Coffee Table Re-mix

When we were first moving into our apartment, Tyler's mother offerred to give us her outdoor coffee table. Of course, we don't have an outdoor space, but we did need one for our indoor living room. The table was/is gorgeous. It is a big rectangle of heavy, weathered metal that looks super rustic and cool. We loved it and were happy to bring it home.

Last week, Tyler's mom called and let us know that she would be needing the table back. While we still loved the table, this news was actually very exciting. In our many months with the table, we'd come to realize that while gorgeous, it wasn't the best fit for the space we had. So, we're giving the table back, and more importantly, this gives me the opportunity to find a new one!

Naturally, I'm not super keen on buying a new, expensive table, when I can buy something much cheaper that I can then make-over using some Jessica-magic. Tyler and I have both agreed that we think something circular might be best. Our living room is currently filled with right-angles, and this will hopefully soften up the space. Here are a couple of my ideas:

Option #1:

I love the idea of using "wine barrels" to create a coffee table. Home Depot sells these for about $30 each, which is totally reasonable! 

Option #2:

This table is something I think Tyler would definitely appreciate. It's got that modern, geometric aesthetic that he likes. I think a darker stain would be better in our apartment, but I like the overall look. 

Clearly, you can see I appreciate the combination of a glass top and wood base, and our living space would definitely benefit from the more open, airy feel. I'm hoping a glass top will help to create that vibe.

At this point, who knows what it will be, but craigslist here I come!