Thanks, everyone! The C&B table is really great, joinery or no; it just strikes me as foolish to spend that much on a coffee table that will inevitably get little-boy-ified. The HD and JC tables are pine, alas, which will get dented really fast. Kathypass, that furnitureontheweb site has another table (link below) I really like, though no idea which wood it is. Have you had good experiences with this site? I'm reluctant to buy from unknown vendors. An architect friend suggested taking out the glass and putting in plexi. how does this look, does anyone know? (I suspect I am over the line as far as over-thinking/over-researching this goes!) Here is a link that might be useful: another possible coffee table

That is a beautiful room and the table is great. I haven't shopped these, but maybe they will help... http://www.rockymountaindecor.com/category/rustic-coffee-end-table-furniture?gclid=CJmR7eK-pZ8CFSUlagodx0C11A http://www.allcoffeetables.com/Rustic-Coffee-Table-Sets-C14771.html http://www.coffeetablesgalore.com/search/index.cfm?Ntt=rustic%20coffee%20table&Ntk=all&source=googleaw&kwid=rustic%20coffee%20table&tid=phrase Hopefully a sharp eye will come along and recognize that table you posted. I have a large sturdy coffee table in my family room...often at parties I don't put anything on it and people sit on it, it's really great for that, I never worry about it breaking. Other times I serve appetizers on it. I bought it years ago at an unfinished furniture store and stained it myself. It is fully covered with a fabric throw and I have magazines hidden on the lower level. :-)

I shopped for my coffee table for 4 years. They just don't make many like what I wanted and needed: a. Must be open bottomed with legs, not pedestal (I have dogs that chase balls through all the tables in my house) b. Must be oval to fit in nicely in the space c. No glass (too hard to clean BTDT) d. Traditional styling, but NO Queen Anne legs, preferably no metal either e. No more than 48" in length So you see, I had a LOT of "musts"! I finally found one I could love in January after umpteen bajillion google searches - here it is... Here is a link that might be useful: Not a true oval, but close enough for me...

The current coffee table seems too small to my eye, and too dark as well. I'm not sure how much is the photography, but between the sectional, fireplace, and the TV unit, there is a lot of "dark" in your room. Adding color, or choosing a coffee table that is visually light (like the glass top one My3dogs suggested), will add some energy to the room. If you go with an ottoman, I would look for one that picked up the yellow from the pillow, maybe in a multi-colored print.