Furnishing new house? (Carolina: apartment, hotel, buy)

[1size2smll]

I believe the Lakeview area that a previous poster suggested would be just your speed. Here is a link to the Pepper Place PepperPlace - Interiors & Antiques That should be a good starting point. You could also try some of the "interiors" shops in Mountain Brook. I feel your frustration, we waited beyond our promised delivery date for our den furniture, and coincidentally made do with a fun and funky red sofa we bought for the children's playroom from Mazer's. You will be able to find some good midrange stuff there in my experience, but it wont have the feel that I think you are looking for. Birmingham Wholesale will be a good option for you, but I believe that the only way to buy off the floor is from the sales items upstairs.

Hope that helps.

[MadHaus]

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I didn't know that a new furniture dealer had already replaced Southern Home on 280. Guess I need to get out more. It's good to know about B'ham Wholesale's sale room, too. The budget will be a little tight until we're down to one house.

[Guntersville Boomer]

I just wanted to mention I bought a sectional sleeper sofa at RTG, it was one year and 3 months old and the bed part fell to the floor and the cushions over that part fell below the other section, I called RTG and they said so sorry but only 1 year warranty so I paid $300 to get someone to fix a $1200 sectional so I too have concerns about quality of RTG. They give you years to pay but the stuff barely makes it a year and they don't care to make it right? And I bought $5k worth of stuff, just poor business practices IMO.

[Threestep]

Originally Posted by Guntersville Boomer

I just wanted to mention I bought a sectional sleeper sofa at RTG, it was one year and 3 months old and the bed part fell to the floor and the cushions over that part fell below the other section, I called RTG and they said so sorry but only 1 year warranty so I paid $300 to get someone to fix a $1200 sectional so I too have concerns about quality of RTG. They give you years to pay but the stuff barely makes it a year and they don't care to make it right? And I bought $5k worth of stuff, just poor business practices IMO.

My neighbor came for help. Her English is very basic. She bought a sofa at the clearance section and signed that there is no warranty. The blue leather lost most of its blue within a week. Naturally no call backs from sales or service.
RTG is a privately owned company based in Lakeland, FL. Forbes is a great source of information:>) I called around there and got the name of the regional sales manager. Then I called the BHam store. Day 1 - "she signed", day 2 - "store credit", day 3 - "full credit". I elaborated on her language issues, Greystone PTA, Honda's presence in BHam - you name it. Throwing in a name from the top of the food chain did not hurt.

For an inexpensive quick and local fix of the poster's dilemma - Ashleys? Or of all places Sams.

[pennquaker09]

Thomasville of Birmingham

[Southlander]

Originally Posted by Threestep

For an inexpensive quick and local fix of the poster's dilemma - Ashleys? Or of all places Sams.

Ashley? I've seen all sorts of complaints about Ashley's quality and service. There is a reason they're cheap! Same goes for Big Lots. Broyhill was never known as a high quality furniture line, and the stuff they make that's at Big Lots looks bottom of the barrel.
Too bad ya'll don't have a Bassett Furniture store in Birmingham.

[pennquaker09]

Bassett is cheap too.

[Southlander]

Originally Posted by pennquaker09

Bassett is cheap too.

Not anymore.

[Threestep]

Well, our poster has not been heard from in a while.
When it comes to furniture you get what you pay for and sometimes you have to wait. DanskDesign estimated six months for a sofa. The trip to Atlanta paid off.

[MadHaus]

Hoping to check out all of your suggestions, but I've been sidelined by an injury. Threestep is right about sometimes having to wait. It seems I'll be waiting to no matter how I try to furnish this house. Oh well, things could be worse.

Still curious about "gruesome Greystone." Is that the elaborate faux "olde world" look that so many Parade of Homes decorators seem to favor?