Buying a dinning table with chairs, which company?

[PandaBear]

When I moved out of my parents and into an apartment 8 years ago I bought some Asian manufacturer's low end dinning table with 4 chairs. It was good for the price at the time (originally $400 but slashed to $300), but after some daily use the table's veneer is now peeling off and the chairs' cushion is compressed / collapsed. In addition, my wife's back condition means she now prefer chairs that has a center cushion and the back supports are not concave. So I'm planning to sell them on craigslist and buying a new set.

Between Ashley, Coaster, HomeElegance, etc, which one has higher quality in veneer table top? which one has better quality fabric and cushion that is not likely to wear out?

I know a local liquidator that works with Coaster to get rid of close out furniture and he usually gives out 60-70% off MSRP and no question return policy. Is there any similar ones for other brands?

 

[dparm]

Have you considered stepping up to something more expensive from a place like Crate & Barrel? You'll spend more, but there are a ton of configuration options for the table and chairs. The construction is excellent and it will last you a very very long time.

 

[JHZR2]

Get some real, solid wood, quality products. Plenty of manufacturers in VT and in the PA Amish country that will ship. Sure there is quality stuff out west. Avoid name brand and go for craftsmanship and quality.

 

[Tdbo]

Not familiar with the other two makes but IMO stay away from Ashley.
About 6-7 years ago, we bought a new bedroom set from them. They delivered it. What a pile. They had to reorder the credenza for the TV because it was not square, I made them reorder another cabinet in our other bedroom because after 7 shims THEY put under the legs at delivery, the tops of the doors still would not line up. The reordered pieces look better but the finishes on the furniture are horrible. They scratch even if you look at them the wrong way and the hardware on the pieces are junk in that I had tp put washers behind door pulls to keep them from turning.
Both my wife and I agree that we will never again buy from Ashley. Last dining room set we bought, we bought from an Amish manufacturer. Cost about $500. more, but the quality is excellent and it still looks good 15 years later.

 

[GenSan]

If it's in your budget have a look at Amish dining room furniture. We LOVE our Amish furniture.

 

[Mud]

We furnished and accessorized almost an entire new 3600 sf home by going to local auctions. Many times the auction house will set up someone's estate on consignment. We bought name brand furnishings, very good quality, at pennies on the dollar. Yup it's not new but you wouldn't know the difference looking at it. don't believe in increasing debt, everything we own is paid for. No way I'd ever go to a furniture store after hitting auctions regularly. Plus we wound up with a lot of very unique stuff that would have been originally out of reach. Just something to consider.

 

[crazyoildude]

look for used.. but for quality be prepared to spend a couple of thousand not hundred

 

[cdeason]

I agree with the above, you will be shocked what you can buy used, be careful but check craigslist, living in NC we have bought good quality over the years, I did a craigslist search for our dining room furniture and found the exact same furniture for $500 (table and 6 chairs)

 

[jimbrewer]

Stickley. They have a good sale I think twice a year. Once you buy a piece of furniture the outlet in my area sends you a flyer offering 40% or 50% off on a piece of furniture twice a year. Good furniture is a better investment than a good car in my experience. You get all kinds of social benefit. Persons of the female persuation are way more impressed by a nice dining set or other quality piece of furniture than a shiny car and I guarantee you that 80% of them know a good piece of furniture when they see it.

If you are established, waiting to buy good furniture is a mistake. Your life is finite. Get it now. (well, I mean the next time they have a good sale).

P.S. I wasn't all that impressed with Crate and Barrel. its fairly priced and acceptable, but that's about it. You will probably be using it for two or three decades. Why not get something good? Simply Amish was not as good as Stickley and not cheap enough for what you got in my opinion.

 

[SatinSilver]

Dining table.

 

[Slick17601]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Get some real, solid wood, quality products. Plenty of manufacturers in VT and in the PA Amish country that will ship. Sure there is quality stuff out west. Avoid name brand and go for craftsmanship and quality.


My Wife and I went thru the same dilemma a few years ago. We ended up purchasing a solid cherry dining room table, curio cabinet, buffet and chairs from a local woodcrafter in Central PA. It was not a cheap purchase but will last for several lifetimes.

One thing we also did was have glass tops made for the dining room table and the buffet. The wood was simply too beautiful to cover with a table cloth and the glass protects it well.

 

[jimbrewer]

Speak of the devil. the Stickley sale brochure arrived today. Sadly, no good deals on dining tables, (although your local outlet may have one). Good deals on bedroom furniture, exposed frame couches and a gorgeous Harvey Ellis rocker. (Very useful when baby comes along).

San Diego is something of a hotbed for woodworking. You might want to see what's available there from the locals.

 

[PandaBear]

Thanks guys.

The problem with Amish and Stickley is that their "style" is too antique like. My wife wants something more "contemporary" for the table.

Also about the chairs, she wants something that has no curved back support so her shoulder is not pressed forward (due to some work related injury this is a bad position for her). A train style bench seat (flat from left to right but still has some lumbar support) would be ideal. So far all the dining (thanks satinsilver for the correction) chairs that she tried only the padded ones feel comfortable.

Scandinavian places have a "midget" like design that also doesn't work for her ergonomically, so the entire European type of design will likely not work.

I guess we either need to just buy those junk from Ashley/Coaster/HomeElegance once a decade or go with something like Crate and Barrel (boring according to her). At least we have a local Coaster liquidator and can order for 70% off MSRP and no hassle return.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Originally Posted By: PandaBear


The problem with Amish and Stickley is that their "style" is too antique like.


That's simply not correct, at least for Amish furniture. The Amish can build to any design style, and there are some very "contemporary" designs available.

Find yourself a smaller furniture shop, bring in your design ideas, and they can work with you to build something both appealing and comfortable for your wife.

 

[Cujet]

I got so tired of the veneer'd junk available today. A couple of spills on a dinner table and the.... Well, you know.

I found a real wood dinner table, made from proper lumber, not engineered wood. Because the wood has limited size, the center of the table is 3 panes of glass. Looks really heavy duty, country-modern and classy enough for me!

 

[dlundblad]

If youre in a budget maybe try a scratch and dent store. I know a guy who found a SOLID oak table for nearly 75% off. The only catch was the matching chairs were "lost" during shipment.

Ive seen a few myself with damages (more like blemishes) that I could personally live with myself.

 

[rjundi]

I went used($200 including chairs) and paid $1000 to refinish the top and 8 stain chairs of a fine dining room table with the brand Nichols & Stone. I believe it was 75 years old but looks amazing.

I think the Amish make stuff like it.

 

[jimbrewer]

Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
Originally Posted By: PandaBear


The problem with Amish and Stickley is that their "style" is too antique like.


That's simply not correct, at least for Amish furniture. The Amish can build to any design style, and there are some very "contemporary" designs available.

Find yourself a smaller furniture shop, bring in your design ideas, and they can work with you to build something both appealing and comfortable for your wife.


Stickley has some updated stuff, although I didn't see it in their sale brochure. Anyway. In furniture, you get what you pay for.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Don't buy without checking Overstock.com.

We got a beautiful solid wood DR table and 8 leather covered chairs for it for about one quarter of retail pricing.

They take anything back promptly and most shipping is free to my wife...

 

[aquariuscsm]

Check all your local antique shops/malls. You`ll be able to find *real* wood furniture that will last hundreds of years at really good prices.