Have Furniture That Fits Your Life
Life is too short to hold onto anything that doesn’t serve its purpose in terms of form and function or to keep a piece of furniture that doesn’t work in your home or make you happy. And yes, I know, we’re supposed to be frugal right now (Classics,) be careful with our money (Funs and Organic Structures,) but if we ever want to get our economy moving, (Smarts) we need to spend stimulate the economy with cash, which will eventually save the world (Organic Freedoms) and make everyone better off in the long run. The banks certainly aren’t doing it, so who else will?
Okay. We don’t know where to find the best furniture. Or rather we do, but it will cost you. The good stuff will always cost good money unless you know someone who can get it for you wholesale, and we don’t know that person. Frankly, this might not even be the time to get those quality pieces.
But there’s nothing wrong with buying furniture that will serve you well for right now, or for the next couple of years, especially when you are holding onto eyesores because they serve a purpose, or you have something beautiful that’s taking up much needed space. Eventually you can recycle your no longer needed furniture to a needy college student, (or more realistically, a recent graduate!) your local Goodwill, or the street fairies (if you live in NYC.)
We have found some great mass market stuff in our years as home organizers and decorators and can give you our take on these catalog favorites.
Contemporary
Ballard Design We’re probably partial to this company as its based in Ohio. But it has a decent price point and has attractive furniture. Lots of custom fabric options to. You can get a designer look for less. Is it great quality? No. I’d say a 3-5 year wear quotient. But it’s cheaper and not as widespread as Pottery Barn.
Pottery Barn Yeah, I mean, I probably got hooked on home design dreaming with these catalogs. Plus their interior design how-to books are pretty great. And I am right now sitting on a Pottery Barn couch. Did it hold up great? No. I expected a lot more from this slipcovered couch, but when I complained about the color fastness of the slipcover, they gave me a whole new one for free. Not cheap. 5 year wear quotient.
Crate & Barrel We’ve found a lot of great pieces here. Cool bookshelves, odds and ends. Even their kitchenware and dishes are pretty good. One client of ours once just walked in and bought everything in one of their furniture displays except for the couch. It’s all still in his living room. But again, with this type of price range, your hard furniture like bookshelves and tables, etc wear well, the upholostery pieces will always wear out sooner.
Restoration Hardware This store is a bit more expensive, but not by that much. Also they have a more traditional bent, some more Craftsman type fare. I actually have two slipper chairs which would be holding up just great if I didn’t have children and cats. Also some nice linen panels and a lamp. All doing very well. I love my linen panels. Very nice quality. Better than Pottery Barn if you ask me.
Ikea Never underestimate Ikea. Just because you might have used it to decorate your first post collegiate apartment doesn’t mean it doesn’t have value. I actually know a very ritzy Upper East side townhouse whose kitchen is entirely from Ikea and doing very well. Their furniture isn’t as great, but it will last you for five years, and usually, or rather, especially with kids, thats about all you need before its time to get something else.
Home Decorators Okay, now this is a find. And, um, yes you actually have to have some taste before you go to this site. I know, it’s very catty for me to say such things but this store has a lot, I mean A LOT of crap. But its also has tons of great stuff. Side tables, dressers, bookshelves (I still have two of them in Pixie Headquarters right now) filing cabinets, odds and ends. If you’re on a budge or just need something, check it out. They have all known styles.
Modern
West Elm This is owned by the same company that owns Pottery Barn and has the same quality. Not a huge fan of their textiles, but the hardware is good. Plus they have some nice office accessories. And its the right price, especially when you’re experimenting with modern.
CB2 Again, this is the modern company owned by Crate and Barrell. Lots of good stuff and a great place ot try out modern.
Ikea Again, great modern stuff at a great price.
2Modern We’ve used this to buy a lamp for a client. It has a lot of fun stuff. But its more of the real thing. In fact I wouldn’t even put it here, except that some of the lamps are reasonably priced. But lots of designer modern stuff, so the price thing can be a bit of a shock. Also you can’t check it out in person.
Design within Reach Again, this is where you can buy real designer, quality modern furniture. So lots of it is waaay expensive. But the lamps and some odds and ends are reasonable.
Traditional/Antique
Wisteria Want to get cheap antiques? It’s called mass reproduction. And this is a great resource for them. Beautiful stuff that doesn’t look like its from Pottery Barn. An eclectic old world, eastern world mix of cool stuff.
Ballard Design Again, this is a great resource. We love it. It’s obstensibly French country in it’s design orientation, but more contemporary with a mix of traditional or antique. I have found tons of great stuff here and their customized fabrics take it to another level. Great quality? No. But it will help my family grow and some of the stuff will be around forever.
Restoration Hardware A little more expensive, but nice stuff. Also all their hardware things are an easy and inexpensive way to update an old piece.
Anthropologie Organics tend to love their clothes, and their homeware is of the same bent. Antique looking but with a modern bent. Expensive, but their hardware is affordable and funky. Also, great place to get vintage light bulbs. Funs will get into their stuff too we bet.
Kids’ Furniture
Pottery Barn Kids Same quality as Pottery Barn but kid sized and themed. Great storage ideas and baskets for all those toys. It has held up well to kid pounding. Contemporary in style.
PBTeen When the kids get to pre-tween age? That’s when they start to want stuff like this. Also they have great loft beds with desks. The furniture, bean bag chairs, etc. will grow with your kids better than the kid stuff. Better sized too.
Land of Nod Contemporary in style, same in many ways to Pottery Barn, but its now owned by Crate and Barrell. When they were still owned by a small company in Chicago they called me to make sure I was hapy with my purchase. I was. Also they have great storage cubes, and accessories that are just a smidge cooler than Pottery Barn. Prices a smidge better too.
2Modern has kids’ furniture too. All the cool urban hip stuff. The real deal so expensive.
Ikea is the perfect place to shop for kids’ furniture! It will wear out in two to three years and you’ll be ready for something new.