DIY coffee table: wood recommendations?

We have a coffee table in our living room. I love the functionality of the table, because it's one of the pop-out deals, which is great for family game night and working on my laptop in front of the TV, or eating and watching TV. The size is also perfect 4 foot square, give or take.

The problem is that it really doesn't match our living room furniture. It's made out of solid wood for the legs/frame and plywood for the the top.

What I would like to do is re-use the "pop-up" hardware, but with a different wood choice, and stain it to match the rest of the furniture.

What kind of wood should I be looking at? Other than workbenches and stuff in the garage, I have never built any furniture.

I have 2 young kids, and another on the way, so durability a concern....

 

This is one I made of oak in a Mission style that matches other furniture I have. It measures 25" W X 42" L X 18" H (when closed--26"H when open) and is on hidden casters. The top is 1x2 strips glued with biscuits and breadboard ends. One thing to consider is the weight of the top. Check Rockler.com or Google to get weight capacities of various pop-up mechanisms. The weight of my top somewhat dictated the size. I use it in my family room and it is perfect for eating at when watching TV.

It was a great project. Good luck with yours.

 

You could always use a veneer of your favorite wood to change the characteristics of the top surface. I doubt that the edges are square enough to veneer them as well.

Another side thought, we had a red table at townhouse we bought for a vacation rental in a ski resort. Didn't care much for the red, but the table was functional. Used oil base black glossy enamel to paint the top solid black while leaving the legs red. Loved the results.

 

Oak is my preference for stained wood but there are many options. Do you know what the rest of your furniture is?

 

2john, I have the matching end table:

https://www.doityourself.com/your-pr...end-table-1825

This is quarter-sawn white oak.

oguruma, these mission style pieces are pretty basic designs, i.e. not overly complex. One like 2john's would seem to be ideal.

 

Is it the color of the wood or the style that doesn't match? pics of what you have would be nice - How to insert pictures.

 

The_tow_Guy: Great looking table. Thanks for the link. I usually only check the Forums page and I was not aware that there is also a projects page.

Mission/Arts & Crafts style furniture is not difficult to make. The pop-up table is my own design (could not find a pattern, kit, or ready -made) but obviously based on Stickley/Limbert/etc. There are lots of catalogs and how-to books for the style. If oguruma or others are interested I can post pictures taken during construction to the projects page. My house is a 1912 Shingle style and I have made similar built-in bookcases, radiator cover, double desk with filing, and a credenza for plasma TV--all in stained oak that fits the style of the house.

As marker says if we see pictures of what oruguma has or wants to match we can give more specific suggestions.