Furniture recommendations ...

I am nearing completion of a total demo and renovation of my place that has uprooted my life for almost three months... and with four walls and nothing in between them, I am thinking that to really enter adulthood, I need to get me some real furniture for the first time in my life.

I've never really owned any, so this is a big deal for me. My place was sparse beforehand. A bed (and don't ask why, but if I am alone I sleep on the floor anyhow), an old drafting table to sit at and some homemade bookcases were the major items I tossed.

My tastes are kind of contemporary. I know nothing about buying furniture, other than I visited a few places randomly and I know I don't like ornate traditional stuff. There are also a lot of places that seem to have less expensive stuff that I think was cardboard with a nice veneer pasted on it.

The one place that has stuff I kind of liked the most is West Elm. Does anyone know anything about their furniture? I can't tell if it is quality stuff or overpriced for what it is. If you are familiar with them and know their style in general, are there other places you'd recommend?

 

The one thing I want eventually - and if we downsize as planned to a smaller house with a bigger office I will get it - is a great writing desk.
How that helps you, I have no clue. Just thought I'd throw it out there.

We've always gone for durable, kid/dog friendly type stuff. We'll upgrade a little when we do the old folks/condo thing.

 

That's probably really good advice, Frank. But one reason why I didn't buy real furniture sooner is that I have let woman rule my life for too long. I can't win with women anyhow. Trust me on that one.

I just want to do something for me for once and start being a grown-up. I have the shiny, new nice place, now. Seems a shame not to at least put in enough new furniture and decorative features to polish it off. If it means anything, I did go out and buy the bigger-screen-than-I-really-need TV to hang on the wall before anything else (the place to hang it isn't even ready for it yet).

 

Very quick look, but yeah, that is close... I am glad I started this thread, because that place wasn't on my radar screen. And they have a store in Soho I can visit. Thanks! Some of their stuff looks a bit too modern for me. I tend toward simple more than modern. But if that stuff isn't particle board, that place may offer some possibilities. Thank you for the recommendation.