Furniture recommendations ...

[The Big Ragu]

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?

 

[Moderator1]

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.

 

[EStreetJoe]

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 West Elm stuff is decent -- the Mrs. & I own one piece of their furniture - a small cabinet. It's moderately priced, not sure if its overpriced or not.

 

[Frank_Ridgeway]

My sister's ex-husband once told me not to spend money on good furniture because when I found a wife she would hate the furniture on general principle. All I can say is I met my wife 14 years ago and one piece of furniture has survived -- a desk chair that I picked up free on the sidewalk just before I met her when an office on my block was redecorating. And she hates that ****ing chair. But she lets me keep it because it's in my walk-in closet to sit on while I put on socks and shoes.

 

[sportschick]

If you find your taste tends towards modern design, which West Elm seems to be, you might try Room and Board.

I don't know how the two places compare in terms of quality or price, but I adore Room and Board's stuff, and it seems to hold up well.

 

[The Big Ragu]

My sister's ex-husband once told me not to spend money on good furniture because when I found a wife she would hate the furniture on general principle.

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).

 

[Sam Mills 51]

Unless it supports audio/video equipment, I know next to nothing about furniture.

Come to think of it, I know next to nothing, period. Sorry, Ragu.

 

[BYH]

How expensive are you looking to go, Ragu? My family swears by Bob's Discount Furniture and I go to my sister's house just to lounge on the couch. My wife and I will be shopping there (Bob's, not my sister's) for a sofa set there in the next couple months.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

... is a great writing desk.

My wife has to drag me away from rolltop desks when we come across them. I dream of owning an antique rolltop desk.

 

[BYH]

My sister's ex-husband once told me not to spend money on good furniture because when I found a wife she would hate the furniture on general principle. All I can say is I met my wife 14 years ago and one piece of furniture has survived -- a desk chair that I picked up free on the sidewalk just before I met her when an office on my block was redecorating. And she hates that ****ing chair.

Harry Burns: Right now everything is great, everyone is happy, everyone is in love and that is wonderful. But you gotta know that sooner or later you're gonna be screaming at each other about who's gonna get this dish. This eight dollar dish will cost you a thousand dollars in phone calls to the legal firm of That's Mine, This Is Yours.

Marie: Harry.

Harry Burns: Please, Jess, Marie. Do me a favor, for your own good, put your name in your books right now before they get mixed up and you won't know whose is whose. 'Cause someday, believe it or not, you'll go 15 rounds over who's gonna get this coffee table. This stupid, wagon wheel, Roy Rogers, garage sale COFFEE TABLE.

Jess: I thought you liked it?

Harry Burns: I was being nice!!

 

[The Big Ragu]

If you find your taste tends towards modern design, which West Elm seems to be, you might try Room and Board.

I don't know how the two places compare in terms of quality or price, but I adore Room and Board's stuff, and it seems to hold up well.

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.

 

[expendable]

Only if you want furniture that will last, six months, tops.

Down with Metric Furniture.

 

[buckweaver]

Expendable: Sometimes yay, sometimes nay.

I've got some stuff from IKEA that's lasted me three moves across the country and a lot of wear and tear, but is sturdy as hell. I've got some stuff that didn't last six months.

But I'm more satisfied than not with IKEA, for simple, inexpensive, solid furniture.

 

[BYH]

The problem with IKEA is you have to go there to get that ****.

Hell on Earth.

 

[sportschick]

If you find your taste tends towards modern design, which West Elm seems to be, you might try Room and Board.

I don't know how the two places compare in terms of quality or price, but I adore Room and Board's stuff, and it seems to hold up well.

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.

One of my sisters and her husband got most of their living room furniture from there. They love it, and I am full of jealousy that there's not one near where I live.

 

[expendable]

I've had some bad experiences with MrsExpendable's furniture purchases there. I do, however, have a set of glasses I bought there four or five years ago, and I've only broken one, which can't be held against them, being as I dropped it on the driveway.

 

[The Big Ragu]

How expensive are you looking to go, Ragu? My family swears by Bob's Discount Furniture and I go to my sister's house just to lounge on the couch. My wife and I will be shopping there (Bob's, not my sister's) for a sofa set there in the next couple months.

I don't have an unlimited budget, but I don't need that much stuff, so I am leaning toward quality and getting exactly what I want over skimping. I am not a high-end sort of person because of budget and tastes, but I don't need to go totally cheap on this if it means getting stuff I really like.

Buck, I like Ikea, Door Store, etc... But since I have never done this before and I am not likely to do it often, I am thinking I am going to spend a bit. I'm wary of particle board that looks good, even if it has done a lot of people right.

 

[Herbert Anchovy]

Oxford bookcases:

With a nice barrister's for your best/prized stuff.

 

[The Big Ragu]

Yeah. Bookcases are key. I even thought about having them built into the walls, but decided against it. Place isn't that big and I figured I'd be forcing someone into the built-in bookcases if I ever try to sell it.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

Yeah. Bookcases are key. I even thought about having them built into the walls, but decided against it. Place isn't that big and I figured I'd be forcing someone into the built-in bookcases if I ever try to sell it.

Built-ins can actually be a huge plus when selling.