You are what you sit on. At Apartment Therapy we are always working hard like bunnies developing our philosophy and working out the talking points that underpin the healthy, beautiful, organized home. Today's manifesto deals with throwawayism...
The Low Carb Furniture Diet
Sometimes a piece of mass produced furniture (a carb) is useful and good, but too much of it will put big pounds on your home. The same thing applies to your home.
THE CARBS
Carbohydrate furniture is fluffy, sweet short term furniture that doesn't last long. It is usually cheaper. We need it, we can use it, but not in great quantities. Comparable to actual carbs, this type of furniture - mass produced - carries very little energy in it, which is why it can start to look so sad so quickly. In sum, it is useful, but doesn't add any value to your home, in terms of energy, $ or long term usefulness. You will have a hard time giving this furniture away in the end.
THE PROTEINS
Protein furniture is hard, solid, often handmade furniture, which is usually more expensive (but doesn't need to be - antiques, restaurant supply and flea market finds fall into this category as well): a solid oak kitchen table, a custom couch, a beautiful kettle! We have a hard time with this furniture because it requires a commitment, but we need this furniture more to create a solid core in our home.
THE MIX
Because we live in a carbohydrate furniture world, we have lost touch with the idea that we don't need AS MUCH furniture, and a little protein furniture goes a long way. This is stuff that passes the test of time and like a good pair of jeans, gets better and COOLER with age. And you don't need much (as I said). A few good things: one table and four chairs, one couch, one bed.... will last you longer and serve you better than too much chipboard, laminate furniture.
Importantly, protein furniture carries more energy within it due to the way in which it has been made and is passed on. It will engergize your home over time, and you won't have any trouble giving it away in the end.
So, when you are shopping, spend the bulk of your budget on good stuff and be okay with not buying as much. Carb furniture is still great, but go easy. Remember, we want to respect the furniture pyramid in our homes.
(image: Olga Lyubkina / Shutterstock)
Re-edited from a post originally published 3.20.06 - MR
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Oh, great, so now i feel REALLY cluttered. And hungry for pasta.
Does anyone have any thoughs on the best sofas available for under $2000? Please let me know.
I got a beautiful sleeper sofa at clubfurniture.com for less than $1500, including down filled cushions. The design was for a leather sofa, but they agreed to make it up in fabric for me (I have cats!). I was reluctant to make such an investment via the internet, but I was very satified with the results. The company is owned by two brothers out of North Carolina and you deal directly with them. The delivery company they employ was extremely professional. Overall a great experience and 3 years later, my sofa still looks and feels terrific.
This company located downtown not only has form and function for city dwellers - their couches/sofabeds have roomy storage underneath and the arm rests have interesting levers that enable them to flatten out providing an incredible extra bed or primary bed even!! I have the techno bed (in red) for almost a year that someone has been using as a primary bed AND couch and am getting a second one delivered on Monday for my home office (in green!!) hope this helps!
The veneer on my West Elm frame is chipping and the kind of wood headboard bed I want costs upwards of 2k! I have my eye on a Nicoletta bed from Amisco which is also lowish in price but I think it'll last and go well with my $20 Ikea floor lamp.
I agree that deals can be had second hand like at estate sales. I was disappointed in seeing wood furniture at either Pottery Barn or Restoration Hardware that was ugly and unfinished in the back. Ethan Allen and Seaman's is guilty of this too. The cheapest protein furniture I have found has been repro (not antique) furniture made in China but you have to like that kind of style and it is super heavy.
Re--Cheap Sofa under $2000
Salvage an old sofa from the curbside. Just rip the cloth off the bottom, and make sure it's hardwood, not particle board.
All you need to find is a size and shape you like. Ugly, worn, or stained... no problem. Have it reupholstered. A professional will tighten loose springs, and can do the job for as little as $1500. They would probably even make you matching pillows, if that kind of thing is your bag.
Crate and Barrel carries Lee Industries Sofas which offer varying levels of quality. DO NOT Buy a sleeper unless you absolutely have to- it will not last as long or feel as comfortable. Online the sofa's price for $1500, but go to the store in person and ask about these extras.
Benchmade-made by hand by a person.
Eight-way hand tied springs-will last much longer than sinuous springs.
Cloud Nine seat fill- springs wrapped in foam wrapped in a layer of down. Will need occasional fluffing(once every two-three weeks), but much more comfortable than the foam with polyfiber and not as high maintenence as the all down. Your choice if you want all down back pillows-very high maintenence and the ones from this company aren't very fluffy.
The price point will depend mainly on the fabric you pick, but this manufacturer has some great acrylic and cotton velvets and textured solids that will clean easily and hide any stains that do not come out.
I think the carb analogy is absolutely great. Because actually, there are very expensive dessert carbs which are completely delicious, but are carbs nonetheless; they're not just like potatoes, which are cheap energy.
Some fancy furniture is a tad too trendy and cheaply made to actually spend money on, as well; its style won't last, so it won't be easy to pass on, and it won't look good for very long, but since the piece won't quite fall apart it will constipate your life. It makes you think it must be protein, because of the price, but it's still a carb.
I got a great leather sofa from Room & Board for around $ 2,000 including tax and delivery. I had a sub-$2,000 budget as well and I found theirs to be the best for what I needed.
Natuzzi also had leather sofas for less than $ 2,000.
Can anyone comment on the quality of Ikea leather sofas? I'm thinking of getting the Kramfors model. Very stylish and cheap.
I got a beautiful sofa bed at wiederusa.com for less than $1500,Plenty of storage, Spring mattresses.I'm was very satified with the sofa bed.Very stylish.
So - what about the dividing line between complete protein furniture (legumes and whole grains) and top of the food chain protein furniture (Kobe beef)?
How should you leap that divide?
Specifically, I'm looking for two swivel lounge chairs for my living room. I can afford things in the complete-protein range (Room&Board etc) but can't find anything that meets my style/functional needs.
Then there is the Kobe Beef stuff that I've found does meet my style/functional needs (Barbara Barry, Mitchell Gold) but challenges my sense of what is decent to spend on two chairs.
What wins out? Legumes and whole grains that can sustain me? Or Kobe Beef that is outrageously tasty?
i totally agree with the thoughts. i refuse to buy any more particle board furniture. even though it may look nice and be really expensive, i just don't think it lasts
Don't buy an Ikea sofa. I have a friend that purchased it and after one month that was the most uncomfortable thing ever.
What wins out is whatever you can afford.
i don't think its a question of money. there is alot of crappy MDF tables that cost a fortune.
As an athlete, I need carbs to fuel my high octane pursuits. Sure, protein is the reserves and the building block, but carbs are what keep me going.
That, plus everybody knows that Atkins is a too-good-to-be-true fad. You may lose some weight, but your heart will suffer in the process.
I give you one star for trying to work with an analogy that was doomed in the first place.
marc--
Agreed. I was just refering to the two specific ranges (the Room & Boards and Barbara Barrys of the world) which she cites.
But I also think if you *need* a chair to complete your seating arrangement, and add the necessary number of seats to your space, then it's not really an issue of "carbs" at all, since actual function sort of supercedes the superfluous, no?
The bottom line is always buy the best that you can afford. I saw a Knoll "chicklet" sofa at The Pier Antiques Show this weekend for $1,700. The gallery was Pre-View from Florida - you can probably find them online. I like the sofa I have from Crate & Barrel - good luck.
but that point of this post is to help quantify what "best" means. can any sofa made with straps and glue ever be called "best" even if it is stamped knoll and costs $1700 or more?
m
marc-
(again, not disagreeing... just an interesting topic)
I'd say there are some brands for which you can assume quality (Knoll is one of them, I think Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams another; I also trust the product that DWR peddles.) But I also agree that trend and cachet have sent prices sky high on some items that people couldn't give away a few years ago.
I think any piece of furniture you can afford, and for which you have a reaction of pure lust, AND have the space/need for it... pure protein at its very best! But sometimes that *is* a piece of furniture from Chiasso or Pottery Barn or (even!) Ikea...
i have had the kramfors for about five months now and it's held up great so far. honestly, it looks great and while it's not something i plan to keep for man years, i think it will work for 2-3 at least while i am in this apartment. in terms of comfort, i would suggest buying the ottoman as well if you get it. it's not the most comfortable couch (we sacrificed look for comfort here and opted for a really comfortable club chair for reading, etc.) but it's not terrible either. i have four pillows on it now and that seems to help. oddly, it is one of the most comfortable couches to sleep on but isn't all that great for lenghty movies, etc. i didn't buy it hoping for it to last longer than a few years, if you are looking for something higher quality than it might be best to save and invest your money on something that will hold up for longer.
ps: and I think "afford" is all relative. I have spent money on a piece or two that would send my mother reeling (so, um, I never told her). I've also spent past my "realistic budget" because of credit cards or installment plans, and I have no qualms doing so (again, "don't tell mama...").
But furniture, and my apartment, are both things I really, really love, so money that other people spend on things like travel and eating out I spend on tables, chairs and art.
Loved this post, Maxwell! I think a lot of times people simply forget that thrift stores, antique stores, etc. are indeed an option for good quality, solid furniture & appliances. You know the saying, "they don't make em like they used to?" Well that saying exists for a reason.
My vintage furniture is so much more solid and substantial than any of my newly bought retail stuff. Mmmm protein. So filling!
Yes, my "REAL" problem is the relative value of spending money on *exactly* what I want versus the value of other things/experiences that I want to include in my life (early retirement, good food, travel, etc) and the relationship of money to the entire spectrum of needs/wants/desires.
So for me, I start trying to analyze my behaviours and options within an economic/rational framework and end up driving myself batty and still chairless.
http://www.harvardmagazine.com/print/030640.html
Mark Patrick (the other one) makes a lot of sense. Let me say one more thing about "best" - sometimes I hold off on buying what has been deemed the "best" (i.e. big bucks for Carlyle sofa bed) and spend money on the middle range for very good quality items (i.e. Crate & Barrel sofa bed - love it). Just don't buy down right poor quality if you don't have to.
(once again, it's all AT's fault I'm not getting any work done.)
Hey, p2, I like what you said about lust. Maybe that's what we should go by rather than dietary wisdom.
Besides, a pure protein diet results in what is called rabbit starvation, where your body consumes itself. Ya need some fat in that diet, too (this is the reason Atkins works, btw, if followed - it's less high-protein than it is high-fat. Oddly, this phrase was not chosen to try to sell a diet book...)
If PB is carbs (not that I could afford an entire PB apartment in any case), and Mitchell Gold and clever antique finds is protein, what is fat furniture?
We need some fat to round this all out.
I would love to have good sincere! wooden furniture - all maple, all mahogany. I don't know where I will be tomorrow so do want to invest in priceless furniture!
sometimes choosers do not have choices! Hail craiglist! - I am all for you
I agree with Maxwell. While looking at the entries in the small space contest, there is SO MUCH Ikea, West Elm, Room and Board, even DWR(sorry, I know we love them). To my eye, this keeps some of the occupants' personalities and histories from really shining through. Gleaning good furniture from family or picking up solid pieces from second-hand stores is a great way to go. I try to keep basic "improvers" on hand, such as sandpaper, black and white paint and spraypaint, a good brush, laquer remover, and furniture wax and cleaners, so it's easy to makeover a good find quickly.
Fat furniture, to me, would be accessories like cushions/pillows, vases, etc. The stuff that, if you don't watch out, will become CLUTTER!
This post left me thinking...isn't effective interior design supposed to be about what harmonizes and draws a positive reaction from yourself (especially since it is your own living space)?
Calling IKEA et al. the carbs seems a bit exclusionary for those who are discovering/developing/experimenting with design (i.e. me).
The message to keep aspiring to better quality furnishings/composition/layout is an already clear one on AT -that's why I keep coming back to this site!
I hope AT continues to encourage design efforts no matter the source of the furnishings. The source to me is irrelevant -what you do with what you've got is where the 'magic' begins.
Besides, my Mama always said everything is good in moderation...
Didn't I just read somewhere on this site (or design*sponge) that MG+BW design most of the pottery barn sofas? How does that fit into this debate??
I guess it's lucky for me that this analogy is so tenuous. Like any dietician/nutritionist will tell you, the foundation of a good diet is in the carbs. Low-carb diets are unhealthy.
I love my Ikea sofa, which I've slipcovered with a funky fabric that I love as well, just as much as I love fruit salad or sweet potatoes or toast. Carbs can be pretty good food. I love my Ikea table, too, and it is solid.
For me the protein of my apartment is books and art. Furniture is just furniture, and who cares what it costs? By which I mean, who cares if my sofa is cheaper than your sofa? Or less "unique"?
This popular search for "authenticity" in furnishings is just another kind of conformity. It's like living in a loft: when everyone has a "loft", it ceases to be unique. Same goes when everyone has a "unique" piece of furniture from a flea market. What really makes a space is how you live in it and what it means to you. It doesn't matter if it's "popular".
My favorite source for protein furniture is auctions. We have many up here is Mass, my favorite is a weekly auction on the Cape, just over the bridge in Sandwich. With the right auctioneer it can be great theater, even if you don't buy.
Auctions are great! Click on my name for the url for Maine Antique Digest, which lists antique shows and auctions. The "antique" arena seems to focus more on Victorian furniture than on early to mid-twentieth century, but often there is a website with pictures to get a sense of what will be offered (and of the likely prices - auctions vary from low-end to high-end just as much as furniture stores do).
My favorite product for scratched or dinged up furniture is called "Restor-a-finish" - perfect when complete refinishing isn't called for but a little sprucing up is needed (and more effective than the old "brown marker" method). A google search will lead to the website, which will lead to distributors.
My own apartment is a mixture - Ikea for the kitchen and work area, when I needed very specifically sized things quickly, mostly old oak furniture from auctions and antique stores in the living room, and just this weekend a used bed frame off of Craig's list (thanks, Scavenger!).
This isn't a question of valuing one brand name over another, or of assigning moral value to being able to spend thousands of dollars on furniture or thousands of hours browsing flea markets or craig's list, but it can be a question of patience. Because I've been socialized into our consumer culture, I can get pulled into viewing shopping as a leisure activity and frustrated when I can't find what I want right away. But it took a couple of years to find my dining table at an auction and 8 months to settle on the bed frame - the instant gratification of walking into a store and buding something was missing, but there was gratification involved in finding something that I really liked, was well-made and that I could afford ($150 for a table and six chairs, $350 for a hard-wood aesthetically pleasing bed frame). On the other hand, I needed a desk for work and it had to have a keyboard drawer for ergonomic reasons (ruling out most older desks), so I got one from Ikea (a perfect red desk that I love - yay, instant gratification!).
I do have some difficulty with the concept of "I didn't buy it hoping for it to last longer than a few years" because that means that the furniture will be headed into landfills. For me, harmony in my living space is hopefully more than harmony just for my individual self, but also harmony with the rest of the world that I live in. If I needed seating right away, I'd rather pick up a couple of "temporary" chairs from Craig's list, and then take some time to find the "protein" chairs.
For me, this thread isn't about an exclusionary rejection of Ikea, it's just about options and balance - that Ikea is just one possibility among others, rather than the only choice for eveything. I like that AT mixes style and interior design with decluttering and less consumption - another nutritional balance analogy in the making?
(Sigh) its always such a love/hate with Ikea isn't it? i think for many people, Ikea offers convenience as well as price- a lot of folks do not live in more urban settings that are privy to first hand access to "better" design alternatives. And others just don't have the time or perhaps don't like "used" things via a thrift store. Ikea is one of few options for a more modern aesthetic- but i agree with the sentiment about moderation- it's so temptingly easy to just solve all your furnishing issues, whether they be practical or purely decorative, through Ikea or others, because they just have it all right there for you- I guess in the end, you're the only one that has to live in your home on a daily basis- and you should fill your home with what makes you happy. so i love the food analogy- your home is like your body- you can feed it anyway you like, but you just need to be comfortable in your own skin. i personally enjoy having a more balanced diet.
Ugh. THIS topic again. Disagree, disagree, disagree. Sorry, this food analogy has never worked for me. It makes for clever copy, but that's about it.
I agree with Tanya and there is another thing. What about children? I would love to own luxurious sheets, for eg, but my son loves to join us in bed in the mornings and he brings along his toys/pillows etc.
Should I invest in "protein" furniture that may get ruined? I don't want to wait till my kids are all grown to live well.
I think also that there is a fine line with boundaries and limits. He knows, for instance, not to bring crayons anywhere near our velvet upholstered couch, but I want him to be a kid and be able to explore.
The product I've found, by the way, that has best been able to straddle the niceness/durability line is FLOR. My two cents anyway.
I agree that much money is wasted on IKEA furniture. However, I bought a great Henredon couch on sale (70% off!!) and could not fit it into my apartment. It is sitting in storage right now. I actually bought an IKEA to use in the meantime. Be warned if you live in a small space, expensive/quality furniture will not always fit.
OKAY..IM 19 AND I JUST RENTED MY FIRST APARTMENT,WELL STUDIO. I HAVE BENN GOING ONTO APARTMENTTHERAPY FOR TWO MONTHS NOW GETTING IDEAS, BUT I THINK IM STARTING TO BECOME DRIFTY WITH IDEAS. I NEED HELP.. IM WORKING ON THE PHOTOS BUT FOR RIGHT NOW I CAN TELL YOU THAT MY SPACE MEASURES ABOUT 198 SQ FT!!!!! YEAH TELL ME ABOUT IT. EVERYTHING IS WHITE(WALLS, CLOSETS AND LINOLEUM CARPET). I DO HAVE BEAUTIFUL 80" BAY WINDOWS THOUGH. I LOVE THE PLACE AND MOST OF ALL IT'S ALL MINE!! SO IF ANYONE HAS ANY TIPS OR POINTERS I WILL GREATLY APPRECITE IT. THANKS!
Hey, there. I found your blog entry while searching Google for the term (without quotes) "how well does IKEA furniture hold up?". What I found was a great article chock full of common sense advice about building a core group of quality furnishings. Good protein, this, good parallel. Great read.
And others just don't have the time or perhaps don't like "used" things via a thrift store. Ikea is one of few options for a more modern aesthetic- but i agree with the sentiment about moderation- it's so temptingly easy to just solve all your furnishing issues, whether they be practical or purely decorative, through Ikea or others, because they just have it all right there for you- I guess in the end, you're the only one that has to live in your home on a daily basis- and you should fill your home with what makes you happy.
Amazing. I rememberr this post from ages ago, and it's truly what got me hooked on Apartment Therapy. This post, and the Small Is Cool concept. Thanks for reposting Maxwell! :)
When I was younger and just getting out on my own, I had a mixture of protein (albeit handed down or bought second hand) and carb (MDF bookcases for example). This allowed me to find my own taste over time and to save to buy better furniture. IMO, it doesn't have to be all or nothing right away. If I cannot find what I like now or cannot afford what I like right now, I use what I have or find an inexpensive substitute that I might be able to sell and recoup the cost later when I can find and/or afford what I want. Now, however, when I am looking or saving, I do not to do MDF. I actually think I have all the MDF out of my house finally. It is supposedly safer now, but there were once health concerns related to it, especially regarding formaldehyde, and I'm going with the safe side and steering clear of it.
IKEA is carbohydrates. I find it interesting that they are so big into sustainable recycled stuff, all environmentalish BUT if you buy their stuff, you gotta keep replacing it.
Have a chair from Thrive http://www.thrivefurniture.com/ and a loveseat from Club Furniture http://www.clubfurniture.com/
.
Both solid protein pieces made in the US.
Have had the loveseat for almost five years and it is still in great shape and comfortable.
When I was in design school, the concept of "furnishing forward" came up. The carb/protein debate here reflects that. The idea is that well made, classic pieces are far more valuable design-wise then any trend happening now. What may seem inexpensive now could turn into a lot of money by constantly replacing things. I find most people have the most troule editing themselves!
So are you on the diet now, or have you been on this diet continuously since 2006 when this post was originally written?
I want a $2000 or less sofa too, but balked at Thrive's gorgeous models, when I discovered that they use chemical fire retardants to comply with California law. Of course most big box stores also use them too. So how about chepaer models without chemicals?
I got my IKEA couch in the as-is dept in 1998 for under $1000. I'm only just replacing it this year. So much time has gone by that folks don't recognize it as IKEA anymore, and they are always asking me if they can have it when I decide to part ways with it. I'm actually thinking of just recovering it and spending my money on an antique rug instead... This was a case of a carb becoming a protein, me thinks!
I'm not big on carb or protein. Sure protein fills you up, but vegetables and fruits are much more nutritious than protein. And I'm not going to get into the animal-protein-causes-cancer debate...
Applying this to decorating, sure a nice fancy piece of furniture will last a long time, but it's even better to do the following:
- use what you have, or trade with your friends, or create art;
- downsize: house, furnitures, possession, etc.
- upsize on experiences: pen and paper for drawing, learn to take care of plants, borrow friends' instrument / sports equipment for a fun time, plan a weekend trip to hang out with others...
Eat a few bites of meat is nutritious, eat a 16 oz Kobe steak is usually just first world gluttony imho.
I would love to buy some protein couches to replace our IKEA sofas from 2008, but that's just not in the cards right now.
I was thinking the same thing, jess13. What's up with this post that has comments from 9 years ago?
This is such a fantastic analogy! Perfectly written and a very helpful way to look at furniture acquisition. I will definitely keep this in mind whenever I get out of my studio and have a larger place to furnish.
I feel like buying a cheap piece of furniture while waiting to find/afford/whatever what you really want can be incredibly wasteful, like when that placeholder is a piece of junk made out of particleboard. Buying a couch fully intending on taking it to the dump in five years because by that time it will be falling apart is ridiculous. Find one on craigslist, or the goodwill, garage sale, your parent's basement, or build yourself a bench, but for gods sake don't go to ikea with full intentions of literally dumping that furniture soon. Or, if you must, please keep those purchases to an absolute minimum. Our planet can't handle it forever.
Boy is this ever relevant! Just spent weekend clearing space in my space. I always hit a wall when I have to apply tough love to furniture owned. I usually find another spot in a room to move a "dispensable" piece because I feel guilty getting rid of it--even if this means donating the furniture. I made a deal with myself: no more anymore furniture purchases; save the money for reupholstering the good stuff!
This is fascinating, and a good analogy.
I have a pair of club chairs I bought in 1988. I have never recovered them, and have only now made a slipcover for them (because it's white and I can wash it). They draw compliments every time somebody comes to our house. They were expensive for my budget in 1988, but if you depreciate over the time I've already had them, they were a deal.
Most of our furniture is older quality or antiques. We have some Ikea (like my entire office), and I do love Ikea for offering affordable, well-designed basics.
But don't be like my stepdaughter (who has very bad dietary habits! all carbs and sugar--a white foods diet! Is there a link???), who buys suites of Ikea and changes them out almost once a year. She tires of the look and goes and buys all new again. Or something breaks, and she switches, but then she switches everything.
I think the best price/quality is to be found in second-hand shops, antique shops and garage sales. Twenty and 30 years ago, lots of furniture was manufactured in the U.S., to very high standards. Buy that stuff and paint it/recover it.
This is a great re-post. I have to learn to do that on my blog as well.
I agree on the protein over carb theory. I always try to convince my clients of that but I don't always win. Over the summer, I helped a client really re-do her living room beautifully by only buying one major purchase - the sofa. She had some other pieces - two really cool tufted swivel chairs from the 60s (which I had re-upholstered) and some old and sturdy pieces - sofa table, cofee table and two end tables - which I repainted and antiqued for her.. We customized everything - and it all came together beautifully - for less money really than if she had bought all new. We added a new paint job and new window treatments - it was a great re-design...and she and her husband were so happy.
When it came to the dining room - I started looking at some pieces on Ebay - classical brands like Baker etc that were for sale...with some minor scratches and in need of re-upholstering. I wanted her to go that route but she was fearful. She went and bought something "carb-like" and trndy for less that she was happy with. It doesn't really go as well with what we did in her living room. So - I lost that battle...but when her dining set falls apart...I'll be there to help her. She probably would have had to pay a little more for what I was proposing - but the difference in durability and beauty - there's no comparison. i wish I had had this blogpost to show here then!!
Linda
http://www.thecolorfulbee.com
I function on a low carb eating program because I am insulin resistant. It's been the best thing for my health. Coincidentally, my home is pretty high protein, mainly because I prefer second-hand furniture. What I purchase thrifting is invariably better made than many things available new, even expensive items. The only problem is that I've become a little bedbug phobic lately! So no more second-hand upholstered items. I don't want to BECOME a source of protein!
We have Billy bookcases that are over 20 years old, and we passed on to friends a queen bed frame that was almost as old and still in great shape. Ikea can be a great source, but you have to really look at the furniture. I am not above flipping a sofa to check out how it's put together. And I agree that thrift used to be a great resource, but bedbugs are epidemic and everywhere, so I'd rather buy new.
This is the best analogy I have ever come across! And it's so true. Though I hate paying more than forty bucks for anything, I am noticing that my old Crate & Barrel products are lasting much longer than anything Ikea. The key is to think long-term.
What about fats?
Well, I have something to add on the $2,000 sofa front. I got a $4k sofa from Arhaus Furniture for $1600 because I bought a floor model. Granted, it is a lime green leather sofa (that I love, don't judge!) but if you find a sofa you love and it is too expensive, ask the salesperson if he/she is willing to sell the floor model.
Most of you who post here are the 30-something crowd, I am, let's just say, older than that. So I see descriptions of houses and the sources are always West Elm, DWR, Ikea, Crate and Barrel and so on and so on. My stuff includes Scan, Woodward & Lothrop, that-wonderful-Scandinavian-design-store-that-left-Pittsburgh, husband's-grandmother-from-her-trip-to-India, ... you get the idea. As you get older, your stuff mellows and gets more protein-y and interesting. It's one of the few up-sides of getting older ... :)
What about oils? If furnishings are macronutrients, I would say oils are the art. Real, nourishing essential stuff.
Some of my best meals have been made with high-protein leftovers – Danish modern chairs, credenzas, and coffee tables are perfect ingredients, and often complement whatever else is part of the meal. I buy my mattresses fresh, however. I just toss everything together with whatever else is in the house, et voila, delicious!
Must you yell?
You know I think this idea is as good now as it was then, maybe even more so, or I wouldn't have brought it up from the vault, but now I"m working on the Paleo Guide to Furnishing... :)
If you can have wooden furniture made by the Amish, it tends to be good craftsmanship.
Also, you can shop when stores like Bloomingdale's are having 50% off furnishings sales, I ended up with a solid ash bed a few years ago for $1500. I didn't get the matching pieces because I didn't think they were as good a deal and didn't like the style as much as the bed. Ended up with IKEA Malm pieces (3 tall, 1 short, 1 nightstand, 1 lingere) for storage for now until I can find other heirloom quality pieces that will go with the bed.
I grew up in a house entirely decorated with expensive antiques. My two brothers and my sister and I were never restricted in our access. My parents lived by the rule that you should have and live with what you love. Also, they knew that when cheap furniture gets scratched, it is ruined. When a wooden antique gets scratched, it just adds to the patina. We never had very much money, but my parents were always able to sell the antique pieces for more than they bought them for when they wanted to get rid of them. With newer furniture you are lucky to make anything if you need a change for any reason.
I too prefer "aged" furniture of quality, but the recent bedbug and cockroach infestations pose a dilemma. These are not just on upholstered furniture either. Is anyone using techniques to inspect/get rid of bugs on used furniture?
When people are buying "carbs" I don't know how often they have the practical option of buying something more expensive and/or that doesn't need to be easily disassembled and moved - I moved 10 times in my first decade in New York, and most of those were buildings with tiny, cramped staircases (can I tell you, one was a previous tenement building, sixth floor walk-up, external spiral stairs). Cheap furniture, while often devoid of personality and not built to last, serves a purpose, or else I would have been sitting on lawn chairs all those times.
It is possible to get what you're calling "protein" furniture from places like IKEA. A smart shopper will be able to look at construction, materials, and deduce if it will age well.
I have a couple pieces that have become the foundation of my home. First, is an unassuming kitchen island from IKEA. I've been using it all day every day for 5 years, and I am in love with it. The gathering place in my apartment is around that thing. Second, is our stone topped coffee table from cb2. It's crazy durable, and I don't imagine needing to replace it any time soon.
I'm now in the process of saving for those big furniture purchases that I'll have forever. Case goods are so expensive!