No digital camera, so I can't post a photo -- BUT hopefully I can describe it.

For years I had an armillary sundial in the center of my squarish coffee table. The "table" is about the size of Shee's new table, but mine has more of a leather shipping trunk feel. A few months ago I layered the table.

The first layer is a large square of very loosely woven fabric about the size of the table, angled so the corners drape over the centers of the sides. (The fabric is from my drapes which I deconstructed years ago, mistreated some of the fabric around the rod (this was waaaaaay before the Nester was posting about window mistreatments, lol). So this fabric matches my window mistreatments. Instead of hemming the fabric, I pulled threads so that there is an inch or so of fringe.

Then I spray painted a large circular stainless steel platter (20" in diameter?) that I hadn't used in years oil rubbed bronze (ORB) and arranged on it:

- the armillary sundial in the center
- an 8 - 10 inch stone bird that I bought this fall at Tuesday Morning at 90% off. It was a reddish stone, so I also spray painted that ORB. This is on one side of the tray.
- on the opposite side I have an ivory skinny-armed starfish, three starfish marbles (I googled images of starfish, found an image I liked, printed TINY copies and glued them to the bottom of clear glass flat-bottomed marbles) and an upcycled toilet paper tube that I made which color coordinates.

I am pleased with it AND so is DH.

My great room coffee table is has a square wrought iron base and limestone top. I keep the side next to the sofa cleared for feet and whatever else sofa people have. :) On the far side, I have an antique porcupine quill lap desk. On either side of it, I have a few decorating books (hardcover) and each has an antler or horn on top. We live in a valley, with a lot of wildlife, so I brought in more "natural" items after we moved. I also have a long, wooden vintage cigar press (can sort of be seen in the photo, if you know what to look for). It has a number and seal engraved and it interesting. Adds texture too. Scroll down in the link to see great room photo.

In the lower level den, the coffee table is an old, square wooden kitchen table cut down to size. We've had it almost 30 years. There is a photo album I made for DH of our house build. We were very hands on, took pictures almost every single day. There is a wooden plate/low bowl with large seed pods and a snakeskin covered box. If you want to see that, click on the Part II home tour link at the bottom of Part I.

The sunroom has a wood twig coffee table. I have a stack of favorite Veranda and Southern Accent magazines, a small lacy fern in a copper pot and two vintage metal containers (one rectangular with lettering on top and the other is round).

Here is a link that might be useful: my house

Allison, Your home is stunning! This is not the first time I've looked at your pictures, but I appreciate them more every time I see them!

I don't like to overdecorate a coffee table because in my house, the coffee table tends to be a catchall area for all kinds of stuff. But having a new glass table gave me an opportunity to at least decorate the bottom level! I have a basket that contains misc stuff; a stack of books topped by a plaque (couldn't find a spot for it on the wall so just popped it here) with antique typesetters letters; and a bowl filled with amazing pebbles that I found in CA a couple of years ago. The top is simple -- just a tray with a candle, a frog statue that makes me smile, and coasters. Not sure if you can also see a special decorating element on the table top -- white dog fur. Not everyone can pull off the Decorating With Dog Fur, but I've learned to embrace it.

I have two coffee tables in our one-and-only living room -- a dark oval mahogany one AND an old painted wood trunk.

I have an dark woven oval tray with a couple of decor books, some coasters and a creamy white candle on the oval mahogany table.

And a small pile of oversize decor books on the painted trunk.

I do like using using trays to "corral" items and make it easier to lift things off the table at one time.

Thank you, Tryingtodecorate. :)