[Uconn97]

My experiences...

Appreciate Ikea for what is it. Most of it is inexpensive furniture, but I wouldn't say its all crap. I bought some very inexpensive dressers there back about 12 years ago when I first moved into my apartment. They were total put together, pressboard stuff, but those things lasted through me and through a move and served us well in our guest room until we finally upgraded to better stuff. When we got rid of them they went to another home of a friend, still in excellent shape.

We recently furnished our office with ikea furniture - probably about 2 years ago actually. Yes, it took a while to put together, but the price was worth it and it actually looks very nice all pulled together. We did a desk, seperate file drawers and a craft table attached to an 8-cube shelving unit. We also bought a very inexpensive loveseat for the playroom there that the kids use to read and hang out on.

My sister purchased a very sturdy island for her kitchen there. It looks really great and is still holding up very well after 3 years.

Ikea has some "cooler" items that you don't find everywhere which is part of its appeal. Certainly not top notch quality for everything, but I think some items are built fairly well.

Pilgrim - my parents just had a set delivered two weeks ago. Delivery was good according to mom, my sister said the store had a ton of selection and they guy was helpful without being pushy. I think the set is actually very nice, and pretty comfortable.

We have some Ethan Allen stuff, yes nice, but pricey. I find that stores like Ethan Allen and Thomasville (where we bought some other stuff) tend to have staff that go a little bit more to help you out. My wife and I struggle with colors, etc and when we have bought stuff at these stores, if we bring in pictures or a layout, the people are always helpful with what works or doesn't work.

Our other stuff was bought at Hitchcock and The Malborough Barn - neither exist anymore in their prior forms so no point commenting on that.

Kloter Farms. We checked out last year when we bought the kids playscape. Very nice stuff, pricey. While its advertised as a "country store", they actually have a range of styles, not too much modern, but don't think its all country stuff, its actually quite mixed and they have a decent sized showroom set up on two seperate floors.

bobs - never bought anything there. The last time we were there we were so annoyed by the sales person we left.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by Uconn97

Our other stuff was bought at Hitchcock and The Malborough Barn - neither exist anymore in their prior forms so no point commenting on that.

We miss both of these stores. We have a stunning computer hutch from Marlborough that we still love and I just saw a Hitchcock table I bought years ago in a consignment shop for more money than I paid for it. If I remember correctly The Saybrook Barn is a sister store to the old Marlborough Barn. We went there once and the two had much of the same furniture. May go back next time we are looking for furniture. Jay

[Bridgeport Rising]

When Macys has their sales, I think you can get great value

[Lincolnian]

Originally Posted by JayCT

We miss both of these stores. We have a stunning computer hutch from Marlborough that we still love and I just saw a Hitchcock table I bought years ago in a consignment shop for more money than I paid for it. If I remember correctly The Saybrook Barn is a sister store to the old Marlborough Barn. We went there once and the two had much of the same furniture. May go back next time we are looking for furniture. Jay

I agree with you. Those two stores are missed very much. We have a beautiful Hitchcock dinning room and it is still as nice as it was 18 years ago when we bought it.

The Saybrook Barn still carries many solid pieces of furniture. Most of them are Amish-produced pieces like those sold a Klotter Farms. The Furniture Barn in Cheshire also carries fine furniture and in fact sells some of the same pieces as Klotter.

Just be careful of Ethan Allen. Many of the pieces they now carry are not the same quality as those they carried in the past. They look nice but will not necessarily stand the test of time. As I mentioned in a previous post they actually are supplied by the same importer that supplies the same piece to Kmart.

[JayCT]

I hate to admit it but last night we went to Bob's and bought a TV console. We have been looking around for something that would match the 15 year old Thomasville cabinets we have and Bob's had the closest we could find. The piece looks to be pretty well made overall but it is not the same quality of the Thomasville pieces we have. It just looks the similar.
Plus the price was reasonable. Anyway, I guess you just have to look carefully at what you buy. Jay

[TobinJ]

2 former works of Hitchcock have purchased the rights, templates, etc. to make Hitchcock furniture again. They will base a small shop in Riverton and focus on the chairs specifically. They're still trying to get up and running, one of the guys knows my father, I'll ask him and post a link.

[Uconn97]

Yes, i think I first saw that last year...is this the site??

New Hitchcock Furniture

[Cambium]

Reading some posts I do not understand some people. I dont get it...do you guys pick up the furniture and throw it across the room once a week? I dont get it...I understand kids like to jump on them but that requires obidence from parents to say NO! No furniture is scratch, stain, rip, or marker proof..

I've had furniture since 2001 that is still good (Seamans) since 2003 still good (Bobs) since 2005 still good (Bobs) 2007 still good (Pilgrim)..

I know what it boils down to.... Making an impression for other people. Thats so sad IMO.

Go spend $400 on a couch and live with it, use the $500 you saved on healthier foods that goes into your body or a few spa massages, or toys for your kids to keep them smileing..

You go spend $1000 on a couch that will last 15 years and I'll spend $500. Even if mine breaks after 10 years I can buy another one for $500, and you still have a 10 yr old couch and I got a new one!

There...now I feel better. Wealthy or not...its rediculas how some people think.

[Uconn97]

OH - I just have to tell the kids no and they will obey????!!!! Thank God someone finally posted on here what I should be doing. I was at my wits end!!!

[JayCT]

Cambium - I can tell you do not have children. You are talking about furniture abuse which is not what we are talking about. Furniture that is used everyday wears and will eventually break. We had a family room set for 12 years and we were very strict about what our kids did to it. It still wore out. The springs sagged, the edges got worn. Eventually the fabric started to tear on the cushions. You can do all you want to stop people from abusing furniture but accidents do happen and some furniture wears better than other. And it is not just children that use and abuse furniture, adults do too.

Usually it is furniture that is more expensive that lasts longer. The fabric is stronger and sown together better. The frame joints are dovetailed rather then just nailed or stapled. 12 years for a sofa used everyday by multiple people is not bad. Plus by that time the stuff is out of style and DW wants new anyway.

I have had the cheap $500 stuff too and I know that with regular use it falls apart in a few years. So do I spend $1,000 on a sofa that will last 12 years or do I spend $500 on one that lasts 5 years? I go with the $1,000 one. Jay

PS - Top furniture makers like Ethan Allen and Thomasville cost a lot more than $1,000.