Is there any well made living room furniture anymore?

[mommy22pumpkins]

Hi all. Hoping I can get some help with picking out a new sofa/ recliner set for the living room. In the last 7 years we have gone through three sets. One was purchased in a second hand shop- and was the nicest and longest lasting we've had of the three. We paid a few hundred dollars for it- i believe it was Lane- and we got rid of it even though it was still in very good shape because we wanted a matching set.

Next was a sectional from Strawbridges before the went out of business. It is very comfortable- we still have it down the basement/playroom- but comlpletely torn up by the dogs/ kids. And pillows turned into meatball type shape quickly after getting it.

Now we have a reclining sofa/ Loveseat that is only about 3 years old. When it was delivered I noticed the one end section was not level with the middle. My husband thought it was just the way it was put together but he couldn't fix it and it's been that way ever since. You sort of slump to the side when you sit in it. And the bars under the sofa cushions are so hard you can feel them when you sit down. They actually hurt. And to top it off the one pillow /armchair on the recliner chair lifts up to reveal staples- very sharp staples- sticking out everywhere. Yes that's right our over $2000 sofa recliner set was stapled together. I honestly don't remember where we got it. I just don't want to repeat another experience like this.

I am hoping to spend our tax refund- around $3000 on a new set and not be so disappointed once again

If anyone can recommend a retail store in or around south jersey/tri state area it would be greatly appreciated I don't even know where to start now it seems like even the big name companies are outsourcing or just not the same quality they used to be

 

[Swimalie]

We have a La-Z-Boy set that we've had for just under 7 years now and it's in great shape. We have a cat with claws and a 7 year old and it's survived both of them well. It survived the birthed party we had last year of 35 people (14 were kids). I think we paid around $2800 for couch, love seat and ottoman.

 

[luv2mickey]

I don't know stores in your area but i know brands.

Ethen Allen, Drexel heritage, Bob Timberlake,and Bernhardt, there are many but you have to pay. You get what you pay for.

My Bob Timberlake furniture is over 15years old and looks like new, we sit on it everyday. My Bernhardt chairs are in my bedroom sit in them everyday but not the wear of the family room but they look gorgeous, my parents just got new Ethen Allen leather sofa and two chairs and its wonderful quality but it cost $6000.

If you really want furniture that will last I would recommend ordering it from North Carolina and stay away from the chain stores. There are many but Furnitureland South has a huge variety of brands and they'll give you up to 50% off the list price they also have a website.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Also, I don't know that I would go to people for opinions on the furniture they have that's 7 or 8 years old. That used to be a good idea, but these days it really isn't in ANYTHING.

Manufacturing has changed over the past few years dramatically. Parts that a few years ago were made with metal are now made with plastic. As you found out, instead of using nails, some furniture manufacturers now use staples.

Your choices are to either buy cheap and throw it out in 5 years, buy older stuff, because you know it's made well, take items apart in the store to see how they are made (turn the furniture over, look at the construction. Feel the fabric used, open the couch pillows and see what's inside etc.) or to find forums and such that have experts on the topic that can tell you who still makes things well and who doesn't.

We went furniture browsing last fall with the stated goal that if we bought a bedroom set there could be NO PRESSED WOOD in it. We found one set in one furniture store - their premiere set. We also found Ethan Allen. It's pricey, but when you look under and in and around and all over their stuff it's extremely well made and durable. Yeah, it costs, but if you're buying for over time it's worth it.

Thanks to several fiscal emergencies last year, our furniture budget went to pay for other things, and I found a couple of solid wood almost or just barely antiques at the thrifts to round out the real antique pieces I already had in our bedroom, so we went that route. (And it I have the eclectic look I like.)

I hear your plight, because I REFUSE to buy anything that will fall apart in 5 years.

 

[Judique]

We went furniture browsing last fall with the stated goal that if we bought a bedroom set there could be NO PRESSED WOOD in it. We found one set in one furniture store - their premiere set. We also found Ethan Allen. It's pricey, but when you look under and in and around and all over their stuff it's extremely well made and durable. Yeah, it costs, but if you're buying for over time it's worth it.

Another vote for EA.

 

[StregaNona]

We will never buy another item from Ethan Allen. We purchased an expensive sofa several years and within three weeks the material (which the sales lady recommended) began to pill. Pilling is not include in any warranty . We were away for one of the three weeks, we have no children, no pets. Ethan Allen would not stand behind their product - very disappointing after spending so much money.

Friends had an EA designer come to their home. They told her what they wanted and what they did not need/want. She wanted to redo their whole house and ignored what they asked for.

Neither of us will buy again from EA.

 

[Eastern]

Ethan Allen, like a lot of furniture companies, had a lot better quality even 3 years ago. Now, you have to look at each piece before deciding to buy, even at EA.

I still like Flexsteel (lifetime frame guarantee to original purchaser) and Crate & Barrel for casual upholstered furniture.

Century is good but you'll pay 10k for a sofa.

 

[ktlm]

Thomasville is great furniture, but I don't think that they will have any sofa sets that recline. Our couch is 10 years old. I'd rather spend the money once for one that lasts that long, than wind up spending more money in the long run because I have to replace them every 3 years. I know that they are still made the same way now as when we bought ours. We just bought the same couch as our original in different fabric for a different room in our house.

 

[jlovesee]

I agree with the quality aspect. we haven't bought a piece of new furniture in 8-9 years. our newest pieces are the few Stickley pieces we can afford (and yes it's expensive but it does go on sale), plus as few pieces of antique furniture and a few handmade pieces from my husband (don"t laugh he is pretty talented)

our most recently purchased new piece is love seat in our living room that looks brand new and gets used every day. Wilderness lodge uses Stickley furniture in their lobbies to give you an idea on style. it is still 100% made in the USA, solid hard wood and hand burnished. if you like the mission style you might want to take a look.

Jennifer

 

[kirstenb1]

If you have a Bassett store near you, I highly recommend them. I've bought from them for years, and have had great luck. I also love that there are 1000 fabrics to choose from, so no compromises needed on color/texture.

 

[starry_solo]

Okay, there are still quite a few US furniture makers that have great quality goods (but expensive). Real wood (not pressed), etc.

Amish furniture is good too.

 

[angwill]

Hi all. Hoping I can get some help with picking out a new sofa/ recliner set for the living room. In the last 7 years we have gone through three sets. One was purchased in a second hand shop- and was the nicest and longest lasting we've had of the three. We paid a few hundred dollars for it- i believe it was Lane- and we got rid of it even though it was still in very good shape because we wanted a matching set.

Next was a sectional from Strawbridges before the went out of business. It is very comfortable- we still have it down the basement/playroom- but comlpletely torn up by the dogs/ kids. And pillows turned into meatball type shape quickly after getting it.

Now we have a reclining sofa/ Loveseat that is only about 3 years old. When it was delivered I noticed the one end section was not level with the middle. My husband thought it was just the way it was put together but he couldn't fix it and it's been that way ever since. You sort of slump to the side when you sit in it. And the bars under the sofa cushions are so hard you can feel them when you sit down. They actually hurt. And to top it off the one pillow /armchair on the recliner chair lifts up to reveal staples- very sharp staples- sticking out everywhere. Yes that's right our over $2000 sofa recliner set was stapled together. I honestly don't remember where we got it. I just don't want to repeat another experience like this.

I am hoping to spend our tax refund- around $3000 on a new set and not be so disappointed once again

If anyone can recommend a retail store in or around south jersey/tri state area it would be greatly appreciated I don't even know where to start now it seems like even the big name companies are outsourcing or just not the same quality they used to be

Your recliner sofa sounds exactly like what happened with our lazy boy recliner couch. Parts started falling out the day they delivered it. It was crooked within a year and was trashed within 5 years and that was with no kids at the time. I don't know if they even make furniture that is not stapled anymore.

I am going to watch this thread to see what people suggest. I did talk to someone who sells furniture who suggested Englander or Lane brands. Our current sofa is leather by some unknown Italian company and was less than a quarter the cost of our Lazy boy. It has held up great for the last 10 years with a child. The underneath is stapled however and the staples are coming out in one place.

 

[Colleen27]

We've given up on it, to be honest. I hate it because I'm the kind of person that can make do, recover, and get every drop of life out of a product that is still in usable condition but about 5 years ago we went out and dropped $2500 on a living room set that hasn't held up significantly better than the $800 Art Van set that preceded it. I've come to the conclusion that with upholstered furniture I'm better off just thinking of it like clothing - buy with a eye towards value, knowing it'll last a few years and then I can "update" the room with something new - at least until I stumble into the right antique set to reupholster and keep long-term.

 

[justwinnie]

Room and Board makes really nice furniture. It's mostly American made-- you have to check the pieces.

They have a showroom in NYC and you may fall within the "local" delivery rate. There is a big range in price for their furniture, so hopefully something will suit your budget.