Refined Modern

As I sell homes and many of my clients are either first time home buyers, people relocating from somewhere or investors, one of the most frequently asked question is where to buy furniture. Preferably affordable furniture. Where should one go, and is it safe to buy furniture online?

My answer is, it depends on what you’re looking for, and how good you are with a measuring tape. I buy furniture online, but I also like browsing the stores, and for me, a perfect way to spend my Sunday afternoon is driving to University Village, buying a venti coffee at Starbucks and then browsing… Room and Board, Restoration Hardware, Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn. I’m not buying anything – well, most of the time – but I am looking for ideas, ideas that can be created in a less expensive manner.

Maybe you're not a decorator at all. Maybe a lamp is there for light, and the only thing that matters is that your couch is great for a nap. You know what? That's absolutely fine too. It's your home and not everyone has to be a decorator and we all like different styles. Believe me, my fancy Italian dining chairs have been mistaken for patio furniture. 

My family is still in the stage where you don’t want to invest ten grands for a couch only to find out someone forgot to wash their hands or take their shoes of before hopping on it. Past years I have had a couch colored with a black marker, and arm chair and a couch durability tested with scissors – couch and arm chair lost, big time. I have also seen several lamps break as they accidentally fall for one reason or another. So, at this point of life, furniture has to be disposable and I don’t want to have an anxiety attack every time someone enters our living room due to fear of something breaking or getting stained.

I’m also a decorator, and we both love updating our furniture every now and then. The only thing that stays is the Restoration Hardware dining table we invested in a few years back. That table I had wanted for years, and finally I got it. The good thing is, it is pretty much indestructible being made from reclaimed wood, and the best way to clean it is a vacuum cleaner or water, soap and a bristled scrub brush.

Don’t worry, we don’t throw furniture away. What we don’t like anymore we sell or recycle, and even if the furniture we buy isn’t expensive designer stuff, we do aim at materials you can wash and/or clean. We also recycle within out home, and one of Mia's dressers used to be an oak media cabinet in our living room, then it got painted white and it moved into our dining area before it became the solution for Mia's American Girl stuff. 

I believe in having a mix of things at your home. And thus, Mia has a Room and Board steel bed combined with and Ikea dresser and a cabinet. Downstairs we have Crate and Barrel combined happily with Restoration Hardware, Room and Board, Wayfair and yes, Ikea. There is nothing wrong with a little bit of Ikea and some of their stuff is actually pretty good, like Ikea kitchens.

Equally important are the smaller things, your lamps, pillows, throws and other accessories. I go to West Elm to get the feel, and then probably shop at Target or Home Goods. I mix all of those with my fancy Finnish designer stuff, you know those glass pieces that each cost an arm and a leg. 

So, start by browsing for ideas, and remember that most of those fancy expensive designer store ideas can be recreated in at a more reasonable price range. Look for stuff to find out what you like. Do you like sleek and modern, cozy, romantic or shabby chic? There is no style above another, and it is even possible to create a mix of styles. Modsy has a great way to find out your style, unfortunately you will have to part with your email address though. My style was called Refined Modern. 

There are two areas in Greater Seattle that have a higher concentration of furniture stores. One is up in Lynwood, the other down in Tukwila-Renton area. Most of these stores are not fancy and inviting but rather places with 200 different sofas at a good price. I like using online retailers like AllModern, Wayfair and Joss&Main. In all honesty, it’s all one and the same, a company owned by Wayfair, just different styles under several different brand names. You know, a bit like Gap and Banana Republic.

Have fun furniture shopping and decorating, and don’t forget the measuring tape as things tend to look smaller in the store!