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Coffee Tables and Ottomans are Not Created Equal

June 18, 2012
One thing on this week's agenda is to finish up our family room and finally do a full-reveal/budget breakdown.  We have been on a slight hiatus from the project (doesn't that always happen near the end?) as we turned our attention to the studio (which we are also capping off this week) and our month-long travel extravaganza--no, "extravaganza" sounds way too fun for what we just endured.  Travel responsibilities.  There.  Better.  But now that we're home and a family once more, we are ready to get down to business.  One thing that we have been waiting to address is the coffee table in the family room.  It was actually a hand-me-down from my sister and it has served a purpose.  It made us realize we really do want something around this size in front of the couch to prop our feet up on and to place snacks and drinks for movie  The Bachelorette night.

We also realized this coffee table is quite possible the most uncomfortable thing to prop your feet up on ever!  Trust us, we have been at it for about a month now and the heels of my feet bark every time.  It's hard and the edges are sharp.  It is the opposite of the effect we are going for--comfort.  This weekend we did bring home a white storage ottoman to try out in the space, but we learned another thing that we like about the overall look of this table--it's light on the eyes.

The opened sides take up less visual square footage and even though it is dark--it doesn't feel heavy like storage ottomans that sit completely on the ground can.  Also, the white ottoman we brought home was only about as wide as one couch cushion.  My bad.  We had a good laugh and took it back and the search is still on.

Here's a round-up of ottomans we have our eyes on for the space:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

The first and second one are actually the same, just different colors and I still can't decide if I want to go light or dark with the foot bench.  Both are leather, with wood bases and steel legs--win, win, win.

Number 3 is the right size and I love the "X" base that is really on-trend right now, but it may be a little too formal for the family room.  We'd like to keep things uber-casual down there.

The fourth option combines light and dark, which would settle the problem I am having picking one.  And I absolutely adore the square frame.  Yum.

Number 5 is more simplistic in its tufting and frame and that may be just what the doctor ordered.

Lastly, number 6 is actually a storage ottoman, but sits off the floor so it doesn't feel as heavy to me.  The storage would be a perk, but the visual weight might leave it on the nix list in the end.

What's your favorite?  Our feet are begging us to decide soon!

Psst.  We revealed this month's chalkboard drawing late Friday.  Click here to check it out.

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  2. can't wait to see. We tufted a homemade ottoman and make the matching fabric buttons.... well they are all gone now because of our feet and blankets! already made will be the way we go when we update the living room.

  3. That was the initial idea, actually! However, we'd have to cut down the legs on the current coffee table (it is a little too tall without all the batting on top) and hope it doesn't sacrifice the stability and then find a good quality leather or leather look-alike so it stays wipeable. There are so many ifs which is why we decided to see what was available already made. We'll see where we end up.

  4. That was the initial idea, actually! However, we'd have to cut down the legs on the current coffee table (it is a little too tall without all the batting on top) and hope it doesn't sacrifice the stability and then find a good quality leather or leather look-alike so it stays wipeable. There are so many ifs which is why we decided to see what was available already made. We'll see where we end up.

  5. That was the initial idea, actually! However, we'd have to cut down the legs on the current coffee table (it is a little too tall without all the batting on top) and hope it doesn't sacrifice the stability and then find a good quality leather or leather look-alike so it stays wipeable. There are so many ifs which is why we decided to see what was available already made. We'll see where we end up.

  6. Personally I like #4. do you have plans for the current coffee table? ever thing about apolstering the top of it?

  7. Why don't you re-purpose the current table? Paint it white or grey and add some foam and fabric to the top for some cushion?

  8. So this is the conundrum for me - where will you put your drinks?? We have ottoman cubes in front of our couch, which are so great for foot resting, but I don't ever feel like I can put a drink on them, which bugs me. Maybe you'll get one of those tray thingeys that sits on top. Kay, so a couple of days ago, I nominated you for a Kreativ Blogger award. Um, which doesn't get any perks, but I'm supposed to tell the people I nominated, so there ya go!! Oh, and I vote for ottoman number three. That X shape is too cool to pass up.

  9. How about upolstering the top of that table you have? There must be 875 tutorials in blog land on how to do it. You could even do a tufted button look fairly easily, maybe refinish the bottom? Just a thought :)

  10. My first instinct was #4, but after looking at them a little more I am feeling 6. You have a young family - you might want something less formal and something about the storage makes it feel more family oriented to me. And I kind of like the dark color better next to the light colored couch.

  11. I'm torn between 3 and 4. I don't think 3 looks too formal... but then again what do I know :). I just love the x shape and you could still store some things underneath it if you really needed to because of the open space. Plus it looks super comfy :). I love 4 because of the box frame. It looks super cool and it gives nice clean lines and open space. And again, if you needed too you could put some baskets underneath it and store some stuff. And I do like the dark and light combo.

  12. I love the look of numbers 1 and 4. Out of the two, I'd choose #1 simply because vacuuming under number 4 would be a pain. Having to move furniture around to vacuum isn't something I'm into.

  13. I have number four in a camel colored leather (healy bench from overstock). I love the look of it with our couch but I often times wish I'd gone for storage. So, my vote would probably be the storage ottoman.

  14. Number 4 caught my attention right away, but I also love how dark number 3 is. But I think 4 would flow best in the room.

  15. LOVE number 4 and 5. We are propping our feet on a wood surface too and my feet bark so quickly after putting them up it is pretty ridonkulous! (heck ya, bachelorette monday!!). I always put a pillow under my feet but this is a great thing to look into. The mom in me says, go storage!!! storage storage!!! We seem to always be lacking in secret storage spaces.

  16. I am in love with #1. I think the dark would look best because you have so much white already and you don't have to worry about dirty feet or shoes getting the white all messy :)

  17. Oh, I LOVE #4. The light and dark combo is lovely. But two things give me pause. First, how would the cream color play with the white built-ins and gray walls? (Come to think of it, your drop cloth curtains are cream, right? So I guess that would work.) Second, it looks a little tall. Probably a dumb question, but have you checked that the height is what you want?

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