I agree with the "overpaying" comment from Mogator. It took me a long time before finding a 4 poster bedstead that appealed to both the helpmeet and me. We wanted something domestically manufactured, traditionally styled, and not too "over the top". We finally found it at Ethan Allen, and it was affordably priced, too; that it was manufactured in Vermont was a bonus. Now their line is manufactured off-shore, I believe. We decided to add a sideboard in 2005. Again, the search for the Holy Grail was on. I found NOTHING in any of the major manufacturers' lines that appealed to either of us. Everything they offered was too formal, lacking in storage, and finished in high gloss that wouldn't "marry" well with our assortment of furniture. In despair I e-mailed a custom shop to get an idea of their prices. Lo and behold! their price for EXACTLY what we wanted (in walnut, with beautiful veneers and custom storage) was right in line with the prices of the stock offerings from Ethan Allen, Thomasville, Henredon, Harden, etc.. We are delighted with the piece and our experience has taught us that "custom" can be affordable, too. It's worth a few calls to local, domestic craftsmen, I think. It took 3 months, was delivered and placed where we wanted it, and was in PERFECT condition. We use it every day and within a week of its arrival we had forgotten the time before it was in the room. THAT'S what you want in a furniture purchase!

I'm in the same boat. 2 1/2 years ago I purchased a leather sofa, two arm chairs, ottoman and two dressers from a Thomasville store in MA. The legs on one of the armchairs didn't match the other chairs and it had a different finish, AND there was a 1" "slice" (not all the way through, though) in the leather at the very top of the couch. The delivery men made a big ordeal of writing up the color, the finish mismatch, took pics, but forgot to take a pic of the slice in the leather couch. That evening when I opened my husband's dresser drawer to fill it with clothes, a 1/2 piece of veneer chipped off the front because there was a little nail sticking out below the drawer inside. So when we called to remind them about the slice in the leather we also told them about the chip in the dresser. They were planning to send a guy out to my living room with stain, and he was going to restain the chair legs right in my living room! I don't THINK so. So we sent it out again to be fixed and it was weeks. It came back okay - acceptable, not perfect. So we reminded them about the slice and the chip and they said we could touch up the chip with a marker can you believe that? And as for the slice they said we'd have to send the couch out to them again so they could reupholster it. How about bringing me a new one and taking this one away when I get my new one? So we never pursued it. We don't like to complain. We are blessed with what we have and I was starting to feel like a spoiled brat. But let me tell you this. We inherited the money we spent on good quality furniture. We thought it was smart to get something we could pass down to our children and we never had any money for fine furniture. I see that chip every day and it's in my face. And I just know one of my boys may very well pick at that slice in the leather. I wish I did squawk more because it would be done and over now and I'd have what I paid for. I feel ripped off. I will not do business with Thomasville again (although I do love those pilar fighting seat barstools!).

We remodeled our kitchen in April 09. We have Thomasville cabinetry and I have been very happy with them and I thought after searching many other cabinetry places that the price was right. At Home Depot they are offering great incentives..like free sink base, $4,000 off order. 50% off the glazing which we did have done, 5 Free pull out drawers. I was able to get many more upgrades because of the money they had taken off. All the drawers have been automatically ugraded..1/2inch sides. Also all drawers have the slow close mechanism which is another upgrade that is now considered their standard drawer. The boxes all arrived safely and if there were any problems they just shipped out the new piece no questions asked. I used my own installer ( my brother in law) so I felt I got a great deal esp if you want to order...and install yourself. I can send pictures if interested. I did spend many hours with the Home Depot cabinet expert to decide what I wanted...there are many decision to make as you know. There was a couple design mistakes that they fixed and reordered a different size drawer etc. The cherry wood with black whiskey glaze is beautiful and I love the full overlay which usually makes the cost so much higher. I did have a problem with the decorative hood I ordered..Thomasville has a smaller hood and I wish they had more sizes to choose from...also the vents that home depot sells to fit the hoods do not have enough CFM and I thought I might have to do without it but my installer made it work by adding to it and making it come out longer over my burners. I also bought the fan from Vent a hood because I have a wolf dual fuel oven. That is one of the down falls of designing your own kitchen and not having the convenience of custom made pieces. It all worked out in the end and we couldn't be happier. Look at their deals online or go to Home Depot. I also used a o% interest card for most of it for a year.

robbcs3 -- I am surprised to hear that!? I was always under the impression that Thomasville was a bit better (in terms of wood selection/construction), and Diamond was better still (have not seen Kemper around here). Why would anybody buy Thomasville/Diamond if they are identical to Schrock, and Schrock is cheaper? I guess I will definitely deal with the Schrock dealer if that is true!