Furniture Consignment Gallery Blog

We see it all.  Where most furniture sales people are trained only in the products that they represent, we have to know quite a bit about most everything that is being sold in the marketplace.  As a result, we have some strong opinions about what makes furniture great.  Here are three characteristics of great furniture.

1. Regardless of styles or furniture periods, the best furniture that we see has the finest grain of wood. The elite manufacturers such as Henkle Harris and Kindel Furniture stand out above the others because of the wonderful stock of wood that they choose. Their wood grains are so distinct they jump out of the finish.
2. Furniture with inlaid veneers over a solid wood is a sign of great furniture. Inlaid veneers are where a furniture artisan is able to show great creativity and can define their piece in a special way.  These veneers constructed from walnut, satin, rosewood or ebony differentiate average furniture from great furniture. The selected wood grain for these veneers is also a key element to producing great furniture.
3. Attention to hidden areas is a characteristic of great furniture.  If you can run your hand underneath a coffee table and your hand slides without friction or if drawers are finished on the inside, these are signs that the manufacturer poured everything they had into their product.  Check for smoothness in how well the drawers slide in and out and that drawers are finely sanded and planed around the edges. Again your hand should be able to slide around a drawer without friction. Dovetailed drawers should feel like a continuous piece of furniture.

Furniture is like artwork in that it can be a masterpiece, but what matters most is that it apppeals to you.

Seller's remorse shifts into overdrive when we think about what we paid for something and look at the realities of the marketplace for similar pre-owned items.  Inevitably we stare off into space and say to ourselves, "what was I thinking??"

We are working with a customer who spent over twenty thousand dollars each on a handful of fine Persian rugs that no longer fit their living space.  They are moving cross country where the styles are different and the rugs need a new home. Finding a buyer for these rugs at even a few thousand dollars a piece will be a challenging task.  This couple is struggling with this reality.

Getting beyond Seller's Remorse is very difficult for many couples.  Here are three ways to combat Seller's Remorse:

1. Think logically about your situation. Did you purchase a product or a vision?  Paying for upgrades and customizations to achieve the exact right look for your living space often leads to overspending.  It happens a lot and it is not worth beating yourself up over it.  Move on!
2. Consider that even though you may be forced to part with a piece for far less than what you paid for it, feel good that someone else will use it and will appreciate it.  Accept the silver lining as it beats the alternative of paying additional moving and storage fees for furniture that you will never use again.
3. Make up for it on the other end.  There is a great deal waiting for you on your next purchase.  Spend some time hunting before you jump. We know of a great Furniture Consignment Store in Hanover, Massachusetts where you can quickly counter your loss.

Lagging behind the push to shrink Carbon Footprints is the maritme industry.  In an article in the New York Times this week on December 5, 2010 "Shipping Faces Calls to Lower Its Carbon Footprint" James Canter, re-iterates how important it is for progress to happen.  Retailers will soon have the ability and responsibility to choose more efficient and environmental friendly ships than not. 

This pertains directly to furniture as most furniture is manufactured over seas and shipped on a container vessel to America, but it even goes further than that.  Many manufacturers will ship the wood and raw materials from America to the country that it is to be manufactured in and then the final product is shipped back to the good ol' USA. It is true!

Though it is important to lower carbon footprints, it would be much better to not have them at all.  One way to do that is to buy domestically, as we all know, but in the world of furniture, most everything is shipped from overseas.  The execptions are products produced by local, commissioned craftsman and pre-owned furniture.

It doesn't make sense to purchase pre-owned furniture that you don't like for the sake of protecting the environment,  but it adds to the tremendous value that you get from buying consignment furniture.  You get a great deal, better quality and can feel good becuase by recycling; you are helping to protect and preserve our world.

You got married in 1969 and it took a few years to establish yourself so you bought your furniture in 1982.  That was a good year.  The year you rennovated your kitchen, put on an addition and bought new furniture. 

Fast forward to 2010 and the 4 Bedroom colonial in the quiet neighborhood that used to be home to your crazy kids now is the playground for someone elses.  With much debate, and sleepless nights your decision is made; it's time to downsize.  However, many challenges lie ahead.  All of that stuff has to move.

What a great place in life to be, but the challenge of letting go is much more difficult than you anticipated.  The kids don't want much.  In fact, they hardly want anything at all.  The boys will take back their trophies and baseball cards, but the daughter in-laws don't have interest in much else.  You are not offended becuase you hardly blame them, but you're disappointed all the same.  This was nice stuff.  Expensive stuff.  You worked hard for it!  But you get it. 

No problem. The family doesn't want it.  Somebody will. You hope.  Or are your items dated?

You have 2,800 square feet of quality home furnishings to divest.

Styles come and go so quickly:

• Pastel Rugs
• Flame Stitch Queen Ann Chairs
• A Speckled Cherry Bedroom Set
• Washed Pine End Tables
• French Provincial Dining Set
• Dark Pine Bunkbed and Desk
• Colonial Cupboard and Kitchen Sets

It's not that all of your home furnishings are dated and undesireable, they could still find a great home, but the styles from the 1970s and 80s now have a very limited market.

The very traditional chippendale and Queen Ann styles still are marketable as long as the wood is not speckeld, but upholstered pieces from the 80s are going to be at the end of their useful life.  These are hard conclusions and certainly consult with your local consignment shop, but be ready for the bad news:  your furniture might be dated.

Did you know that natural wood furniture is better for your indoor air quality?

Laminates, plastics, and other synthetic materials may negatively affect the natural ion balance.  Symptoms of unbalanced ions include dizziness, fatigue, headaches and anxiety.  Unbalanced ions can also generate static electricity that cause particles to suspend in the air, aggravating respiratory disorders.                  

In contrast, natural wood does not negatively affect the ion balance and has the added benefit of balancing humidity.

Unsealed wood is hygroscopic, i.e. it can absorb excess moisture during periods of high humidity or, conversely, release moisture in dry conditions. Humidity control is important in minimizing viruses, bacteria, mites, and mold, all of which can affect the state of your health.

Pre-owned furniture is more likely made at a time when solid woods were used. 

Today there are many cheap imitations that use composite board or laminated surfaces that incorporate unhealthy components, such as adhesives that emit toxic gases at room temperature.  These gases can adhere to suspended particles, as well as float freely in the air, and are linked to asthma, allergies, and respiratory ailments.

 Phyllis Traver, Building Biology Environmental Consultant, owner of Safe & Sound Home, LLC,  scientifically helps homeowners to create healthy indoor environments.  Phyllis has bought and Sold Furniture at Furniture Consignment Gallery.  You can reach her at Info@yoursafeandsoundhome.com 

Bed sizes have evolved quite a bit over the last few centuries. As homes have become larger, rooms have expanded and naturally bed sizes have followed suit.  It wouldn't be America if bigger wasn't better.  I upgraded to a King Bed myself.  Though we all desire more sleeping space and mattress surface area, nothing beats the beds that were made in the 1920s - 1940s. 

These beds are solid as a rock and super sturdy. Most of them take a standard size full bed and you can even get an inexpensive converter kit that will extend the length and width of your bed so that it can accpet a Queen Mattress.  

Some great qualities of the beds built in this era are:

• They were built of solid woods such as Solid mahogany or Rock Maple.
• The decorative detail was often created by hand.
• They are made to last and have almost outlived one generation and will likely outlive another.
• They are very affordable as they sell for between $300 - $1,200 depending on condition and style.

Man has laid down the law.  "I want to see my TV!"  For nearly 20 years, large cabinets were manufactured to hold, display and to HIDE the television.  Suddenly, we need to see the television because they are oh so cool. 

When our buddies walk in the house and we want the wide screen to be the first thing that they see.  We are not ashamed of this in the least.

So why is it so darn difficult to find a piece of furnitrue to display our new best friend?  Most Television stands are not even pieces of furniture.   They are plastic, particleboard pieces of junk and yet so many people are buying these units because they serve a purpose.  Yet, never has their been such a great opportunity to use a wonderful piece of furniture to display your true love. 

An antique server, a unique dresser, a sofa table, a map chest, there are so many very cool options and your favorite consignment store is a great place to go to get the wheels turning. 

You no longer need a million components so this is a golden opportunity to think outside of the box.  You can be different from your friends in that you can have your television while maintaining your appreciation for good quality craftsmanship in your home.

If you are Selling your home and you have furniture that you no longer need, the buyer of your home should be the first option to purchase these items and here is why:

• If you can secure the sale of your furniture with your buyers, you remove what can be a stressful task from your list of things to do.  You have enough to worry about when moving so take this off of your plate right away if you can.
• You may be able to avoid costly moving and storage fees.
• You get your money with less hassles and get it right away.
• You eliminate the risk of damage by leaving the furniture right where it is.

How do you agree on price?

• Don't be greedy.  
• If your furniture is 5 years or older be prepared to sell it for a quarter of what you paid for it.
• If your furniture is newer than that and in "Showroom" condition, then push your asking price to half of your original purchase price.  
• For the sake of simplicity, you are willing to sell the items at a discount from what you could achieve on the open market and you need to explain this to your buyer.  

Too many people make the mistake of shooting for the stars and turning off the most logical suitor -- the buyer of your home.

If you are unable to work out a deal with your buyer, it is not the end of the world.  If you have upscale items in excellent condition, then the next stop should be a high end furniture consignment store.

Once a trademark of a fine piece of furniture, the inlay that furniture enthusiasts seek and love has been insulted by modern manufacturing techniques and manufacturers.  The contrasting wood grains with various inlays are being done with photo finishes and weak veneers.  Low-end manufacturers have been luring uneducated consumers with fancy looks that quickly transform into a mess in the home.

The side effect from the cheap inlay is that the consumer has grown used to seeing contrasting wood colors and grains and, as a result, prefers that look. 

The problem is the basic, but solid Queen Anne cherry and double pedastal mahogany tables are suffering a bit on the resale market and it's not right.  Consumers want the fancy look, but don't realize that the cheap inlays lift, smudge, crack and do not wear well.  For the last 10 years, the big box furniture stores have found a product that connects with the uneducated furniture buyer.  However, after a few years and the signs of a poor quality surface, consumers are licking their wounds and finding their way.  A solid, but basic, traditional table will give you a classic look and a table that will withstand the test of time.

It may be frustrating that your dining room suddenly resembles that of your mother's or your grandmother's, but it will last. And the best part of all, is that it will hold value and help you to buy a real table with wonderful veneers and inlays that boast genuine satin, walnut and ebony woods. 

Save for the real thing and buy a high-end table with the banded inlay you have always wanted, but buy it on consignment when your budget is ready.  It will be well worth the wait!

We are one week away from the Massachusetts 2010 Tax Free Holiday Weekend which takes place on August 14 & 15th. The deals and values will be great every where you look this year. 

In sifting through all of the opportunities that will be flashed in front of your eyes this week, why should you buy your items on consignment next weekend?  The primary reason is that the values are much better.  The best example of this is an Ethan Allen entertainment armoire which appears to sell in Ethan Allen's catalog for more than $7,000.  It has a mechanism in the base that raises your flat screen by remote control.  In our store on consignment this piece is selling for $2,499. 

The kicker is that the maximum allowable sale price that is exempt from the Sale Tax next weekend is $2,500.  You can read the rules of the Sales Tax Holiday on the Massachusetts DOR website. Because this piece sells for more than $2,500 if purchased new from Ethan Allen, it is not eligible for the tax exemption.  Now the deal on this piece is so good that it may not last to the weekend (we only have one of each item).  But, the point is that the smart consumer who buys this piece on consignment will get a great buy and would qualify for the tax exemption.   

There are many similar deals in our store and others. Be a smart shopper and do yourself the ultimate favor of checking your favorite resale shop before you buy next weekend. You never know what you will find and the value is sure to be better.