Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Inspiration: Cocktail Tables & Accessories

I've kind of been obsessing lately about getting a new cocktail table in our living room...the one we've been living with for the past couple of years is from IKEA and while it's held up well, I'm ready for a "real" table! I want a giant square cocktail table where I can place a large tray stacked with books, cool accessories and fresh flowers. I've gathered images of a wide range of table styles and ways to accessorize them. You'll see large upholstered ottomans used as tables with stacks of books, trays, etc.; small tables placed side by side; tables filled with artifacts or objects that make for great conversation pieces; vases of fresh flowers, etc. What's on your cocktail table? Do you prefer minimal accessories or lots of stuff?





9 comments:

  1. AnonymousJune 09, 2009

    What fabulous rooms!! I have a leather ottoman in my living room space with a tray, which is typically used for drinks & a popcorn bowl during movie night. I love the stacked books, but with a 3 yr old in the house, they are all over the place..

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  2. love these images. i have an unusual cocktail table in front of our couch. hand made by a local furniture artist (really, he's exceptional). the base of the table is the base of an old wood stove, anotherwords, the legs and the square base, black metal like a wood stove. the top is really light pumpkin pine, almost a bit orange-y. it's square but he rounded the edges. i'll have to take a picture sometime. really neat. i lately put everything to the back edge, small stack of poetry and drawing books, a sculpture (small) from finland where my best friend lives, a basket of seashells and a stack of different sized hand carved wooden boxes. sorry for the ramble :)

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  3. AnonymousJune 09, 2009

    All of those room are beautiful! I love the ottomans as cocktail/coffee tables best, so sweet and charming!

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  4. I love the wallpaper on the second photo! Beautiful!!!!!

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  5. I have a longish room and have two tables. One is actually a tool box from a prairie schooner, dubbed The Coffin. Nothing could hurt it. Beautiful patina and filled with stacks of books and boxes as "finials." At the other end is a round oak table my mother-in-law had cut down in a "fit of inspiration." Again, more books and more boxes. I the form of boxes and the opportunity to store pens, notebooks, etc. I like the stories they tell me.

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  6. On my cocktail table, I have a wrought iron "banana boat" shaped candle holder with nutmeg scented candles. I have coasters I purchased from the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam as well :)

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  7. This is a great roundup. I really like the 4th, 6th and 10th. I love really big ones that you can pile lots of interesting books and momentos on but due to space, we have a narrow one. I try to keep it clutter free but right now there is a really high stack of magazines, a tray with all the remotes and a small vase of flowers.

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  8. I like the minimal look of tables. Too cluttered makes me feel like I'd never remember where anything is. I do like the fresh flowers idea. Very stunning.

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  9. great pictures! on my table there's always magazines, candle holders and quite too often my macbook pro. lovely weekend!

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Thank you for your comments! I appreciate you stopping by :)