Thanks Mel, You saved me a trip. I used to go the Lloyds over in Shrewsbury, but they closed, I wonder why?? hmmm . . . They had just okay stuff, I was never really impressed. How big was the square table at the Decorating Exchange? I am looking for 84 Round or Square. Basically to sit 10-12 people. I usually browse down in Zaksons in Brick, but that is a 45 min. ride for me. But they have great stuff. Or the Woods, they are a lot closer, but haven't seen anything in there lately. I'll have to see if my DH will take a ride up to the Decorating Exchange. What a pain. . . I think I"ll call them to see what other lines they have, and if there are any other ones I am interested in. I wouldn't buy from them, like you, I shop down south where things are more affordable. . . I have been looking and thought I was finally settled on a Hickory Chair set, until I just found out from a very reliable source that they are having quality issues on some of their collections. He is going to find out for me if it is on any of the pieces I picked. For the price of this stuff there should be no quality issues! Good luck on you set, I'm sure it is beautiful!! I'm pretty confident that Lexington is a reputable company, I remember the first time I called them, they gave me the number of the BBB to ease my conscience. I haven't yet ordered from them because I got a company in Phila. to match their price and Phila is a lot closer to complain to if anything is wrong.

Classic Leather is also handmade in NC. Classic uses a mixture of hardwoods not all of their frames are solid and not all of their frames are true 8-way hand-tied, it depends on the style. Bradington Young is more economical because they use a multiply laminated hardwood frame in place of the solid knot free kiln dried hardwood frames used by Leathercraft. Bradington Young is now a division of Hooker Furniture rather than a family owned business like both Classic and Leathercraft are. Both Classic and leathercraft cater to a higher end customer, they are both willing to make custom changes on all their products within reason. Bradington Young is more main stream they cater more to the masses, they do not like to change up patterns and such but are willing to make subtle changes to their frames like adding or deleting nail trim and they do offer seating or cushion options like both Leathercraft and Classic. All three of these manufactures are based in North Carolina and build outstanding products and yes we do sell all three brands at our store that is why I can comment on this topic as an expert because we are a leather specialty company and my experience comes from years of working with these exceptional leather furniture manufactures.

Just got a new Ballard catalog yesterday, and noticed that they are now emphasizing that ALL their upholstered furniture is US-made. They have some really good looking updated, but still traditional styles. As for cushions - back or bottom. Just be sure that any sofa one buys has cushions covers with zippers on them. Most are filled with poly, or poly/feather, and they will compact and droop - pretty quickly, in fact. When they do, take the pillows/cushions and their covers to a GOOD upholstery shop and have the filling replaced. Bottom cushions of often used chairs/sofas, are best done with springs and a wrap of something with a nice crown. Loose back cushions are a problem with pets - they like to use them as a hammock and they always look like an unmade bed. If they are filled with a 50/50 down/feather fill, then at least they can be fluffed up to look nice. I finally gave up and just had my sofa done with a tight back - looks SO much better. Throw pillows are easy and inexpensive to replace, and the dog doesn't sleep on them the way her predecessors did on those loose back cushions. I'm far happier. What one must realize is that today's upholstered furniture, no matter where it is made, is simply not the quality it once was. People do NOT want investment furniture - a sofa they will keep for 50 years They like change and won't pay for true quality, thus the manufacturers (even ones like Baker), have lowered the quality for price point reasons. If there are no buyers for quality, one must make lesser quality at the price point customers want to pay.

Good to know! Last October, I broke down and ordered the sofa that I wanted from Hickory Chair. I was told not to expect the sofa before January of 2021. In July, after several calls saying production was further delayed, I was told that it would still take at least another month. This sofa was almost 7K! I finally reached my limit and said to cancel the order, which my salesperson did, with no penalty. I think she was suspicious, too, that the sofa might not come in the near future. Ironicallly, the main reason that I chose Hickory Chair was that I loved a fabric that I could not find elsewhere. I went shopping again, and Vanguard had gotten in the exact same fabric. I ordered about a month ago, it was almost 2K less. They anticipate delivery well before Thanksgiving. Vanguard also has wood frames, glued and screwed, and hand tied springs. I'm hoping that this works out.