Mission Furniture Buyer's Guide
So you're ready to take that first step and start shopping for that perfect piece of furniture only to be lost in a maze of what seems to be the same type of furniture at all these different prices. The first thing to remember is to "never judge a book by it's cover" and find out all the details you need to know about that item and if it is right for you. Furniture is a very personal purchase and reflects your personality and style. Remember you have to live with it, so get it right the first time.
Some say "How could you buy Furniture without seeing it in person?", and that is a great question. What we recommend is to go to your local furniture stores and absorb as much information as possible. Take notes, ask questions, get dimensions, write down everything you like about the furniture and everything you don't, then go "Online" and then contact us and see if it compares.
The benefit to purchasing furniture online is the tremendous savings potential. First, if you are outside of California then you are exempt from Sales tax which can add up to several hundred, even thousands of dollars. Secondly, we have much lower overhead, so we can offer you better pricing than your local dealer. A HUGE bonus is that all of our prices include Free Shipping, all done without leaving the comfort of your home. We have a proven method that works. There are some companies out there that don't ever even see the product. They are pencil pushers claiming to be something they are not. They have furniture drop-shipped from the manufacturer and they do not inspect or service the furniture when the time calls for it. Inspecting the furniture is critical! Everyone is entitled to a mistake here and there, and that doesn't exclude manufacturers. Sometimes saving a couple of dollars in these cases is really not worth it. Most of the time, you are not saving anything after all the hidden charges, especially shipping charges! Test us, just call us with any question and we will answer it. We can't say that about most of the competition. We are builders, not just salespeople. Sure, they will give you an answer, but is it accurate or in your best interest? We want to make the sale, but we do it ethically and will not deceive anyone to get a sale!
The first thing you need to do when furniture hunting is to figure out your budget. Shop around and gather as many prices as possible for each type of item you need, that way you know what you may have to spend for that special coffee table or that new Craftsman Spindle Bed.
Next, determine how long you may want to keep the piece. If you change styles regularly then you may want to consider a lower end item, so you don't spend a fortune just to have to get rid of it or sell it a couple of years later. The only downside is that it is harder to resale lower end furniture when you are done with it. Higher end furniture tends to be easier to keep in new condition longer than lower end items, so selling them will be much easier. The higher the quality, the more durable it is and the better it will last.
There are many different grades of furniture out there. All "High end" or "Medium End" furniture lines are not built the same. Some consider Solid Oak furniture to be High End, while others consider it low end if it does not have Cedar Drawers or Dovetail joints. Don't let labels sway you from what you want. Some people prefer to not have Cedar or to have metal ball-bearing drawer glides instead of traditional wood glides. Times have changed over the decades. As long as the parts used are of high quality, you should be good for generations.
If you think you may only keep the furniture for a few years, then maybe you may want to consider a veneer version instead of the solid oak version and save a good amount of money. A lot of people can't tell the difference. Many times, people pick the furniture up and judge the quality by the weight of the item. The fact is that a cheap quality Particle Board item can weigh more than solid oak.
Solid Oak is not all created equal. Just because a store advertises that it is solid oak, it doesn't mean that it is high quality. There are different types of solid oak available, and you should be aware of what you are buying so you know what to expect from that furniture and take the necessary steps to ensure that you get everything you need out of that furniture. Some items have a solid oak top, so the dealer calls it solid oak. Just keep your eyes open and ask questions.
The 2 samples you see above are different cuts of the same oak. As you can see, the Quartersawn grain is straight and tight with "Figuring" and is the traditional type of wood used in authentic Mission Style Furniture. The Plainsawn grain is very open and wide and is generally used in today's lower end Mission Furniture & Country Furniture. Quartersawn oak is preferred for true craftsman furniture builders due to the subtleness of the grain, so it does not take attention away from the furniture itself. The Plainsawn grain attracts the eye to the grain and not the furniture.
Grain appeal is not the only reason why Quartersawn is preferred over Plainsawn. Quartersawn lumber is actually more stable than Plainsawn lumber. When the seasons change and the humidity changes, wood will expand and contract. The wood does most of the expanding in the grain, so with Plainsawn lumber having the wider grain, it does the most moving and has a higher tendency to crack and warp. Quartersawn moves much less due to the straight, tight grain, thus providing you with a more stable product. We are not saying we do not recommend Plainsawn oak because with the proper care and conditions, Plainsawn will last indefinitely. If you are looking for an heirloom quality item, then you will have no choice but to go with Quartersawn, as higher end manufacturers only use Quartersawn Oak. The only downside to Quartersawn lumber is that is costs twice as much as plainsawn lumber. This may sound crazy, but it's true. Many manufacturers send American Oak to China on a boat, then they build the furniture, then send it back on a boat. Not only is that not environmentally sound, but the wood is on the boat going there and back and absorbs an enormous amount of sea water. Wood expands and contracts with humidity, so that greatly affects the stability of the wood once it gets to your home.
Another thing to consider when buying furniture is to find out when and where it was manufactured. U.S made furniture is generally higher in quality, but at a much higher price. Imported furniture has less labor costs involved so great deals can be had with imports. Most furniture manufacturers that use Quartersawn oak reside here in the United States. Remember the old saying, "If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is". If you are here reading this, chances are you are pretty smart, so just use your better judgment and think realistically. We hope we were able to help you make a better decision about your future purchase and if there is anything else that you may need help with, just drop us an E-mail. Thanks for visiting!