I've got a question. With all the knockoffs of Eames Lounge Chairs in various local shops (Gibraltar, Blueprint, etc...) is there one of a high quality equal to that of Design Within Reach? My opinion is that DWR is tending to rip customers off because they have the "exclusive license to brand" their chairs as opposed to these other companies.

I'd love something of high enough quality to last me many years, and I KNOW someone is going to say "Buy the DWR model" but unfortunately, that chair is VERY expensive and out of my price range.

Can anyone give us a guide on who retails the best quality knockoff modern furniture pieces in LA (Barcelona, Eames, etc...)? Thanks!

adam--
The still-girly but increasingly addictive Domino this month has a GREAT article about knock-offs and who owns what licences.

If you are an AT regular (which I think you are) then you'll recognize the names (DWR, White, Room and Board, etc.) and the arguments for/against, but the article puts it all in great perspective, all in one place. Also an interesting tidbit on what relicensing has done to the vintage market.
They do miss some resources like circa50 and many of the other online resources that offer licensed stuff lower than elsewhere.

I still say buy the best you can possibly afford. If you cave in and furnish with compromises just to get it done, it'll be a while before you have the cash to acquire the real things (but that's only important if you are thinking long-term with a possible eye on appreciation and/or resale... which may not be the case)

Adam
Sometimes you just have to be at the right place at the right time. Two years ago out of curiosity, I walked in a thrift store in the Valley and I thought my mind was playing games with me. There it was a stray authentic Eames lounge chair and ottoman. It looked as if it had a hard life and can be revived with very minor tweaking, but for the price of 100 Big Macs,I cannnot be too picky.