Furniture stores
Oct 13th 2008 | 10:17 pm
#31
Thread Starter
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,830
From: UK
Re: Furniture stores
i guess it is a matter of language: as a professional wood worker i know (or at least i'm supposed to know ) what i'm talking about. whereas a the advertising / marketing of a furniture store doesn't always make a huge difference between terms. and sometimes i can't help being picky... 
veneer is the term for a thin layer of real wood. it is glued to a core material like particle board (what you referred to as chipboard), mdf (medium density fibre - wood dust pressed into a panel so to speak, nevertheless a good material if you use it the right way) or different kinds of plywood (which is essentially made from several thin layers of wood). veneered panels are mostly used together with real wood edges which can be shaped to custom profiles. the whole thing has to be protected by laqueer or other finishing products. in its nature there are a lot of more steps involved in veneering, which makes a quality product way more expensive than say melamine.
melamine is an artificial film which can imitate whatever you like, wood or stone or just one single color. it covers a sheet of core material, most of it is particle board, a variation of that would be postform-melamine which will cover preshaped doors (for kitchen cabinets and the like) without joints in the front.
so, definitely stepping down from my soap box.
Oct 13th 2008 | 11:30 pm
#32
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 9,606
Re: Furniture stores
i guess it is a matter of language: as a professional wood worker i know (or at least i'm supposed to know ) what i'm talking about. whereas a the advertising / marketing of a furniture store doesn't always make a huge difference between terms. and sometimes i can't help being picky... veneer is the term for a thin layer of real wood. it is glued to a core material like particle board (what you referred to as chipboard), mdf (medium density fibre - wood dust pressed into a panel so to speak, nevertheless a good material if you use it the right way) or different kinds of plywood (which is essentially made from several thin layers of wood). veneered panels are mostly used together with real wood edges which can be shaped to custom profiles. the whole thing has to be protected by laqueer or other finishing products. in its nature there are a lot of more steps involved in veneering, which makes a quality product way more expensive than say melamine.
melamine is an artificial film which can imitate whatever you like, wood or stone or just one single color. it covers a sheet of core material, most of it is particle board, a variation of that would be postform-melamine which will cover preshaped doors (for kitchen cabinets and the like) without joints in the front.
so, definitely stepping down from my soap box.
Oct 14th 2008 | 2:29 am
#34
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 696
From: Hastings, Barbados
Re: Furniture stores
not sure off the top of my head... but I am pretty sure they're in the "more pricey" range. Some of Urban Barn's stuff is really reasonably priced (e.g. curtains), and others are pricey, so it's hard to say. Sorry I don't have more info...
Oct 14th 2008 | 2:42 am
#35
Thread Starter
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,830
From: UK
Re: Furniture stores
Oct 14th 2008 | 5:50 am
#36
Thread Starter
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,830
From: UK
Re: Furniture stores
Found a website for Ashley furniture. No1 in N.America apparantly?
This stuff any good?
This stuff any good?
Oct 14th 2008 | 6:09 am
#37
Now on Vancouver Island
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,935
From: Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
Re: Furniture stores
They do have a presence in Canada, but they are not a household name in Canada. They may or may not be No. 1 in the USA, but there is no way they are No. 1 in Canada. Besides that, I have heard complaints about their customer service -- stuff not delivered when they promised, damaged merchandise being delivered, the store not being responsive about replacements, refunds, etc., on defective goods.
x
x
Oct 14th 2008 | 6:12 am
#38
Thread Starter
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,830
From: UK
Re: Furniture stores
They do have a presence in Canada, but they are not a household name in Canada. They may or may not be No. 1 in the USA, but there is no way they are No. 1 in Canada. Besides that, I have heard complaints about their customer service -- stuff not delivered when they promised, damaged merchandise being delivered, the store not being responsive about replacements, refunds, etc., on defective goods.
x
x
Wow, you are a mid of information!!
Oct 14th 2008 | 6:40 am
#39
Account Closed
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 141
Re: Furniture stores
I asked similar questions regarding furniture stores and selection in general in the GTA - however, I am in Toronto proper. Here are my findings.
The Brick - bought bed from there and customer service was terrible - lied to about in-stock items and delivery dates - we ended up opting for another item from the Sealy range that could be delivered without having to wait 4 weeks. This was the Dufferin branch - this experience cemented my feelings towards this company as useless and won't shop there again.
Urban Barn - bought dining chairs and outdoor furniture from there. Items of good quality. Sales associates very knowledgeable and very friendly. Felt more high end than it actually was. Items came into store on time and helped load items into car. Follow up call from Manager regarding items and how to care for fabrics etc. This was the Queen West branch.
Pottery Barn - bought rug, cushions and other accessory items. Service was very formal and felt like I was in the associates way etc... however, questions were answered. Don't like the walkie talkie head piece these ladies wear - poor guy in the back! Lazy ladies could have went through to stock to check rather than have me waiting in front of her whilst on hold to the over worked stock guy. Beautiful stuff though - very pricey. This was at the Sherwood Gardens Mall. Pottery Barns service in Eaton Centre is friendlier.
Crate & Barrel - bought most of our furniture from there. Best store by far in my opinion. Sales people were so helpful and full of product knowledge - this is the flagship store in Canada (well one of only two - the other being in Calgary) and it shows. All items came in on time and well packed. There was a bit of assembly involved however very good quality wood and design is very similar to Habitat. Store is located on the outside of the Yorkdale Mall beside the 401.
Structube - is a Quebec store with some branches in Toronto. I found the designs appealing. Didn't buy anything from them in the end. Helpful staff non the less. There branch was located on College/Little Italy area.
Happy furniture shopping
Ian
The Brick - bought bed from there and customer service was terrible - lied to about in-stock items and delivery dates - we ended up opting for another item from the Sealy range that could be delivered without having to wait 4 weeks. This was the Dufferin branch - this experience cemented my feelings towards this company as useless and won't shop there again.
Urban Barn - bought dining chairs and outdoor furniture from there. Items of good quality. Sales associates very knowledgeable and very friendly. Felt more high end than it actually was. Items came into store on time and helped load items into car. Follow up call from Manager regarding items and how to care for fabrics etc. This was the Queen West branch.
Pottery Barn - bought rug, cushions and other accessory items. Service was very formal and felt like I was in the associates way etc... however, questions were answered. Don't like the walkie talkie head piece these ladies wear - poor guy in the back! Lazy ladies could have went through to stock to check rather than have me waiting in front of her whilst on hold to the over worked stock guy. Beautiful stuff though - very pricey. This was at the Sherwood Gardens Mall. Pottery Barns service in Eaton Centre is friendlier.
Crate & Barrel - bought most of our furniture from there. Best store by far in my opinion. Sales people were so helpful and full of product knowledge - this is the flagship store in Canada (well one of only two - the other being in Calgary) and it shows. All items came in on time and well packed. There was a bit of assembly involved however very good quality wood and design is very similar to Habitat. Store is located on the outside of the Yorkdale Mall beside the 401.
Structube - is a Quebec store with some branches in Toronto. I found the designs appealing. Didn't buy anything from them in the end. Helpful staff non the less. There branch was located on College/Little Italy area.
Happy furniture shopping
Ian
Last edited by iananddave; Oct 14th 2008 at 6:44 am.
Oct 14th 2008 | 7:50 am
#42
Slightly Canadian
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 10,146
From: St. John's, Newfoundland
Re: Furniture stores
We bought chairs/sofa's from La-z-boy and have been very pleased with them so far. Infinite choice of fabric which is actually rather daunting and leadtime is a bit of a bore but seem to be good quality and they do at least have some acceptable styles. Mind you our choice here on the Rock is somewhat limited. IKEA? Thats a 'mainland' thing!
Oct 14th 2008 | 8:14 am
#43
Thread Starter
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,830
From: UK
Re: Furniture stores
I asked similar questions regarding furniture stores and selection in general in the GTA - however, I am in Toronto proper. Here are my findings.
The Brick - bought bed from there and customer service was terrible - lied to about in-stock items and delivery dates - we ended up opting for another item from the Sealy range that could be delivered without having to wait 4 weeks. This was the Dufferin branch - this experience cemented my feelings towards this company as useless and won't shop there again.
Urban Barn - bought dining chairs and outdoor furniture from there. Items of good quality. Sales associates very knowledgeable and very friendly. Felt more high end than it actually was. Items came into store on time and helped load items into car. Follow up call from Manager regarding items and how to care for fabrics etc. This was the Queen West branch.
Pottery Barn - bought rug, cushions and other accessory items. Service was very formal and felt like I was in the associates way etc... however, questions were answered. Don't like the walkie talkie head piece these ladies wear - poor guy in the back! Lazy ladies could have went through to stock to check rather than have me waiting in front of her whilst on hold to the over worked stock guy. Beautiful stuff though - very pricey. This was at the Sherwood Gardens Mall. Pottery Barns service in Eaton Centre is friendlier.
Crate & Barrel - bought most of our furniture from there. Best store by far in my opinion. Sales people were so helpful and full of product knowledge - this is the flagship store in Canada (well one of only two - the other being in Calgary) and it shows. All items came in on time and well packed. There was a bit of assembly involved however very good quality wood and design is very similar to Habitat. Store is located on the outside of the Yorkdale Mall beside the 401.
Structube - is a Quebec store with some branches in Toronto. I found the designs appealing. Didn't buy anything from them in the end. Helpful staff non the less. There branch was located on College/Little Italy area.
Happy furniture shopping
Ian
The Brick - bought bed from there and customer service was terrible - lied to about in-stock items and delivery dates - we ended up opting for another item from the Sealy range that could be delivered without having to wait 4 weeks. This was the Dufferin branch - this experience cemented my feelings towards this company as useless and won't shop there again.
Urban Barn - bought dining chairs and outdoor furniture from there. Items of good quality. Sales associates very knowledgeable and very friendly. Felt more high end than it actually was. Items came into store on time and helped load items into car. Follow up call from Manager regarding items and how to care for fabrics etc. This was the Queen West branch.
Pottery Barn - bought rug, cushions and other accessory items. Service was very formal and felt like I was in the associates way etc... however, questions were answered. Don't like the walkie talkie head piece these ladies wear - poor guy in the back! Lazy ladies could have went through to stock to check rather than have me waiting in front of her whilst on hold to the over worked stock guy. Beautiful stuff though - very pricey. This was at the Sherwood Gardens Mall. Pottery Barns service in Eaton Centre is friendlier.
Crate & Barrel - bought most of our furniture from there. Best store by far in my opinion. Sales people were so helpful and full of product knowledge - this is the flagship store in Canada (well one of only two - the other being in Calgary) and it shows. All items came in on time and well packed. There was a bit of assembly involved however very good quality wood and design is very similar to Habitat. Store is located on the outside of the Yorkdale Mall beside the 401.
Structube - is a Quebec store with some branches in Toronto. I found the designs appealing. Didn't buy anything from them in the end. Helpful staff non the less. There branch was located on College/Little Italy area.
Happy furniture shopping
Ian
Hi thanks for your detailed experiences. I have made a note!!
Thanks again!!
act1980
Karma!!
