eames eliptical coffee table - black or white?  

Are you also...
Fat and elegant?
White would be my choice.

Me too
a white table against the black sofa will look nice. The soft edges with little ones is a good idea, but when I was looking for a coffee table, I didn't consider the Eames because I think it's a bit too low.
Good choice, tho.

Black, I suppose. But...
Black, I suppose. But remember this one is big too, or at least long. It can make your typical sofa look loveseatish. On the bright side, if it doesn't work, you will have a couple nice end table bases. Not to mention a surfboard - to go with the ocean I imagine is right out your front windows.

white
for sure. I would hesitate to have that much black!

Well, Stephen
I am not a guy nor am I Olive, but I would go with white unless it is sitting on a white rug.

Throwing my two cents...
I like both, but have one in black and it looks great near my light wood credenza. It's a personal preference I guess and depending on your decor.
For you it sounds like a white table is the way to go, since it will break up all the blackness going on. Contrast is good.
Anyways just get ready to have your little tot surfing cause it's low 😀

BLACK :
Go with black its the "classic" choice.I dont see that as being too much black.Black seems more sculptural yet neutral ,it will also have wider applications in case of change.White surrounded by a sea of white?Black makes natural wood floors really sing...

neither - not with a toddler...
neither - not with a toddler around anyhow.
MIne (black) currently resides in the garage as i too have a toddler (17 months) & the table is just about the perfect height for running toy cars etc across & the surface scratches & chips a little too easily.

Just
Get rid of all your furniture and paint the walls white.

yet another opnion
I prefer the surfboard table in white; however, I find the table hogs alot of real estate. I agree that the edges chip easily, my low rod tables all have bumps and dings after only a couple of years.
Might you consider a tulip table by Eero; or perhaps, search the Architonic site for other ideas?

Or search the Radar.
Thes...
Or search the Radar.
These tables come up used often enough. Buy cheap and don't sweat the wear. It'll make it look vintage anyhow.
I don't agree at all that black is neutral. It is anything but. I also don't agree that a white one on a white rug would look bad. White looks great with even more white around it. It's been done many times over to great effect.
A friend of mine has a white one. It is every but as versatile as black. And because it is so large the white makes it less heavy in appearance. Don't get me wrong, I love both. But both are great choices.

in terms of cost...
it's rather "cheap" compared to A LOT of coffee tables in this PASSEE genre of furniture we all love so well. You can't TOUCH a tulip table for the same price so I wouldn't worry too much about your toddler trashing it. I think it would be a great table for playing with his(?) little cars on! PERFECT racetrack! Now, if it was a VINTAGE one, that's another story, but you could have your cake-and-eat-it-too with a recent production one.

Well
I have seen used ones pretty cheap. Finding one locally is the challenge.
But, Stephen is handsome, rich, fat, and elegant... So money is no object.

.
White is the brightest coloration its more mod,emphatic,trendy.Whites in different materials show their differences more obviously than blacks tend to.In the end this table is a great design in any color, but, in black it finds its strongest expression...