Does anyone have any comments or feedback on Robin Bruce? I vaguely understand they are a division of Rowe Furniture. Which if this is the case I know there are several postings here about their financial woes last year and where Rowe stands today. Is this true? Can anyone say anything about the quality of their sofas, or if anyone is happy / unhappy with their product? They have one model that has captured my attention, but I can't find many local retailers around Chicago, IL that have their sofas on display on their floor. But they can order it.

I've been through what you're going through now. It was an agonizing decision. DH was pressuring me to get rid of my mother's bedroom suite. It was not our style, 1950's blond mahogany. As much as I disliked it's looks I schlepped that furniture across the country on all of my moves, from one apartment to another. On one of it's cross country trips I received a call from the moving company, someone had stolen the van and they might not be able to recover it. During that time I couldn't believe how UN-upset I was over this possible loss. Finally someone else would be getting rid of it for me so I wouldn't have to feel guilty about doing it myself! But then the moving van was recovered and the furniture arrived safe and sound. DH pleaded with me to get rid of it, he even dangled a carrot in front of me...I can buy all new furniture in place of Mom's bedroom suite. I really wanted to but I was haunted by what she would think if she were alive. This was all I had left of her aside from a pearl necklace and letters. I asked myself, if she were alive would she tell me to sell it? What would she do if she lived another 25 years and it was still her furniture...would she have gotten rid of it herself after all this time! I asked my sister if she would take it and she said NO WAY. Would her son want to take part of it, I could get rid of some pieces if at least one was saved. He had no interest either. That's when it hit me...am I holding on to this furniture because I expect it to be as treasured by the next generation. Is it going to be handed down so that others will have a link with the grandmother or great-mother they never knew? Already I had that answer, they wanted no part of it. So what was I hanging onto it for? Even if they did I know they would have destroyed it given how they treat furniture. If I left it to them in my will they'd send it to the thrift store without a moment's hesitation! With no one to leave it to I realized it had no future past me anyway. I was looking for excuses to get rid of it but that's what you have to do, give yourself enough reasons to justify the action. If my Mom were alive I think she would want me to experience the joy of picking out my furniture as much as she did hers. I noticed she wasn't carting around furniture from her parents or grandparents day either! An important thing to remember is that inanimate objects do not have souls, they aren't the people who owned them. I have smaller objects of hers and of course photos and my memories. What I ended up doing before sending my mother's furniture to charity was write in her name and the date she bought the piece in the back of the dresser where it would remain hidden until someone took out a drawer and looked way back in there. I also wrote my name. So I've made our mark on the furniture, it will always be ours no matter where it goes. And I also kept one little nightstand, not able to part with every piece I kept the smallest one. It's hiding in my closet, heehee, waiting for me to get to the age where I may have to go into a nursing home. Then, when I have to edit all of my furniture down to a small room I can decide if her nightstand comes with me. And then we will have been together from beginning to end! :D p.s. To those of you with kids...don't wait, tell them NOW that when you're gone feel free to get rid of anything they want. Don't burden them with that guilt. If your legacy is tied to piece of furniture and nothing else then you've failed somewhere along the line! My grandmother used to say her biggest fear was that she would be forgotten. Not having her furniture around anymore has done nothing to diminish my memories of her.

Ilanab, To your question-In my case, I purchased two ways, I got the manufacture and sku #'s from the pieces on the showroom floor at the local retailer. Then called many of the wholesales in NC to compare prices and shipping costs. So I did see the pieces. When you purchase locally, you aren't usually buying the display pieces either. The second way that I have made selections is to spend 2-3 days in Hickory or High Point shopping the enormous furniture malls. This is like a vacation for me as I enjoy the experience. I bring samples, pictures, room dimensions, camera, and make voluminous notes on what I see. Then come home to think it though, call from home to make my order. This book is a MUST HAVE if you are serious about NC furniture shopping-whether you go to NC or shop from home. I went to a workshop that the author conducted in my town (Tampa). It was helpful but at that point I was a pretty seasoned buyer and it just confirmed what I had learned through my own experience. Here is a link that might be useful: The Furniture Factory Outlet Guide

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