Have you ever wondered why a coffee table is called a "coffee table"? This is a coffee table we finished up a while back and it had us asking that question. So, we did some research and this is what we discovered.
In America, the production of coffee tables increased rapidly in the early twentieth century. The low, rectangular table was specifically marketed to the average homeowner. The president of the Imperial Furniture Company, one J. Stuart Foote, claimed to have invented the modern day coffee table in 1920. His story was he cut down the legs of a table and when he saw the result, it occurred to him that if he placed it in front of the sofa it would be perfect for the setting down of one's coffee. Thus, the coffee table was born.
Whether Mr. Foote invented the coffee table or not is up for debate, either way we're thankful that this type of table came into existence. Without it, where would we put our books, magazines, vases and our beverages of choice? This simple coffee table is crafted from wood that we reclaimed from a train depot in Acworth, Ga built back in the 1870's (before the invention of the coffee table 😉). ☕️☕️☕️☕️
(For more info on the history of the coffee table check out this article: https://homesteady.com/about-4600337-history-coffee-table.html)