apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Sorry, I personally never was a fan of this trend. To me, a bench is not a table. I want a firm, solid place to put my drink, not a tiny tray perched on a bench.

I AM a fan of poufs, though. They neatly tuck under the coffee table and can easily be pulled out and used during parties.

Naw... I much prefer wood. If you have a cat it will become Kitty Central in short order. Cat lair, yes... coffee or food or drinkies, no. Just one cat's opinion.

I have a nice glass coffee table and side table that I bought on major clearance at DWR. Unfortunately, one of my chihuahuas (I have two) leaped off the sofa and as she was landing her head literally slammed the top of the glass coffee table. It took her a while before she stopped shaking.

So, as much as I love the coffee table and side table, I'm currently in the market for a upholstered ottoman table. I'll probably get one of the upholstered (in a non-leather fabric) round ones that I saw on the Room and Board website, even though it's a bit more than I want to spend.

I absolutely love upholstered coffee tables/ottomans. I've used them many times in projects. Many of my clients like the storage version where the top comes up and there's plenty of storage inside for pillows, games and more. Here's a link to one I made for a client. You don't even know there's storage inside.

http://www.cheekyliving.com/projects/residence--3/living-room-one

enjoy!

-Karen
www.cheekyliving.com
http://blog.cheekyliving.com/

I never liked this trend either. I think I prefer not having everything upholstered.

#1 does not work. That's a day bed. In the center of the room... the flat panel is awkwardly in a corner. Huh?!?!

Another negative vote here -- these things are neither functional nor attractive. Don't ask a coffee table to do an ottoman's job... or vice versa. Otherwise you wind up with something that doesn't do either job well.

To each his own. I can't stand coffee tables- I don't like to put my feet on them, so where DO you put your tired feet after a long day?

So some of the above options appeal to me. I do prefer a smaller piece, though. But then again, I prefer small spaces!

I love the look. I have a mongolian lambswool coffee table that I made myself. The top of course is white lambswool, and the legs are covered in sisal rope.

I have an upholstered coffee table right now but find I use it as a footstool and it's difficult to put drinks on - the trays and the feet are always competing for space. However, I do like the look and will probably keep it as extra seating in the living room when I get a glass coffee table.

Agreed, not feelin the bench thing. Something sturdy, please.

I prefer a hard surface coffee table in my own space, but good friends have an oversized tufted ottoman that serves as their coffee table - it's quite possibly the best piece of furniture they've ever invested in.

It serves as extra seating during parties, they have sturdy wooden trays for drinks, and if people crash the two side chairs pull up to the ottoman and it becomes makeshift bedding.

And it's great to put your feet up and watch a movie without sharp edges diggin into your calves.

I think I would lean towards soft. I do like the idea of extra seating and being able to put your feet up without the guilt. Also, I use a sidetable, rather then a coffeetable, for drinks. Regular tables are great in many ways, but in real life, they seem to be super junk-catchers. It is a bit less tempting to pile junk where someone might be sitting.

But maybe there is a middle ground. What about 3 small cubes grouped together...one wooden table, and 2 upholstered ottomans. If they were the same size and shape, it could look great and give you the best of both worlds.

I found a great table ottoman from the 70s - had it re-upholstered and it really does work - I can put my feet up, I can throw something over it to change it up, the dogs bounce from it to the sofa - it has rolling feet too - so if I don't want it in there or need to move it - it's a zip - I grew up with a sitting room - with stuffy Queen Anne chairs, ottomans and accent tables - this is like the best of both worlds for me - oddly enough I never thought about using a tray for guests - using it in lieu of a standard coffee table table keeps me from having food & drinks in that space - I may whip one out to see - but not sure of how that will go with wheels & dogs

I think #1 works well, even if as a day bed, if the room is large enough for it...why not? nice color scheme, tv in corner is awkward though...

#2...I think the pollock brings the texture into the room, not the drabby ottomon. bleh.

To each his own - It's just an option.

When I sold furniture, I particularly liked showing these to couples with children - it seemed to settle the need for soft things that little ones would pull themselves up on...
...and it works well for guys who like to put their feet up.

For me personally, I prefer a nice large coffee table w/ drawers and storage for remote controls - but then I have other footstools scattered around the living room...