end
@@ -87,7 +106,7 @@ def meta_decode(meta)
         # Retain existing meta values that will not be recalculated when
         # reprocessing a subset of styles
         def merge_existing_meta_hash(meta)
-          return unless (original_meta = instance.send("#{name}_meta"))
+          return unless (original_meta = instance_read(meta_data_attribute))
           meta.reverse_merge! meta_decode(original_meta)
         end
       end