Bedroom Furniture Help...

We are currently looking for a bedroom set. I am having a hard time comparing quality. According to the sales people they are all 'comparable'.
We want a real wood good quality set. Something that will last 20+ years (if I can look at the same set that long).

Have any of you bought a bedroom set, or know some good manufactures?

So far I've come across:
Thomasville
Vaughan of Virginia
Vaughan-Basset
American Drew

Thanks ladies!
Jen

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I really like Ethan Allen furniture.

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Thanks Doreen. I did look at their website, but I didn't see anything. I'm sure the page doesn't do it justice though. There is a store right around the corner from my office that I should check out.......

Thanks again

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I bought mine from Thomisville and I am very happy with it.
They had similar sets in Macy's for 1/2 the money but I'm glad we spent the extra $$ b/c as you said you want it to last.
The furniture is very well made.

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You have FM.

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We are going furniture shopping tomorrow so thank you for this thread!

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Cant comment on those companies in particular but I suggest you find out what sort of wood the furniture is made of.

Lots of furniture today is made with pressed wood....its very light and is covered by a veneer of better wood but its essentially crap. Ikea, Seaman and many other companies that charge more have furniture like this. Its fine if you arent looking for something to last a long time but not good if you want a quality piece.

A quick test is to try to pick up the floor model a few inches off the ground. If its not heavy, move on to another store...its should be strain to move even a small piece (like a coffee table) and be almost impossible to lift a large piece (an armoire) yourself. (Unless you are very strong )

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My father custom makes wood furniture. He will make almost anything and it was last forever and it is guaranteed for as long as you own the product. He makes it with his own hands, he is an artisan. He will take out a drawer, turn it over, and STAND all 220 of his pounds on it! That's how sturdy his stuff it. Since it is to order, you can bring in pictures of what you like & he can create it exactly with the quality you want- oak, maple, etc. The company is Oak Furniture by Dynamic Wood- the phone number there is 631.789.5742 and his name is Jim- my name is Dina... say I referred you if you go- it's located in Copiague on Sunrise Hwy.

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We searched and searched and finally found a excellent quality - nice bedroom set from Thomasville. We're really happy with our decision.

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Stanley is nice too, that is what we just got
they have showrooms out here and at
www.furniturelandsouth.com

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We got our set from Ethan Allen. Some of the stuff is better made than others, but overall the quality is pretty good. We also liked Thomasville.

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Thanks ladies.....

Dina, I would love to have something made, but I'm upstate, and we don't know what we're looking for. Thank you for the info. I'm going to keep it for when there is something specific. You must have beautiful things

I haven't seen any Thomasville sets yet. But I found out there is a Thomasville store in Rochester (an hour away), so we're going to take a ride next weekend.
I also found a store that carries Drexel Heritage which my mother suggested.

So far we like this set the best by American Drew...

This is so hard for me.....it makes me so anxious to choose something that we'll have for so long.

I keep you ladies posted on our progress. Thanks again for your help

P.S.- This is what the website says that concerns me regarding this bedroom set though...wood products???

'Crafted from cherry veneers, select hardwood solids and wood products.'

• 

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You do not want 'wood products' you want something that says Oak or Maple or Hard Pine (not soft pine)...

A bedroom set costs a good amount of money, but it should last. A set from my Dad would cost anywhere between $2500 and $5k depending upon wood used and size, etc- but it will last you your whole life practically... maybe you can find an artisan upstate that would craft it for you- it's worth asking around for.

Actually- my Dad hasn't made me anything- he refuses to until we live in a house - it's a waste for him to make me something if it's for the apartment because we might need something different when we move.

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I just took pics of my Stanley new set saturday
try the website I told you about and when I develope this roll, Ill post them

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Tammy, I meant to thank you for that site you posted. It has soooo many sets on there.
I haven't come across Stanley in any stores around here yet. I'll have to track one down to see them in person....I'll keep my eye out for your pics!!

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My bedroom set is Vaughn Basset and I love it! I bnought it at Furniture Now on Route 110. Another great store is All Wood Furniture Galleries ~~~They are on 110, jericho in Mineola and I think in Holbrook.

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Thanks mlp924.... One of the sets we are considering is Vaughan-Bassett. I'm in Buffalo though, and unfortunately we don't have a lot of the same stores, nor is there a furniture 'district' up here like Rt. 110.


I just found this article (as you can see I'm busy at work today ). I thought it might help those who are shopping. I'm going to print this and take it with me so that I know what I'm looking at...

Labels
Guidelines for the home furnishings industry, which were established by the Federal Trade Commission, indicate that any tags and labels are to be written so consumers easily can understand them. Tags and labels are to be removed only by the consumer.
If all exposed surfaces are constructed of a specific solid wood, the piece may be labeled with the name of the wood (e.g. solid maple, solid Honduras mahogany). If the piece is made with more than one type of solid wood the label should read: 'selected hardwoods' or 'selected softwoods birch and other selected hardwoods cherry and maple' or 'solid cherry and solid maple'; or 'solid maple top and fronts.' If two specific woods are identified, the first one named is the dominant wood in the piece.

Labels for veneered furniture are to be done similarly. If veneer and solids are made of the same material, one of these methods is acceptable: 'walnut solids and veneers'; 'walnut-veneered construction.' If a mix of woods has been used, labels might read: 'teak veneers and hackberry solids'; 'cherry veneers and solid hardwoods.'

When manufactured wood products are used in furniture construction, the label merely may specify 'wood products,' or it may use the name of the material: 'chipcore,' 'particle board,' 'hardboard.'

When wood names are used to describe the color of a stain finish, grain design or other simulated finish applied to the exposed surfaces of furniture made of something other than the wood named, labels must clearly describe what the term is being used for. Cherry finish is not adequate. 'Cherry stain finish,' 'walnut color,' 'oak finish on ash veneer' and 'mahogany-grained plastic' all are acceptable.

Mahogany comes in many varieties. The term mahogany alone refers to the varieties of mahogany from the West Indies or Tropical Americas. The mahoganies may be prefixed by their place of origin: Costa Rican Mahogany, Honduras Mahogany. Mahogany of the genus Khaya must be prefixed by the term 'African.'

Philippine mahogany is not a true mahogany. It refers to seven non-mahogany woods and is only usable because of the length of time over which the term has been used. Those seven woods include: Bagtikan, Tanguile, Red or White Luan, Almon, Tiaong, and Mayapis. Labels for these products using the term mahogany must be prefixed by the word 'Philippine.'

Only black maple or sugar maple may be referred to using these terms: maple, hard maple, rock maple, birds-eye maple, Northern maple or Salem maple.

When exposed furniture surfaces or parts are made of metal or plastic that looks like wood, labels must clearly say so: oak-grained (metal/plastic) top; solid cherry top with (metal/plastic) front and sides; walnut-grained (steel/molded plastic) bookcase; imitation wood; simulated oak finish on (metal/plastic); and (metal/plastic) simulating wood.

mlp924

The bedroom set we just ordered on Sat. is Vaughn Bassett. What collection did you get?

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my mother in law ot thomasville 30 years ago and she now gave it to us. It is like new. She also recently wen there to check out couches and they say it should last at least 20+ years, but other places say only 7 years is the life of the couch. I think thomasville just has better quality, so it costs a few bucks.

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DLWDLG- How did your funiture shopping go??

For those that are interested or in the market, I came across nice bedroom sets last night. Both companies collections are solid wood.
One is by Pennsylvania House (www.pennsylvaniahouse.com) and the other is by Durham Furniture . (http://www.durhamfurniture.com) We're still waiting to see Thomasville, which will hopefully be this weekend!

Jen