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Furniture - Where To Buy?


Calamity Kris

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For the first time in our lives, Uno and I will be able to purchase new furniture. We have a specific style in mind, Craftsman/Mission. I have heard about places in the Carolinas {?} where you can purchase furniture directly from the manufacturer for a fraction of the retail price. All you have to do is bring a trailer with you and stuff it full. I haven't been able to nail anyone down on exactly where these places are. My searches of the web have been futile, lots of advertising, not a lot of results. I was hoping my knowledgeable pards here in The Saloon (ACS) could point us in the right direction.

 

Much thanks!

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Look up Stickley, they are a re-birth of the original company that made Mission/Craftsman back in the 1910's or so. Spendy at a retail store.

Ike

 

I love their pieces. Unfortunately, ~$10K for a bedroom set is a little out of my range. b.gif

 

b.gif

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The factory furniture outlets are scattered around High Point, NC. My wife and I bought much of our furnishings out of the Thomasville outlet. You don't need a trailer. The outlets contract with trucking companies to deliver and set-up your furniture. The outlets sells demos, closeouts and overstock not sold to distributors. The savings are substantial.

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I live just outside of High Point NC. You have a couple of options.

High Point holds a semi-annual international furniture market for manufacurers and importers to show their gopds to retailers. That show is coming up later this month. Right after the show, many of the samples will be available in local shops. We have a tv cabinet that we saved 75% off msrp and a dinette set that we saved 70%.

The second option is to hit the local shops that cater to the market. Furniture Land South and Kagans are the largest.

The third option is a custom maker. Their are many in this area as people with years of experience go into business for themselves.

The internet is your best bet to find these artists.

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If there's any Ashley furniture stores near you check 'em out. They manufacture their own stuff! ;)

 

 

http://www.ashleyfurniture.com/SiteMap/AshleyStory.aspx?PageId=AshleyStory

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If there's any Ashley furniture stores near you check 'em out. They manufacture their own stuff! ;)

 

 

http://www.ashleyfurniture.com/SiteMap/AshleyStory.aspx?PageId=AshleyStory

I have purchased some good things from Ashley that fit within the budget.
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I have purchased some good things from Ashley that fit within the budget.

Had a piece on order from Ashley since they don't stock in the store around here and found the same thing on Amazon with free shipping for over a hundred and fifty bucks less. Cancelled the order from Ashley.

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Hi Kris,

 

I don't have much to add about new furniture, except I love that style.

 

Oak antiques are somewhat out of favor right now. I heard this on HGTV and have noticed excellent prices. Maybe you could find something by antiquing. Even in their heyday1970-1980, old stuff was cheaper and more timeless than new and much better quality.

 

If you need any tips on restoration, I can help. I've refinished lots of messed up stuff. Sometimes all that is needed is fine steel wool and a light coat of lacquer (not Verathane). Sometimes a good cleaning will make a piece look nice. Take care to not make the finish too shiny or it will not look right. I've even steel wooled after the final coat to dull down the finish.

 

Have fun shopping!

 

Allie

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What I did when we started creating the Mission/Craftsman style in our home was do web searches for that exact thing. There are many sites that provide links to businesses that make furniture, lights, artwork. etc.

We bought some Mission style furniture at a more reasonable store. It has lasted as along as our two pieces of Stickley furniture!

Ike

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Thanks for the great advice. I had never thought of going to antique stores, AM. The pieces we will be putting in the guest br most definately need to be refinished. I will look you up before I get started on them.

 

Thanks!!

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Learn the difference between English and American Oak furniture. A ton of european furniture is being imported and while generally well made the english will be lighter in weight. We prefer the American in Tiger Oak, walnut, and cherry. Antique stores (we had one for twenty years) may have want but don't pay full price. As Annie said prices are down on furniture and all other antiques for that matter. Also, peruse auction houses.

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You mean people actually buy furniture? New? :D

 

Most of ours is hand me down stuff, which has held up far better and far longer than the few pieces we bought new.

 

Have fun!

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Can do a search on e-bay describing the furniture wanted and limiting the travel distance.

 

Using e-bay and PayPay offers protection from shysters.especially if you familiar or knowledgable

about the products.

.

 

 

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Hi Kris,

 

If you buy antiques mail order or on eBay, look for the maker's label (then research it) and close up of all sides of the furniture. Hopefully, the close ups will show you how much work (major damage versus refinish versus good cleaning) you will need to do.

 

Besides a day out antiquing and lunching or dining with Uno can be a fun outing and you will be able to closely inspect the furniture.

 

Regards,

 

AM

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I collect antique watches made in the USA from the late 1930's to early 50's .

Bulova,, Elgin and Hamilton are my favorites.

Got a number of excellent watches at reasonable prices on e-bay.

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There used to be catalogue stores along the highways around High Point, NC. You could call them to place an order they would deliver when it was manufactured. Obviously, the items had to be in their catalogues, and were from lines that were made around here or by companies from around here. You would save a lot of money. The delivery time depended on the demand, but back when I was passing the info to people I worked with, it was usually 2-6 months. That was back when we lived in Minnesnowta and other "far off yonder" places in the US.

 

What you did to take advantage was to shop around your local furniture stores to find what you liked. The furniture will have a catalogue tag somewhere on them. Make and model. Also note the price. If a salesman is around, ask what his best price is. You would beat that to death.

 

Don't have any idea if those places still exist, but almost all the factories are closed now. And there were a lot of them. About a third of the state has big plants sitting empty. Weeds growing up through the big empty parking lots. I drive past a cluster of 5 on the way to the range. The empty textile and knitting mills all seemed to be "in town" mostly. The furniture plants not so much.

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