Yep, there are small furniture manufacturers all over the place where I live. We bought our couch from one of them. $5k for a couch smaller than a sectional from costco. But it’s repairable has a long warranty and is much more durable and comfortable.
We also have a fine wood furniture place that does solid wood stuff. $10k for a bedroom set. I’ll stick with ikea until the kids move out.
Yeah, this is it for us. I grew up in a home with a lot of “grandma’s heirloom dining table” type items that I was punished for bumping into, spilling on, etc. While I do believe in teaching kids respect, it seems like a lot of unnecessary stress for both parents and kids to use this stuff as your daily driver and we don’t have the space for special-occasions-only furniture.
My long term financial goal is to have all Amish hardwood furniture from the local Amish furniture makers because that shit is niiiice and also it’ll probably outlast my future grandkids
I understand the hate of Ikea’s cheap furniture. They also have plenty of solid wood furniture as well. Maybe not multigenerational quality, but they do have plenty of buy it for life versions that have survived several moves.
Yeah, the trick is to look for the unfinished stuff. It’s no more expensive than their usual pressboard-and-veneer items; the only catch is that you have to paint it yourself.
That could be an advantage, though, since it means you can pick any colour you want.
I really don’t like how it’s so common nowadays for furniture to not even outlive one person. It became fashion thanks to IKEA. Fuck IKEA.
I mean, if you buy flat pack stuff, that’s what you get. You can still buy quality bespoke furniture made by skilled people.
Not as easily anymore. It used to be easy to find wooden furniture used for low prices. Not so much anymore.
The market has shrunk and the prices have gone up… there are still some good items on the second hand market, at times, depending on location.
Estate sales
Yep, there are small furniture manufacturers all over the place where I live. We bought our couch from one of them. $5k for a couch smaller than a sectional from costco. But it’s repairable has a long warranty and is much more durable and comfortable.
We also have a fine wood furniture place that does solid wood stuff. $10k for a bedroom set. I’ll stick with ikea until the kids move out.
Yeah, this is it for us. I grew up in a home with a lot of “grandma’s heirloom dining table” type items that I was punished for bumping into, spilling on, etc. While I do believe in teaching kids respect, it seems like a lot of unnecessary stress for both parents and kids to use this stuff as your daily driver and we don’t have the space for special-occasions-only furniture.
My long term financial goal is to have all Amish hardwood furniture from the local Amish furniture makers because that shit is niiiice and also it’ll probably outlast my future grandkids
I understand the hate of Ikea’s cheap furniture. They also have plenty of solid wood furniture as well. Maybe not multigenerational quality, but they do have plenty of buy it for life versions that have survived several moves.
Yeah, the trick is to look for the unfinished stuff. It’s no more expensive than their usual pressboard-and-veneer items; the only catch is that you have to paint it yourself.
That could be an advantage, though, since it means you can pick any colour you want.
I bought a dresser that actually came pre-stained in an orange color. We did a glass top on it to help protect it, and it looks new still to this day.