Living Room

A Vintage Wooden Coffee Table

We’d had our old coffee table for six or seven years. It was part of the Thomas O’Brien line for Target, and I still really liked it. Brandon had actually been the one who was interested in us having a new coffee table, because the old one (as cute as it is) was starting to concern him with its wobbliness. I think it’s still got some life in it yet, but I agreed we should probably look for something new.

Making it Lovely's Living Room

See ya, old chum! (Actually, it will probably be useful in the basement, if I ever get around to setting up the playroom area.)

This one below is my ideal coffee table, but I’ve been looking for one for over a year and a half with no luck.

Vintage Wood and Travertine Coffee Table

But then I found this one at the Renegade Craft Fair the weekend before last. I prefer a round table in our living room, but I had to give this one a try.

Vintage Wooden Coffee Table in Making it Lovely's Living Room

Not bad.

Vintage Wooden Coffee Table

I think there’s too much wood in the room now though. I’m thinking of getting a travertine top cut for the table to replace the wood, but I’m not sure if the legs could support the weight. I could paint the top, but I don’t think it would hold up as well with the kids, and I’m not into the distressed look. My other thought was to get a laminate top made for it because that’s what the old one was, and it held up to a lot of abuse. I’ll get a quote on the stone top first, and go from there.

Making it Lovely's Living Room

Update: I played around with it in Photoshop. I’m even more convinced now that the table needs a lighter top.

See how awesome a stone top would be?

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  • Jules
    September 20, 2012 at 2:43 pm

    I don’t think there is too much wood, but my style is definitely more traditional than yours. I think it looks great!

  • megan
    September 20, 2012 at 2:47 pm

    I’ve always lo-o-oved your old coffee table. I’d love to know if you were going to sell it!

  • Kayleigh
    September 20, 2012 at 2:48 pm

    I love it and definitely don’t think there is too much wood! Great find!

    • Making it Lovely
      September 20, 2012 at 3:00 pm

      There’s the wooden coffee tables, two matching end tables, a media console, and another end table, all in similar tones. A little too much matchy-matchy!

  • AnnW
    September 20, 2012 at 2:50 pm

    Does it have a maker”s stamp underneath? Looks like late 50’s early 60’s to me, a nice classic piece, maybe Drexel? The stone could make the table top heavy and then you know what will happen. I would first try several coats of paste wax. Then I would remove the workbench thing which is just begging to be used. You only have three wooden tables in there now. You could eventually add a skirted table (with a padded cover ) as a replacement for an end table, if you wouldn’t feel too suburban. Just don’t over think everything. Another choice if that is your play area, is a piece of oilcloth. Remove when company comes. Ann

    • Making it Lovely
      September 20, 2012 at 3:38 pm

      No identifying stamp anywhere, so it’s just a random MCM piece of furniture.

      I’m not tied to the end tables (other than the fact that they were only $10 each, which is awesome), but I’m not a fan of skirted tables. And we do have too much wood in the room, so something needs to change.

  • Kathryn
    September 20, 2012 at 3:08 pm

    I like your dream piece, I was looking for similar when I got ours from CB2 cause I could never find the right one. I did find this though http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/fuo/3241349396.html

    • Making it Lovely
      September 20, 2012 at 3:35 pm

      Nice, but again, not perfect. I’m ridiculously picky in this regard. I basically only want the one I can’t have!

      • Kathryn
        September 20, 2012 at 4:45 pm

        Took me three years to find one I liked, I feel your pain. Finn thought my revolving coffee tables were insane.

  • jane davila
    September 20, 2012 at 3:24 pm

    Another thought would be to have a piece of glass (or plexi) cut to the size of the top of the table and then you could add fabric or wrapping paper or wallpaper (including maybe a white/grey faux marble or one of those funky embossed but solid-colored ones) under it and swap it out as the whim takes you. Have the edges of the glass/plexi finished so they’re smooth and non-ouchy.

  • Mary
    September 20, 2012 at 3:38 pm

    I agree, it may seem too “matchy-matchy” but I love the way your living room looks with the new table. I think it compliments the other pieces of furniture wonderfully.

  • Bridget
    September 20, 2012 at 3:47 pm

    I’d keep the table and swap out the end tables for something new. There are so many colorful inexpensive end tables out there. Maybe the current end tables become night stands in a bedroom or serve as extra office storage. Can’t wait to see what you decide.

  • Becca :: Making Room in Sicily
    September 20, 2012 at 3:54 pm

    A friend of mine covered her flat oval-shaped coffee table with an old quilt. It was eclectic and totally worked in her living room. She said, “My kids are always putting their feet up on the coffee table to watch TV, so I thought I’d put something on there that wouldn’t show the scratches as much.” It’s like an ottoman without any padding, sturdy and flat enough for coffee cups but more comfortable and forgiving than wood on feet, AND super cute. I’d never seen it before and I loved it!

  • Jessica
    September 20, 2012 at 4:05 pm

    I like it! I agree that I get the “too much wood” feeling too, but I do like the table as is if you can’t afford the stone top or have continuing concerns about stability. I think you could also do fun things with new side tables, like some of the stuff from West Elm that’s colorful/acrylic/white ceramic looking. They’ve got lots of great options that I can picture in the room.

    • Making it Lovely
      September 20, 2012 at 4:39 pm

      I’m hesitant to give up the function of our current end tables though. They’re large enough to hold a big table lamp on each, they have drawers, and they store toys.

      • Jessica
        September 20, 2012 at 4:45 pm

        Oh, I feel ya. We’ve got the “wood-world” feeling going on in our master bedroom right now, between the almost 200-yo poplar floors and our nightstands/other furniture. In my world, it’s a no-brainer that it’s the nightstands that gotta give, but they are so darn practical with their little shelves and drawers! But I pine for something pretty and sleek. Like these: http://www.westelm.com/products/random-base-side-table-marble-g683/?pkey=cside-tables

      • AnnW
        September 21, 2012 at 12:18 am

        How about lacquered squarish end tables in a color with two doors closed with an Asian motif as the closure. Matter of Style seems to show them a lot, or is it Censational Girl? Toy storage is vital.

  • Kristín
    September 20, 2012 at 4:50 pm

    Very pretty. :)

  • Making it Lovely
    September 20, 2012 at 5:07 pm

    OK. I updated the post with a doctored photo showing what a travertine top might look like. I think it’s the way to go.

  • eskimo*rose
    September 20, 2012 at 5:32 pm

    I love the leg detail … at first I wasn’t sure about the lighter top, but seeing your photoshop jobby, I actually think it makes the leg detail stand out more, so I’ve totally come around to your way of thinking … but you’re right the weight may be an issue … Hummm, could you resurface the very to with a white laminate?

  • casacaudill
    September 20, 2012 at 5:44 pm

    My grandparents had something similar and I wanted it so bad for my house but my uncle sold it for $25 at a yard sale when he cleaned out their house. I weeped.

  • Kristine
    September 20, 2012 at 5:53 pm

    Love the travertine look and the lines of the table are gorgeous. How on earth did you do that so realistically in Photoshop? Seriously, do you have a tutorial for that? Would luv, luv, luv to know how to change the colour of stuff so perfectly, especially without effecting adjoining objects.

    • Making it Lovely
      September 20, 2012 at 8:28 pm

      It’s all about masks in Photoshop.

  • Mary
    September 20, 2012 at 6:11 pm

    Hi Nicole,

    I just spotted this and thought of your blog. It’s not round, but its travertine and its pretty!

    http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/fuo/3281997323.html

    • Making it Lovely
      September 20, 2012 at 8:28 pm

      I like the spindle legs! It’s far too big for my house, but it’s a cool table.

  • Kathy
    September 20, 2012 at 8:33 pm

    I really love your new table!! I agree a stone top would be awesome. Those legs are so cool and I like the shape better than the round.

  • mandy @ this girl's life
    September 21, 2012 at 9:13 am

    Ooh love it! I agree on the white top though…that will make it perfect for the space. Loved your old table too!

  • Jamie
    September 21, 2012 at 12:03 pm

    I can’t help but notice the beautiful wooden toy wrench set on top of the table. Who makes it?

  • Kristyn @ Organic Grey
    September 21, 2012 at 3:52 pm

    i love it! i agree with you, it’s too much wood–i like the idea of making a stone top for it or something. or even switching up other pieces of wood furniture in the room could help!

    xo,
    kristyn

  • Jessica
    September 21, 2012 at 6:33 pm

    The white brings the cheer back! Love it! I tend to be traditional at times, but honestly, the pop of white seems more you. More happy! Yay!

  • Kate
    September 22, 2012 at 12:43 am

    Oooh, Nicole where did you get those striped pillows with the pink tassels? They are so cute!

  • mitchelll
    September 22, 2012 at 9:23 am

    as for painting the top, if you use an adhesive primer, high quality paint, and a couple of coats of poly, it should hold up. and if you want it to look like travertine, it’s an easy stone to mimic with a faux finish.

  • Evelyn W
    September 22, 2012 at 12:20 pm

    Lurve the lighter top! And the brown pillow with the (pink?) heart! Great updates! Very cozy and warm.

  • Kim @ Yellow Brick Home
    September 23, 2012 at 3:43 pm

    We have a round coffee table too, and I always wanted to do something to the top to make it a little more interesting and not so… wood-y? I never thought about laminate! Hmmm, much to think about now!

    Go stone!

  • Making it Lovely
    September 24, 2012 at 11:27 am

    The quote came in for a travertine top. Looks like it would be $350 or so at the cheapest.

  • Melanie
    September 24, 2012 at 3:51 pm

    OMG! Your dream coffee table is also my dream coffee table! For serious! The *exact* same. And I have never had any luck tracking it down… sigh. I eventually found a round mcm table on craigslist that works but it’s just not the same… PS, the lighter top looks great! I say go for it!

  • Nicole
    September 25, 2012 at 11:21 am

    I love circular coffee tables. It made me think of this one: http://www.cb2.com/smart-round-marble-top-coffee-table/f4971

  • how2home
    September 26, 2012 at 3:46 pm

    I agree, there is too much wood in the room. But with the lighter colour top, it totally makes a big difference.

  • Nicole M.
    September 26, 2012 at 5:11 pm

    You could always do a glass top….but spray paint the back of it white! That is if the stone would be too heavy. Just a thought :)

  • Sonja
    October 19, 2012 at 11:09 am

    That stone top really is amazing! I would love to have a table like that in my house… wonder how expensive a stone slab like that is. Oh well, I’ll just keep dreaming :)

  • Kathy
    November 1, 2012 at 12:20 pm

    Really nice coffe table, I also suggest you to have a look at http://www.livingdesignhome.com/2012/07/stingray-coffee-table-by-stephan-veit/ it is very modern and I like it.

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    December 6, 2012 at 1:49 pm

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  • Jeff
    May 8, 2013 at 12:22 pm

    This table is very cool. I like the old fashion look to the round table. This could go great in almost any room.

  • Adrienne
    August 13, 2013 at 1:33 pm

    Hello! New reader here….was randomly scouring your blog pages…There is an antique store in my area that is selling that exact coffee table that you want, the round one – http://www.antiquesandeclectika.com/ If you look under the furniture link and scroll through the pages. This post was over a year ago so I’m sure you’ve moved on, who knows if they’d be willing to ship (I’m in CA), but I thought I’d share anyways. I happened upon it in person just the other day, it was a very pretty table :)

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