So you've got champagne taste and a skim milk pocketbook. You're bored with Ikea, Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel and the like. You're not quite ready to plunk down a few car payments on the high end stuff you see in Architectural Digest, Living, etc., or House Beautiful but you've often wondered, "What happens to those pieces that were used to stage a house? Or the pieces that were ordered and came in in the wrong fabric? When a designer redoes a home in Beverly Hills, where do those pieces go? What about designer showroom pieces, what happens to them?" Wonder no more. The recently launched website, Former Furniture, is your latest resource...
An online marketplace for buyers and sellers of previously owned furniture and exclusive showroom pieces, it's a treasure trove of well-priced, beautiful furniture and accessories. A cross between EBay and Craig's List and at a lower price point than 1st dibs, it's a welcome alternative to them all. Former Furniture was created by interior designer Lindsey Dann (see her house tour here), who saw the opportunity to assist her professional network and personal clientele and it's expanding from there. From photographing the pieces you're looking to sell to customizing the pieces you've purchased, Former Furniture acts as a conduit between buyers and sellers to ensure that both parties are satisfied with the process. You'll get the pieces you want for lot less than you'd pay for them retail; you'll sell the pieces you're trying to get rid off for a lot more than you might otherwise get and with a lot less hassle. For more information, click here
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I enjoyed the first part of your post, "So you've got champagne taste and a skim milk pocketbook. You're bored with Ikea, Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel and the like", but the prices are way too high for me.
Holy smokes - I agree with Sydney. That's not a skim milk budget - that's more like half 'n half.
In all fairness its really not apples to apples to compare most of the furniture on this site to a what you would buy at Pottery Barn, C&B and Ikea.
I took a quick look at the site, for instance a lounge chair from A.Rudin is superior in quality, made by real furniture craftsman in the USA and plus they are upholstered in very nice fabrics.
Example - A. Rudin Lounge chair #519 in a Mohair fabric, with solid wood base is $975.00, compared to a Pottery Barn Arlington chair in a Grade A fabric which is probably a nylon or poly blend cheap fabric. for $949.00. There is a big difference in the way the A.Rudin chair is constructed and mohair alone runs anywhere from 80.00-280.00 per yard.
If you were going to spend 900.00 on a chair this gives you an option to get one that is superior over a Pottery Barn made in China chair.
As far a budget goes I am with you..I can't afford Ikea right now.
You can get a far better deal at Bonham's weekend "estate sale" auctions. A used Barbara Berry nightstand for $1050 is a used nightstand. I'd be astonished if the site sold any furniture from the readership of AT:LA. How much of a cut does Dann get?
I agree with what Lorisf is saying and even I have what is called champagne tastes on a beer budget and have to shop at places like IKEA, C&B and other similar type of stores and even then, on things like IKEA's Klippan sofa, I have to save up to get.
The point of all of this is, just because it's out of yoru price range right now, it may not be so far out if you just save up, be patient and keep looking, you too can eventually buy a previously used high end piece for probably half it's original price and if it's a quality upholstered piece, you are rest assured it'll last a lifetime and be a worth handing down through the generations.
My parents bought a nice sofa for half off for it was the floor sample back in the mid 70's. It was either a Henridon or Heritage, possibly even a Drexel, I forget, anyway, it was something like $1200 new, they got it for something like $500 and it's been slipcovered in the early 80's and totally recovered in the early 90's and my Mom still has it in her living room and it's worth being recovered, yet again.
They knew they could not afford the couch at full price, but at $500? Sure, that's what this place is all about, but there again, what they sell may not be in your price range AT THIS MOMENT, it can be if you just save up.
Let's face it... ALL furniture is overpriced.
Honestly, I can't afford anything right now--and as about half the posts on this site still seem devoted to high end furnishings--it's getting harder and harder to sustain my interest. This and the article on Leonard's New England seem distinctly out of touch with the current economy.
What I would really like more of is inexpensive ways to modify what I already have. And yes, I know there has been a number of posts on this as well, but when I see a posting, as with LNE, that pushes a three-legged stool that costs $350 as affordable, all it does is make me resentful.
I think it's a great idea. This seems like a great site to use if you are looking to buy quality and save some money.
As for the prices, I see a button where you can make a counteroffer. For the most part, I don't find the prices out of line. Quality furniture is expensive to make. Ikea distorts the perception that quality furniture should be cheap because it is not quality furniture. It is placeholder furniture for people who can't yet afford quality furniture or whose priorities rest elsewhere - maybe it's a pricey car, or high end shoes, or wild vacations to exotic destinations, or simply paying off those student loans.
Almost without exception, that retail "cheap" furniture everyone loves is manufactured in a foreign factory paying wages that no one reading AT would find acceptable. Supporting that practice does nothing to help our economy.
ciddyguy and LoriSF are dead on with this. A well made piece of furniture can last a lifetime, and is definitely worth buying, even if you have to save for it.
As for being resentful about a post, sheesh...
There are other, more renegade style decorating sites that might be what you are looking for. No reason to get bent out of shape.
I think the company is a wonderful attribution to the design world. It is the perfect place for people like me who adore beautiful, designer pieces but can't afford to buy them.
In this economy, it seems like Former Furniture is the best way to still make your house look great. It's all about getting those couple special pieces to make the entire room. I'd rather spend $600 on well crafted, timeless Baker couch than spend $600 on junk you have to assemble yourself and only lasts a couple years. There are not many company's that do this!
I just went on the site and thought there were so many fabulous deals, a wide array of merchandise and a lot of different services. I'm definitely going to give it a try.
their take is 40%...
Honestly, I don't understand why people are ranting and raving about how expensive this site is? Yes, it's not Ikea, but given the caliber of merchandise, the values are impressive. Not to mention the fact that the selection has clearly been carefully curated by an expert eye. It's all relative. Given the quality of design, this is an incredible find! I've already fallen in love a few times. :) Gorgeous, cherry-picked selection at great values.
This looks like a great resource for someone like myself, who is slowly transitioning from a twenty-something renter to a first-time home buyer. I would love to see more prints (see art accessories) in this price range -$1200!
As a recent first-time home owner, I am psyched about Former Furniture. Its launch couldn’t have come at a better time for me! The high-quality furniture, hand-picked stylish pieces, excellent value, and user-friendly website have propelled Former Furniture into a league of its own.
From the Former furniture site - in reference to a Paul McCobb Planner Group desk in the "design tip" section:
"Refinish this piece in a bright lacquer color and replace hardware with some contemporary ones."
...or you could just cut it in half and throw it in a dumpster.
I'm not really knocking the site, it's a great idea (the site) - that was just very disconcerting to read and I hope no one would actually do that.
Love, Love, Love Former Furniture!!! I bought a table and chairs a few months ago and I’m completely thrilled with my purchase and the entire experience. I would definitely buy from them again. I have items I bought at Pottery Barn and Williams Sononma Home that were pricey and not great quality for the price. The set I bought from Former Furniture is solid and was well priced.
The staff are pro’s and fantastic to work with, it's like shopping with your best girlfriends.
I agree that the comparison to Ikea and Pottery Barn, etc. is not really quite the right comparison. But that being said, for what it is--selling higher end furniture at more competitive prices--Former Furniture has really hit a great spot.
There's a place for Ikea stuff, but there comes a time when you're ready to have more of an investment piece--and a piece that's also a little more unique (ie: not mass made Pottery Barn). So when that time comes it's nice to know that there's an option like Former Furniture out there.