This totally fits the bill its almost the same one you have pictured for $159

http://eurway.com/tables.lasso?itemid=4123&categorykey=97&subcategorykey=13&page=1&result=&-session=eo_user:D86053591b6b31FCA4gYM13F8311

i am of no help with this, but i have been looking for something like that too! just a little narrower and longer, more bench-like: but the same style.

What about this at World Market:

http://www.worldmarket.com/Furniture/living-furniture/coffee-end-console-tables/Tate-Nesting-Tables-Set-of-3/lev/4/productId/3052/Ne/1100001/Ns/NEW_ARRIVAL_FLAG|1||CATEGORY_SEQ_2894|0/N/1100043/Nty/1/view/10000/index.pro

Or this from Ikea - it has drawers, but you can't really see them.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10103719

What constitutes "very expensive" in your search so far?

CB2's Runway bench might fit the bill for you, Andreas.

thanks patrick - it would, but it has several issues for me: cb2 only ship overseas for a lot of money, its somewhat too black and not, ahem, white enough and the length is just slightly wrong. but i'll just build it myself i think...

Andreas--

You'd do better by hacking an Ikea find, I think.

I don't know what constitutes less expensive for you. The pictured coffee table looks like one that used to be carried by Armani Casa for $4000 . I recently had a piece custom made by a company in Los Angeles called Bahay (bahayhome.com). They did a great job and the cost was very reasonable. The way their customization works is you give them a concept reference (like the photo above or a sketch), general measurements, and an idea of the finish you are looking for. They will give you an estimate based on that information. If its within your budget and you want to order it, they will draw up a final sketch with measurements and all details for your approval. It took about 6 weeks from order to delivery. I am guessing they could probably do a simple coffee table like the one pictured for $500-$800 plus shipping to NY depending on size and finish. Definitely one way to get the exact size and look you are searching for and the pieces are far superior to anything you are going to find at the mass retailers like Crate and Barrel or West Elm.

The Parsons storage coffee table from West Elm isn't exactly what you are looking for, but it's close. I have it in chocolate, and I love it. Very simple, sturdy, and good, clean lines. $249 shipping, so not too expensive.

http://www.westelm.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?partNumber=WE-PRODf284&storeId=17001&langId=-1&catalogId=17002&viewSetCode=E&parentId=WE-SH1FRNCOF&retainNav=true&cmsrc=WE-SH1FRNCOF

This is actually quite a simple DIY. I know - I did mine myself b/c I wanted a simple low-profile wood coffee table but didn't want to spend a lot of money. You can buy the wood quite inexpensively and have it cut to the size and height you want at your local built centre. Pick your stain colour or prime and paint it any shade you want...Mine looks pretty great if I say so myself - and I'm totally happy with it (though I still have to 'put it together' - I'm waiting until I move!). And it costs less than $70.

I bought this table on Overstock.com - it's rreally nice and definitely looks more expensive than it actually cost.
With shipping it's about $200

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Basin-Square-Coffee-Table/2609126/product.html

Check out Ashley Furniture. They have a table Sku# T481-1 (Table name is "Watson") Should be shipping out to stores with in the next 2 months. Depends on if your Ashley dealer sells that particular sku#.