Thread Number: 74669  /  Tag: Recipes, Cooking Accessories
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Post# 984784   3/1/2018 at 08:19 (2,241 days old) by vacerator (Macomb, Michigan)        

Ethan Allen furniture. Anyone own any? Is it good quality? Most of their pieces including case goods (tables, cabinets) are still made in the USA. We currently have Lazy Boy. We've had our newbuck leather sofa since 2005. Time to retire it downstairs, and buy new. They have nothing today we like.
I like the Etahan Allen Arcata sofa in stark grey chenile. It's got a subtle sheen to it, very light grey. Track arm styling, T cushions, all reversable. Wood legs, and base all the way around. Several choices in wood tones.
Hubby wants the Bennett track arm chair and ottoman in sherwood grey leather with nickel tacks along the plinth. They are std. on the ottoman. Tapered wooden feet.
These are not "quick ship" colors or fabric. They also offer firmer cushions and down filled. Just shy of $4,600.oo in std. comfort with tax. A roll of 3 inch upholstery foam is cheaper. I can always lay it under the cushions. Delivery is $150, and they will deliver more than once for that if items come in at different times.
I shopped Pottery Barn (mostly imported), Bassett, Broyhill, Century furniture, Lexington, Henredon, Sherril, Thomasville, and prices are comparable or higher, and the choices are more very traditional, or too retro or modern.




Post# 984787 , Reply# 1   3/1/2018 at 08:33 (2,241 days old) by panthera (Rocky Mountains)        
For what it's worth

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The Ethan Allen store closest to us (Loveland, Colorado) was happy to show us the innards of their chairs and their local repair station. Based upon the knowledge of the two young women working there and the older man doing the repairs, I felt we could buy from them with confidence.

 
Post# 984792 , Reply# 2   3/1/2018 at 09:31 (2,241 days old) by vacerator (Macomb, Michigan)        
Thank You Panthera!

 My parents used to spend big money reupholstering antique and vintage furniture, often with disappointing results.
We actually ordered the furniture Monday, and put down a 50% deposit. Their 20% off sale ended yesterday, and they are having another price increase, and had already in October. I looked in their September online catalogue online, and the prices were lower. Well, at least they list their prices. You have to visit other finer stores and speak with a designer for pricing.
Ethan Allen does not charge for design service.
We have a dark blue feature wall in our living room. Two walls are color blocked that and two champaign light tan, trim is the same, opposite on contrasting walls, so the grey will go nicely. I found some indigo blue and cream wide stripe toss pillows at Pier One to accent with, and a blue/white London Fog throw for the new chair or sofa.
The art on the feature wall is a dip tick copy print of Diego Rivera's assembly line. We bought good area rugs in '05 in blue/grey/brown squares which are fine for now. Our theme is transitional/mission/craftsman. I have a nice Dale Tiffany lamp.
Next year, I'd like to get an old world or mission style dining room table and new chairs. The one I have now is oak transitional, and nominal quality from China.
Thats what the budget afforded then, and our son sat on it when the leaf was in, and warped it. We were at work, and he was only 14 then. You can not really tell, but the chair vinyl upholstery is cheap and shot.
I Love Stickley furniture, but not the prices.

Post# 984793 , Reply# 3   3/1/2018 at 09:42 (2,241 days old) by panthera (Rocky Mountains)        
I bet it will be lovely

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I lean toward shabby and comfortable, my husband who grew up hungry leans toward expensive and antique and perfect.

Then again, he might add that by the time the animals and I are done with things, we have shabby, shredded expensive antiques.

Grey and blue can really work together well. I'm sick of 'realtor beige'.
Post# 984799 , Reply# 4   3/1/2018 at 10:24 (2,241 days old) by Stan (Napa CA)        
Have both

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Ethan Allen and Basset. The Basset was purchased new from JC Penneys (sofa, chaise, coffee table) in the 1990s. Has held up well.
The Ethan Allen was purchased used (dinning table,and chairs, China Cabinet, TV cabinet) and is from the early 90s. Traditional styling for both.

Post# 984803 , Reply# 5   3/1/2018 at 10:34 (2,241 days old) by ea56 (Cotati, Calif.)        

ea56's profile picture
Most of my parents furniture was from Ethan Allen and it was very good quality. I don’t know what their quality is like now, most everything you buy now is not as good a quality as it used to be, but I think Ethan Allen would probably be some of the best you can buy.

The very first dining room set my parents bought was in 1952 from Ethan Allen, an Early American Cherry table, six chairs and a corner hutch. The table was given to another family member many years ago, but the beautiful hutch, as far as I know still resides in my Moms former home, along with her husband. She passed away in 2004, he kept everything, but thats OK as long as I never have to see him again.
Eddie



This post was last edited 03/01/2018 at 12:48
Post# 984804 , Reply# 6   3/1/2018 at 10:35 (2,241 days old) by MattL (Flushing, MI)        

Have a fair amount of EA from years ago, all very good quality.  I'd have no problem recommending them, still seem to be a quality product.
Post# 984806 , Reply# 7   3/1/2018 at 10:39 (2,241 days old) by vacerator (Macomb, Michigan)        
I agree Panthera,

 realtor beige is boring. It's beige outside for 7 months. I also grew up with basically only what we needed. My neigbor also likes shabby shiek. She has chalk painted a few pieces. She has her mothers Duncan Fyfe dining room set. One of the former local RC bishops, then became Cardinal ate at it once in her parents home decades ago.
I posted last week about a Grosse pte. friend whose parents were very well off, and still had old torn furniture, but lots of cash in a paper bag in the dresser.
His mother told me it was comfortable. It was when I sat on it.
The Ethan Allen warranty is quite good, frames for 7 yrs, cushion tearing for 5, not compression though, or fading. They offer an extra 5 years for $150 by Guardsman furniture repair, which they service in home when possible.
We took it for the sofa, it being cloth. It does cover stains, and pet damage, but only once for the same place on the item. The fabric we chose is rated for 9,000 forward and backward rubs. It is 54% cotton, 46% rayon chenile.
Leather is easily enough maintained with a cleaner and conditioner.

Post# 984833 , Reply# 8   3/1/2018 at 15:31 (2,241 days old) by LordKenmore (The Laundry Room)        
Boring beige

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I'm tired of white and light gray. It seems like that's the Realtor non-offensive colors I've seen too much of (and this is coming from someone who isn't active in the real estate world. My observation is from a distance. I can only imagine my reaction if I were shopping for a house. I might buy a run down wreck just because it--unlike the other 300 houses toured previously--it didn't have white walls, and a gray carpet.
Post# 984834 , Reply# 9   3/1/2018 at 15:41 (2,241 days old) by LordKenmore (The Laundry Room)        

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my husband who grew up hungry leans toward expensive and antique and perfect.

 

It's funny how that can work...

 

I can't say I've ever been at the starvation level, but I've had plenty of bad times financially in my life (including the present). Things were much better when I was growing up, but finances were somewhat of a concern for many years, and became a real concern by the time I was finishing off high school. And yet, if finances improved dramatically for me, I wonder if I wouldn't cringe at "expensive perfect". Simply because I'd know the expense, and, even if I could afford it, I'd probably worry too much about the investment being harmed. A better match for me is "decent, but not perfect."

 
Post# 984835 , Reply# 10   3/1/2018 at 15:44 (2,241 days old) by LordKenmore (The Laundry Room)        

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by the time the animals and I are done with things, we have shabby, shredded expensive antiques.

 

It can be argued that wear and tear adds character and patina to antiques. You and the animals are just helping that process along... LOL
Post# 984943 , Reply# 11   3/2/2018 at 08:37 (2,240 days old) by vacerator (Macomb, Michigan)        
You're not kidding Lord Kenmore! Also brighter colors;

 My folks were depression kids, so they were good savers. My dad left us what was left, which wasn't much, but it will help. With any luck, we also won't have to reverse mortgage the house and can leave it to the kids. As for leaving them any IRA, or annuities, I think it's doubtful. Senior health care will cost way more than for our folks. My sister doesn't even think we will live as long as they did because our money will run out sooner. So, may as well enjoy some of it.
My son in law, who is only 33 says you don't take it with you, so I told him, but you want to make it last until you do go. He kiddingly replied, let the govt. take care of the old people. I asked him how, the govt. has been insolvent 40 years already. Although, Denmark, the Netherlands, etc. seem to be able to do it well.
I'm no economic socialist, but I do say can't means won't. You can still have a free market economy, and help the poor and elderly.
Social security did once have a surplus. Our greedy politicians stole it. Oops, sorry, not allowed.
Moving on, in the 70's, my aunt had off white walls, gold sculptured carpeting, an orange and gold very long lawson sofa, Lane surfboard coffee and end step tables, and a Zenith danish modern console tv, Chromecraft swivel barrel avocado floral and walnut dining set, and I loved it. My mom did not, she liked antiques.

Post# 984979 , Reply# 12   3/2/2018 at 14:39 (2,240 days old) by firedome (Binghamton NY & Lake Champlain VT)        
Ethan Allen

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is still some of the better non-custom made furniture available, and know for a fact some is still made in Vermont, and they also have plants in the Carolinas and are committed to maintaining US production. We have some of their excellent pieces in our bedrooms in both places, along with some other older quality-made hardwood pieces by now defunct US makers like Crawford and others. Can't go far wrong with Ethan Allen.

Post# 984980 , Reply# 13   3/2/2018 at 14:42 (2,240 days old) by firedome (Binghamton NY & Lake Champlain VT)        
B TW regarding US made furniture

 firedome's profile picture
Harden is also a very high quality furniture maker still in Syracuse NY, about an hour away, as is Stickley, the latter has a Seconds Sale on a regular basis in one of their North Syracuse area buildings.

Post# 985055 , Reply# 14   3/3/2018 at 07:57 (2,239 days old) by polkanut (Wausau, WI )        

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My cousin DuWayne and his late wife, Gladys, started furnishing their home with Ethan Allen Nutmeg Maple pieces when they got married in 1961.  Even today the pieces don't look dated.  They each have that classic Mid-Century look.
Post# 985087 , Reply# 15   3/3/2018 at 11:40 (2,239 days old) by vacerator (Macomb, Michigan)        
I am really liking

 also the Ethan Allen Ridgedale sliding glass munion door lighted china cabinet with two bottom drawers. The Birkhouse one is also nice, with chippendale style glass munions, but it's made in Indonesia, and more money. The Sayville has antiqued cup pulls. Maybe next year, along with their Corin dining table and Benham chairs.
Depends how economy goes.
I also shopped Baker furniture, and Hekman, owned by Howard Miller. Some styles are very similar to EA's. I've had a Howard Miller tall dk. cherry Milano clock since 1991. German time unit, still keeps good time and chimes are Westminster.
My mom said an Italian style clock should have had St. Michael chimes. She was funny that way, but treated all as equal, and I do mean everyone.


Post# 985114 , Reply# 16   3/3/2018 at 14:17 (2,239 days old) by CircleW (NE Cincinnati OH area)        
Ethan Allen

 The company was originally known as Baumritter, and the "Ethan Allen" name used for the "colonial" style items. Another line was "Birchcraft", a modern style.

When I was a kid, my bedroom had a Birchcraft headboard that had a storage compartment with sliding doors, and a matching corner desk. Later my mom got the bedside table for me. I wish I still had them, but when my dad moved up to live at my sister's, he took the bed and table to use. I haven't seen them for a while, so don't know what my sister did with them. I still have the desk, which is at storage for now. We used it in the basement for a long time, so it's not in the best of shape.

For many years we had a Viko by Baumritter dinette set that was bought around '62, and sold in '91. It was a Danish Modern style, of course.


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