I work for West Elm. Almost every day for 8 soul crushing hours. Yes the furniture is shitty, expensive, and well herald. The "wood" is just a wood veneer or wood look laminate(this means they take a picture of wood and multiply it hundreds of times)on top of particle board(this is basicly crushed up wood chips, people). It chips off daily here. Most of the cotton is a poly blend. I tell the idiots it makes the sheets stronger (we all know THAT'S a lie). Yes it is truely designed for the first time, dumbstruck, empathetic apartment owners, who have never realized that the big, shiny, popular chainstore is handing them faded knockoffs of Eams Earl and George Nelson relics from their parents past(which, by the way I can find at my local thrift store for around $10). This is mass consumerism at it's best. First it was the volkswagon bug being stuffed down our throats, then it was good ole' Rolling Stones and Fleetwood Mac, now it's our grandma's furniture falling prey.
Go to a thrift store, go to the flea market. Get the real thing. Or have my fakely sweet smile staring you in the face, asking "Welcome to West Elm, how may I kiss your ass today, you poor dumb b^st^rd?"

I used to work for West Elm too and as rushmoore said, their furniture is expensive crap. The only solid wood used are the legs of tables, dressers, sofas and chairs everything else is particle board with a thin veneer covering. The pieces look expensive but the quality, believe me or not, is below Ikea's!!! Believe me everyone that works there knows it but we flash our pretty smiles and put on a poker face because we have to. I left working there after I got tired of people calling complaining the furniture I sold them broke, scratches easily, warps easily, chips easily and on and on. I cannot with a clear conscience continue to sell such crap and rip people off.
If you do buy from West Elm do not buy any of their "assembly required" pieces they are the really cheaply made shoddy workmanship ones. Also shop around allot, most of their home accessories can easily be found at Target or similar stores. Tons of furniture stores now carry the "clean look" furniture fully assembled for about the same price. Again shop around first!