Is anyone else completely disgusted by the "quality" of the wood furniture

available in stores right now?

we have been searching for furniture for our home and I just can't take these "sort of wood, smashed together, and finished off to look like wood" stuff they have out there for $$$$$$.

they are ALL guilty- even the "TOP stores. b/c of this, the last 3 things we've purchased were antique wood pieces (game table, side board, entry table) and we spent a TOTAL of about $550 on ALL THREE pieces.

and they are SOLID.

we are having the damdest time finding chairs that we like, that are afforable, and that don't look like F-ood.

it's just really frustrating.

Message edited 2/23/2009 11:21:29 AM.

Re: Is anyone else completely disgusted by the "quality" of the wood furniture

one word: THOMASVILLE.

expensive, but worth every penny.

they usually have sales around this time of year with 36 months no interest financing... that's how I furnished my apt a few years ago...

Re: Is anyone else completely disgusted by the "quality" of the wood furniture

Re: Is anyone else completely disgusted by the "quality" of the wood furniture

OMG, yes. It's highway robbery, the things they think they can pass off for "quality" furniture and then the prices!

Re: Is anyone else completely disgusted by the "quality" of the wood furniture

Posted by Wendy

Posted by KeithHernandez

one word: THOMASVILLE.

expensive, but worth every penny.

they usually have sales around this time of year with 36 months no interest financing... that's how I furnished my apt a few years ago...

Really?? We have a Thomasville bedroom set that was not cheap at all and I think it's crap

Re: Is anyone else completely disgusted by the "quality" of the wood furniture

I agree...its so hard to find good pieces out there.

Re: Is anyone else completely disgusted by the "quality" of the wood furniture

Nostalgia Oak has nice things. My DR table and chairs are RIDICULOUSLY solid and heavy. They are pretty expensive, but you get nice quality for the money.

Though my taste has changed over the years, and while I wouldn't probably pick this set if I was in the market for a set now...you honestly cannot beat the craftsmanship of these pieces.

The table slides open on gears, and has 2 solid wood leaves that store IN the table (once you open it).

The chairs have to way 40 lbs each.

Great set. Go check them out.

Re: Is anyone else completely disgusted by the "quality" of the wood furniture

Yes! We cannot find a nice dining room table set at all.

Re: Is anyone else completely disgusted by the "quality" of the wood furniture

I have bought all Broyhill Furniture and so has my mom. Its the only furniture I have found that is solid wood. My mom has broyhill in her rental condo in Myrtle Beach and it holds up to all teh people coming in and out of there.

I agree that furniture is not made the way it use to be. My parents just got rid of their original bedroom set that was 30 years old and it still looked brand new.

Re: Is anyone else completely disgusted by the "quality" of the wood furniture

ITA with you - we had the hardest time getting furniture when we were moved into our house - we bought a bunch of stuff at Bob's because it looked to be as good of quality as the more expensive things we saw.

Re: Is anyone else completely disgusted by the "quality" of the wood furniture

I agree, I buy a lot of my furniture at Pottery Barn, Peter Andrews and some other stores. Might be more $$, but it's worth it IMO and will last.

Did you try hitting up some Antique Stores on the Island?

Re: Is anyone else completely disgusted by the "quality" of the wood furniture

like many other items, furniture is definitely not made like it used to be. it's all about cutting corners, hiring cheap labor, producing a sub-par product and making a generous profit.

even the more upscale stores (EA and DH) does not offer solid wood pieces. antiques are really one of the only options unless of course you have a limitless budget to spend on furniture. there are several century old companies that are still in business that offer unbelievably well-crafted and expectational quality pieces.

Message edited 2/23/2009 1:39:18 PM.

Re: Is anyone else completely disgusted by the "quality" of the wood furniture

Posted by Ophelia

available in stores right now?

we have been searching for furniture for our home and I just can't take these "sort of wood, smashed together, and finished off to look like wood" stuff they have out there for $$$$$$.

they are ALL guilty- even the "TOP stores. b/c of this, the last 3 things we've purchased were antique wood pieces (game table, side board, entry table) and we spent a TOTAL of about $550 on ALL THREE pieces.

and they are SOLID.

we are having the damdest time finding chairs that we like, that are afforable, and that don't look like F-ood.

it's just really frustrating.

Re: Is anyone else completely disgusted by the "quality" of the wood furniture

How about Bassett?

Re: Is anyone else completely disgusted by the "quality" of the wood furniture

Re: Is anyone else completely disgusted by the "quality" of the wood furniture

Posted by Ophelia

Posted by BJandDan

How about Bassett?

it's the same there as it is in Ethan Allen, Thomasville, Pottery Barn...the whole shebang.

SOME of the pieces MAY be solid, but I really really don't think so.

I don't mind spending a certain amount, but I want to get what I am paying for, not the illusion of it.

I think it's totally unfair to the consumer. we have the "luxury" of not needing the furniture that quickly, but for most people who need to furnish right away, and just get the best they can find at the best prices, it's such a rip off.

yeah, I'm lookin at YOU, Crate and Barrel.

Re: Is anyone else completely disgusted by the "quality" of the wood furniture

I completely agree, furniture has gone to crap.

Have you looked at WShome.com

They may have solid pieces but then again i am not sure about any stores anymore and what they claim

Re: Is anyone else completely disgusted by the "quality" of the wood furniture

ITA. Veneer really pisses me off. It is cheap and definitely not worth the $$$. I am having a VERY hard time justifyig paying $11,000 forthe BR set I want when it is veneer. We have been looking for real solid wood too. I also stalk the antique shops. You cannot beat the quality of older furniture.

Re: Is anyone else completely disgusted by the "quality" of the wood furniture

I went with the Stickley metropolitan collection for my bedroom set. It was $$$$, but it is solid wood with dovetail joinery. It made me so upset to go furniture shopping b/c the expensive brands were offering the same stuff as ikea at insane prices. IMO thomisville and EA are not what they used to be.

Re: Is anyone else completely disgusted by the "quality" of the wood furniture

Not all veneers are the same though. A lot of Ikea furnituire is particle board with veneer & some of it ( like my desk ) is downright platsic looking.

My fairly expensive coffee table from Levitz (don't know the brand), is solid wood with wood venneers & I can definitly tell the difference from the Ikea stuff.

The drawers are real unfinished wood on the inside & they smell like wood, not glue.

A lot of the higher end stuff is solid wood with wood veneers as oppossed to particle board with veneers that may or may not be wood.

Manufacturers claim it is beter than solid wood, if done right.
In defense of veneers


If you are not interested in solid wood with wood veneers, you can also try unfinished wood & either finish yourself or have it done by the store.

I have several pieces, but they are mostly pine, which isn't the sturdiest wood, but it is real & solid & you can sand it, etc.

Some of these stores sell other woods like oak, too.

You can search for a
Woodcraft store near you & look online & in the yellow pages for unfinished furniture.

Canadel
makes solid wood furniture.
and so doesBermex
I was going to look into them for a dining room table, but I put that on hold.

Both are expensive, and you have to find a store that carries the line & you may have to have the store order the piece for you if they don't stock it.

ETA- name of 2nd brand.

Message edited 2/23/2009 5:16:06 PM.

Re: Is anyone else completely disgusted by the "quality" of the wood furniture

tourist, you are right about the difference.

but these places also use solid pine with an oak or mahogany veneer, and then price it like a solid oak table!

maybe I expect too much from my little dollars.

it just doesn't feel the same as the older stuff.

Re: Is anyone else completely disgusted by the "quality" of the wood furniture

Re: Is anyone else completely disgusted by the "quality" of the wood furniture

Message edited 2/23/2009 5:21:28 PM.

Re: Is anyone else completely disgusted by the "quality" of the wood furniture

i agree - its all cr@p, nothing like old wood. what abotu drexel heritage?

Re: Is anyone else completely disgusted by the "quality" of the wood furniture

Yes....

Have you tried, Gothic. They can custom make anything for you stly and color and last I used them, the prices were very reasonable