We love, love using cocktail ottomans instead of cocktail tables. It's a much softer look, plus you have more versatility with it. For example, if you were to get bored with it you can always upholster it, put nailhead trims around it, change the fabric on it, make it tufted or untutfed...You get the idea.
Here are some that we kinda like from Jessica Charles. They run between $900-1000 depending on fabric.
This round cocktail ottoman is our favorite. You can get it skirted, or un-skirted as shown below.
If you like to design your own, Vanguard Furniture has a good program for personalized, customized ottoman. You can find it here. Contact us if you need help with it.