5 ms·

I do notice this with a lot of things in the US. It looks like it's either super expensive stuff that looks great anywhere and is usually targeting upper middle

I do notice this with a lot of things in the US. It looks like it's either super expensive stuff that looks great anywhere and is usually targeting upper middle class/elite, or tacky, tasteless crap on the other side of the spectrum. There's almost nothing in between.

smacktoward 6y ago
Ever-increasing income inequality means there’s really only two classes anymore: the rich, and everyone else. A bifurcated furniture market (tasteful, well-built stuff for the rich, disposable cardboard trash for everyone else) is just one natural consequence of that.
- cosmodisk 6y ago
  I understand the sentiment you are leaning towards, however cheap or inexpensive doesn't need to be tacky. It is laziness when it comes to product, interior design and etc.
pfranz 6y ago
I feel like there's the Ikea (or Target/WalMart) furniture that's basically disposable, you can take it home in your small car, cheap, but will probably break if you move it or disassemble it. It's great in college or after when moving between multiple apartments. It's flat-pak, all the materials are thinner so the design follows that. After settling down I wanted to invest more in furniture that wouldn't break or slide around. It definitely costs 3-5x more, looks better, but isn't great quality either. It's not flat-pak, cant be disassembled, wont fit in your car. I don't know if my calibration is off for what decent furniture should cost, or if everything started cheaping out years ago, but it seems like the worst of both worlds. The design is nice, but since it's wood veneer you can't really touch it up or repair it because the fiber board is showing through. I'm not sure where to find decent furniture. I feel like I'd have to pay through the nose for something bespoke.
- cosmodisk 6y ago
  I'm in Britain, so obviously not very well aware of what's available in the US, however how does something like this compare to what's available on your side of the pond: www.oakfurnitureland.co.uk [Edit]: turns out they do sell in the US as well.
  - pfranz 6y ago
    (I'd love for someone else to chime in with other comparisons if mine seem off) It looks like they have one location in the US. I grabbed a random item to compare: Chest of Drawers £299.99 marked down from £379.99 which directly converts to $365/$465 https://www.oakfurnitureland.co.uk/furniture/original-rustic-solid-oak-3-2-chest-of-drawers/1138.html https://www.oakfurnitureland.co.uk/furniture/original-rustic... The US store has it for $649.00 marked down from $799.00 https://www.oakfurnitureland.com/furniture/french-farmhouse-rustic-solid-oak-3-2-dresser/1002623.html https://www.oakfurnitureland.com/furniture/french-farmhouse-... Pottery Barn is a nation wide upscale store. Here's a smaller Farmhouse 4-Drawer Nightstand for $599 https://www.potterybarn.com/products/farmhouse-4-drawer-nightstand/?pkey=call-bedroom-furniture&isx=0.0.4677 https://www.potterybarn.com/products/farmhouse-4-drawer-nigh... "Veneer" and "MDF" (medium density fiberboard) are both mentioned 4 times--often as selling points. JC Penny is a nation wide department store that would be one of the "anchor stores" in a mall. Home Styles Bermuda 4-Drawer Chest $432 marked down from $480 https://www.jcpenney.com/p/home-styles-bermuda-4-drawer-chest/ppr5007898992?pTmplType=regular&deptId=dept20000011&catId=cat100250036&urlState=%2Fg%2Fhome-store%2Ffurniture-store%2Fdressers-chests%3Fid%3Dcat100250036&productGridView=medium https://www.jcpenney.com/p/home-styles-bermuda-4-drawer-ches... Unassembled, put together with glue and screws, and painted.
    - vinay427 6y ago
      Keep in mind that the 20% VAT in the UK is included in the British prices, while sales tax (where applicable) is not included in the JC Penney pricing.
      - jermaustin1 6y ago

smacktoward 6y ago

Ever-increasing income inequality means there’s really only two classes anymore: the rich, and everyone else. A bifurcated furniture market (tasteful, well-built stuff for the rich, disposable cardboard trash for everyone else) is just one natural consequence of that.

cosmodisk 6y ago
I understand the sentiment you are leaning towards, however cheap or inexpensive doesn't need to be tacky. It is laziness when it comes to product, interior design and etc.

pfranz 6y ago

I feel like there's the Ikea (or Target/WalMart) furniture that's basically disposable, you can take it home in your small car, cheap, but will probably break if you move it or disassemble it. It's great in college or after when moving between multiple apartments. It's flat-pak, all the materials are thinner so the design follows that. After settling down I wanted to invest more in furniture that wouldn't break or slide around. It definitely costs 3-5x more, looks better, but isn't great quality either. It's not flat-pak, cant be disassembled, wont fit in your car. I don't know if my calibration is off for what decent furniture should cost, or if everything started cheaping out years ago, but it seems like the worst of both worlds. The design is nice, but since it's wood veneer you can't really touch it up or repair it because the fiber board is showing through. I'm not sure where to find decent furniture. I feel like I'd have to pay through the nose for something bespoke.

cosmodisk 6y ago
I'm in Britain, so obviously not very well aware of what's available in the US, however how does something like this compare to what's available on your side of the pond: www.oakfurnitureland.co.uk [Edit]: turns out they do sell in the US as well.
- pfranz 6y ago
  (I'd love for someone else to chime in with other comparisons if mine seem off) It looks like they have one location in the US. I grabbed a random item to compare: Chest of Drawers £299.99 marked down from £379.99 which directly converts to $365/$465 https://www.oakfurnitureland.co.uk/furniture/original-rustic-solid-oak-3-2-chest-of-drawers/1138.html https://www.oakfurnitureland.co.uk/furniture/original-rustic... The US store has it for $649.00 marked down from $799.00 https://www.oakfurnitureland.com/furniture/french-farmhouse-rustic-solid-oak-3-2-dresser/1002623.html https://www.oakfurnitureland.com/furniture/french-farmhouse-... Pottery Barn is a nation wide upscale store. Here's a smaller Farmhouse 4-Drawer Nightstand for $599 https://www.potterybarn.com/products/farmhouse-4-drawer-nightstand/?pkey=call-bedroom-furniture&isx=0.0.4677 https://www.potterybarn.com/products/farmhouse-4-drawer-nigh... "Veneer" and "MDF" (medium density fiberboard) are both mentioned 4 times--often as selling points. JC Penny is a nation wide department store that would be one of the "anchor stores" in a mall. Home Styles Bermuda 4-Drawer Chest $432 marked down from $480 https://www.jcpenney.com/p/home-styles-bermuda-4-drawer-chest/ppr5007898992?pTmplType=regular&deptId=dept20000011&catId=cat100250036&urlState=%2Fg%2Fhome-store%2Ffurniture-store%2Fdressers-chests%3Fid%3Dcat100250036&productGridView=medium https://www.jcpenney.com/p/home-styles-bermuda-4-drawer-ches... Unassembled, put together with glue and screws, and painted.
  - vinay427 6y ago
    Keep in mind that the 20% VAT in the UK is included in the British prices, while sales tax (where applicable) is not included in the JC Penney pricing.
    - jermaustin1 6y ago