Hi, I'm trying to decide on coffee & end table materials as well. I'm thinking about maybe one end-table in glass, don't want everything to match and too much glass to me provides a "cold" look.

Besides wood/glass, I'm considering stone or composite tops with metal base. Saw a nice one (floor model on sale) at Domain two weekends ago (no one there said anything about Chapter 11), it looked a lot like limestone, but was actually a stone composite. The sales person mentioned that it was easily stained & the iron base was a bit too ornate for us anyway, but it gave us the idea to have something custom made, using limestone or a more practical composite that looks like limestone along with a simpler base--will be doing some research this weekend to see if there's a custom shop that makes them.

I'm also planning on taking a look at the "natural steel" tables that Room & Board offers. If you go on-line to their web site, you'll see a number of base table styles with choices on table tops, natural stone, composite stone, glass, etc. Prices seem pretty reasonable, not sure yet about quality and how it actually looks "in person".

Lastly, re: wood, one furniture brand for wood tables that I'll be taking a closer look at is Harden, I believe that their products are all solid wood so they can be refinished down the line. Nice style choices with this manufacturer too. Maybe someone else on the board can speak better than I as to the quality.

Michelle

I have had square wood/glass coffee table and end tables for over 25 years. They have survived unscathed through 3 children. I have found that the glass is so easy to keep-a little windex when necessary and they sparkle. Mine have just enough wood to keep them from looking too cold. I would recommend glass highly

I have children ages 6 and 8 and we have had glass end tables and a glass coffee table for over 10 years. They are iron and glass (Ethan Allen). They have held up extremely well.

The coffee table gets a ton of use from the kids. They eat on it, color on it, play toys on it. Glass is great -- I can't imagine what the finish would look like if our coffee table had been wood.

Yes, there are smears and smudges all over them, especially the coffee table. But, it is easily cleaned and I would take that to scratches anyday.

BTW, glass does scratch but it does not look anything as bad as when a wood table scratches.

I agree with valley57 and stir fryi, glass is much more time resistant than wood, once you've scratched wood there is very little to do and you give it up or live with it.
If I were you, and if I ever have to get my husband to purchase a coffee table :), then I would go for a glass-and-wood one.
Furthermore, if you put a warm dish or cup onto a wooden top you are much likely ruining it, glass can stand warm/cold/damp much better.

Hi,
You should have solid wood top table that kiln dried very well so it is not splitted or cracker for over decades.
You may source the solid mahogany and teak wood furniture manufacturer that had kiln dried their wood to avoid wood problems. You may visit below site.
Thank you.
Yours,
Muhammad

Here is a link that might be useful: Kiln dried solid mahogany and teak wood furniture

I had glass tops cut for all my solid cherry occasional tables, unfortunately not until after one suffered a small spill that removed the finish down to the bare wood. I do remove the glass and polish the wood underneath a few times a year.