I think the pair will be more practical. They can also be pulled up to one or the other sofas as needed.

Can we see your original table? I find my painted table holds up very well with kids and I like knowing I can repaint if needed. Would painting your current table be an option?

Your rug is gorgeous.

The pair is practical -- and you could use baskets under it for the lego collections.

Another vote for the pair. I think the first, while not knowing the dimensions, looks too massive for the room. I also like the color of the pair better than the last one.

And, if you didn't happen to see this post, look at what a lighter weight look did for lisa_mocha's living room. WoW! See it HERE.

Another vote for the pair of tables. The versatility with 2 sofas would be good. I love your room. It is warm and cozy; beckons you in to sit a while. You can't beat that!

I agree... The pair! They'll offer more versatility and with the kids and their Lego piles, the shelf below offers a spot if needed to pile into a basket..

I'm with Annie...cozy room and Love the window bench area too:)

Thanks3dogs too:)

I too like the pair and the practicality they will provide. Pretty room!

I like the pair, too .... the tops and legs will hold up well to heavy usage, they look nice, and as others have said, are versatile for moving around. Plus, each boy can have his own table for Lego projects. :)

I prefer the pair too but, check the dimensions, they may not have the length of a regular coffee table. You don't want any surprises.

You might need 3 of "the pair" to fill out the space. Also search for bunching tables for more options like this.

The pair with baskets underneath. The only potential caveat: How sharp are those edges? Your kids are older, but if there's some pushing....

The one problem I see with 2 or 3 tables is that they'd never end up aligned and that would drive me crazy.

What is the maximum width the table could be to comfortably walk by?

http://www.wayfair.com/Coffee-Tables-l441-c414602-O3722~Rectangle.html

I see lots of possibilities on this site.

I like the pair, too. Are they from Ballard Designs? If so, I have the matching end tables from the same line and I can report that they are bulletproof and the edges are not sharp at all.

I prefer the pair, as well. But I'm biased, because I bought similar table after my kitchen reno creeped.

Yet another vote for the pair. They are nice looking, and seems like they'd be very functional for your room. Put them together for Lego building, pull one to each side for drinks etc.

Thank you all! I thought I posted last night but must have goofed. The unanimous opinion of GW makes my decision for me!! I really appreciate the help!

I should add that my husband now is making noises about lining them up as @k9arlene suggested. But he's probably OCD and definitely anti-lego - his evening routine is cleaning every last bit of kid stuff from the living room. There is a full-size coffee table version as well, but I actually like the idea of the pair because I can imagine them being used that way.

@my3dogs, seeing the post from @lisa_mocha was what steeled my nerve to post. I love the transformation in her space from switching out the coffee table; it was such a lovely room to start but changing the table takes it to another level. In my case, anything I do will be an improvement over what I have now!

@anele_gw, I probably should/could refinish the current table. It's been wildly durable. I didn't actually mind it all that much until I bought a new rug. Under a mostly cream rug, I didn't mind the fact that the whitewash was wearing off; for this faded reddish color rug, the coffee table has truly become an eyesore. I usually have good luck giving things away on CL, so hopefully the old table can go to someone with more skills/time to rehabilitate it.

@yayagal, the pair together would be smaller than the table that is there already. I (wrongly) tend to fill every available space, so I'm thinking maybe it would be good to have more space. And I can always add a third if the need arises; that's probably easier than buying 3 and returning 1 if it seems too cramped.

@sueb, these are the "bunching" version of the Ballard coffee table (Durham). Do you like yours? The reviews of the series are mostly positive, so I'm hopeful.

Thank you all so much - sometimes my solo decorating decisions come out reasonably well, but I've had enough expensive goofs that it's so valuable to have feedback from a group of experts!

Yes, I have the Durham end tables and I do really like them even though they are the poor stepsisters to my higher end furniture in the same room. I like having the lower shelf and they are extremely sturdy.

Yay, for the pair of tables! That is a gorgeous red rug!

The pair. Option 1 looks outdated 80s/90s.

Back again - you all were so helpful that I wanted to update this post (and of course ask a follow-up question!) I wound up disobeying the GW mandate after my husband balked at the pair of tables. He is anti-anything that seems rustic, and his OCD-ness seemed to kick in with respect to the chore of aligning multiples.

I spent the past few weeks freakishly obsessed over this, and wound up back at the giant furniture place in the way hinterlands of Northern Virginia and came back with something totally different.

I found a floor model of a marble/composite table by Bernhardt; it's a matte beige color, which wasn't my original intent. But it satisfied the main criteria of being reasonably Lego-proof and Windex-resistant, and it will enable a lot of kid activity without overwhelming the room. Plus it kind of classes the place up, or at least doesn't make it feel any more ramshackle than it already is.

Since the table legs are brushed gold, I'm going to replace the mirrors on either side of the window.

Here's my new question! I also need to rethink the overhead light I'd picked which was to replace an old ceiling fan. I have a chandelier fetish, but am trying to hold myself back due to 8ft ceilings. This one below seems like a safe choice and it would actually light the room well, but is it too colonial looking?

I suggest starting a new thread for the lights question.

Oh I love that first one, would you share the name of it? And your table looks great!!!!

The table is perfect!! Like I said above, the two tables would have driven me crazy as well. I prefer the 2nd light fixture. Also, you could paint the mirror frames.

Table is fantastic and very functional!!!!

LOVE the table choice! I like the second light best for the space.

Thanks again for all the help! I will probably go with the second light fixture. @gramarows, the first one is by Harbour Point and I found it on Lamps Plus: http://www.lampsplus.com/products/harbour-point-19-inch-wide-liberty-gold-ceiling-light__2w943.html

Love the coffee table! I adore light #1! It is very unique. The second one I have seen many times. I love to see new things such as light #1. It is striking. My next choice would be #3.

Ok, @aktillery9, you convinced me: maybe I'll buy both and see which one seems best in the space. (SO much easier to do with lighting than with tables, which is one of the reasons that this has taken me the better part of a year to pick!) The first one would project only 9 inches from the ceiling which is probably sensible in my small house of tall boys and men. I did find another candidate but it's about 16"x16" which is probably too much in my small room:

I think the second one is perfect as the shapes on it mimic the lovely coffee table legs. Going to look wonderful.