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August 8, 2016- by Steven E. Greer
I had not purchased furniture in a long time. So, when I moved into a larger condo with more rooms, I had to buy many items (moving was a much bigger pain in the ass than I expected).
I learned from trial and error where to go. Like the Amazon.com revolution for other things, I think that online purchasing of furniture is better.
I tried about five different bricks-and-mortar furniture stores, ranging from discount to high-end, but their selections were lacking. I had some specific 1960’s modern looks in mind.
I tried Amazon.com at first, but they allow third-party unvetted sellers to parlay counterfeit fake leather junk from China. When I tried to return one chair that was advertised as “Real leather…beware, competitors sell fake leather”, but was still urethane, Amazon could not even locate their address.
I searched around and found Modern Classics Furniture in the state of Washington. They make real leather items at an affordable cost (However, no real leather item will go for under $1,000, so beware of any place selling “leather” for $600). I was pleased with the shipping, which allowed the delivery to be carried up the stairs into my media room.
For trendier cheaper items to fill your apartment, that you can leave behind if you move, try Wayfair.com. They are like Zappos for furniture. I bought a small green loveseat and white rug, for not much money, and they were of perfectly acceptable quality. They have good floor lamps too.
For a mattress, almost all of the stores are selling single-sided ones now with thin layers of urethane, or other “memory foam”, as a pillow-top. I recommend a traditional two-sided mattress that can be flipped and rotated, and does not have the chemical smells of the memory foam.
For your home office, I have already mentioned that Madison Seating sells affordable office chairs. For a desk, I recommend the Herman Miller Envelop.
Please post your own tips on what you have learned about furniture.