Restoration Review of 1920s French Camelback Leather Club Chair

Sometimes when I kickoff to write one blog post, it becomes credible that the subject matter I was intending to write about morphs into something else.

I had intended to conduct on with this exquisite Florida home (and I will–) by the beatific and immensely talented Summer Thornton. Yet, I got just a leeeeetle bit side-tracked by a massive route-block.

What is it Laurel? I don't see anything incorrect?

What yous don't like the coffee tabular array or the fact that the sofas don't lucifer?

No, information technology'due south neither of those. Information technology'due south the sofa.

It's from Rip-off Hardware. Oops sorry. I mean Restoration Hardware. And since they pretty much stopped selling HARDWARE, they've shortened the name to RH.

I don't know what happened and don't want to jump to conclusions. The sofa looks fine in Summer's room. And this in no fashion is meant to disparage her or her work, because I admire her talent immensely.

However, I need you to listen to this very advisedly.

You lot are not to purchase a sofa at Restoration Hardware.

And frankly, probably nada else either except maybe sheets. You tin can get your sheets in that location and maybe a framed impress of the Flat Iron Building.

Oh wait. No. Forget the print. Fifty-fifty that is a slice of crap in my opinion.

Hey, why so biting, Laurel? I LOVE Restoration Hardware!

You do, huh? Well… I did also… once upon a time……………………………………..

………… between 1987 and 1991 I lived catty-corner from the Restoration Hardware store across from the iconic Flatiron building in New York Metropolis.

photo taken in the 1920'southward – source unknown

The flat iron building erected in 1902 at 22 stories tall was considered quite the skyscraper in its day.

Restoration Hardware is in the building straight backside the Flatiron Edifice. An Italianate structure, information technology was built in 1862 and was one of the first commercial buildings constructed in this area.

I lived in the edifice underneath the Budweiser sign; only it wasn't that edifice. They tore that ane downward and erected a mod loftier-rise flat building, Madison Green, circa 1981. My time to come husband lived there when I met him in 1986.

Via Googs maps is a birds-middle (duh) view of the Flatiron, Madison Light-green to the right and Restoration Hardware; a loftier-cease home furnishings retailer.

They got that role right. The furnishings are very expensive.

This is how I think the store looking – photo: Daytonian in Manhattan

and I have fond memories of going in on occasion or just walking past.

Restoration Hardware got its humble beginnings in California dorsum in 1979. (coincidentally the year my husband and I moved to NYC). It'due south growth was rapid and by the jump of 2001, there were over 100 branches of the chain.

The store had its ups and downs and at a low point, they brought in Gary Friedman, the president of Williams-Sonoma in 2001 to rescue it. He is the current CEO. (although in that location was some uhhhmmm… trouble he had in 2012 that acquired him to "stride downwards" for a few days.)

To Mr. Friedman's credit, he never finished higher and took a job working equally a stock male child at the Gap and worked his way up to the top position. That's admirable.

He obviously, brought renewed life into the brand which survived the recession of 2008.

And and so… something happened. It happened well-nigh 2 years agone.

image via Forbes

photo: Rebecca Roman

Remember the onslaught?

I recall receiving my 17 pound packet and thinking they must be barking mad. We take a recycling bin adjacent to our mailboxes and at that place information technology went immediately along with the other junk post.

This couple wrote a very funny satire on the best uses for the Restoration Hardware attempt at deforesting the earth.

I recall shaking my head and thinking– who's paying for all of this?

(you know the answer to that ane)

This massive renovation was occurring at the same fourth dimension at the Flatiron store.

FPE Architects

Rebranding okay, merely blackness? On the other hand, the darkness suits them.

Yesterday, I found out that CEO Gary Friedman has put his California dwelling house (well, i of them) on the market for 10.v million.

via the Wall Street Journal

Hmmm… you don't suppose he charged all of that Restoration Hardware stuff to the business?

Well, if he did, did he deduct retail or wholesale?

Considering if deducted wholesale, I can tell you that he furnished this entire room for perchance $i,500. Yes, four ginormous sofas, coffee table, dining table… chairs… lighting…

Don't believe me?

Fair enough. I didn't believe me either.

That is why I did some digging.

And information technology didn't take me more than a couple of minutes to uncover the shocking truth about Restoration Hardware's "high-stop" furnishings.

I mean, everyone knows (or should) that it'south cheap Asian crap.

But simply HOW cheap is information technology?

I found many sources on the internet that behave either the verbal products sold by RH or at least close enough that RH could make some adaptations to make information technology their "own."

These sources are all in Prc and they are all selling to ANYONE, not just furniture dealers. Information technology's the same stuff and often yous tin can purchase merely ane of something. Yeah, the price for one of something is more than if you buy in bulk, but even those prices are a fraction of the retail cost RH is charging their customers.

Now ARE these the exact pieces sold past RH? Probably not. They might very well be knock offs. Simply it shows how much the same or similar products are selling for.

Example Number One from Zhongshan Xiaohui Lighting Electrical Appliance Co., Ltd.

3 pieces of this or more are available to anyone for $79.00/each.

Did you hear me? SEVENTY-9 DOLLARS???

Or– you can buy it for only $1507.00 – the ***member'due south*** deeply (gag) discounted price at Restoration Hardware.

Even if I bought but ONE of these from Cathay, the cost is still merely 1/10th the price of the Resto piece!

What's that about a membership at Restoration Hardware?

Well, for a 100 bucks a year, ane (sucker) tin go a 25% "discount" off of the full "retail" cost of $2,495.00. (Hey, that'south far more than 25% simply they are having a "sale" right now.)

Here'due south what Resto has to say nearly their finely crafted $79 chandelier from Prc.

"Absorbed past the timeworn beauty of discarded former French wine barrels, designer Rudi Nijssen reimagines them as a chandelier. Handcrafted from reclaimed French oak staves and hoops, the openwork design – inspired by the French Empire class – is at once rustic and refined, organic and elegant. At home indoors and out, it proudly bears the marks and imperfections of salvaged wood."

Reclaimed French Oak Staves???

Oh, I'm laughing so hard, my side is hurting.

Sure, after they've been rescued from a Chinese landfill.

Here'due south our $79 salvaged, refined beauty marked upwards 3,000% at the newly renovated Flat Iron Shop.

Think that's an isolated piece at Restoration Hardware?

You already know the reply to that ane too.

Would you lot prefer to pay $185.00?

or the amazing bargain at Restoration Hardware of $1,282.00 deeply discounted off of the retail price of $one,895.00

I mean, they have to pay for all of those copse and press somehow? Right?

Now, is information technology possible that the lighting store is ripping off RH?

Yeah, it is.

Simply there are dozens of vendors who deport this light fixture or else it's very shut and the price is a lot less.

Here's one a similar Wayfair chandelier for half the price of RH.

In that location are hundreds of manufacturers in Mainland china. And sure, sometimes they change some of the details, merely often. nope. What You Run into Is What You Get. WYSIWYG.

For instance:

Gosh, they didn't fifty-fifty bother to change the prototype. Simply wait. Information technology says that they sell FROM ONE DOLLAR/Piece???

Is Restoration Hardware paying ONE DOLLAR? (probably non that low)

What are nosotros paying?

A whopping bargain at RH for $180 marked down from $249

Do you lot like Sputniks? This is from $99-$130

Information technology's more similar the 1 on the correct simply no thing. The prices range from  $746-$1195

Exercise these await familiar?

These all sell for from $6-13 a piece. And BTW, they have an SSL certificate. In plain English, it means they're legit. Not that I'm recommending them; I'm not. I do not recommend ownership from a source over seas unless you know what you're doing and know the company. Furthermore reports have information technology that these ads are a sham. And then buyer beware.

$156 – $209 at Restoration Hardware

$121 – $165

Oh, I could continue going, but you become it and I take improve things to practice with my fourth dimension.

Can you get other Restoration Hardware items from China as well lighting? Aye, I'grand sure. And y'all tin can also get far improve deals for the aforementioned stuff on Ebay. It'south commonly about half the price that RH is selling it for.

Like this bed for case.

And that's my primary issue with Restoration Hardware.

They are touting themselves every bit a HIGH Stop purveyor of home effects and information technology is anything but. Information technology is cheap crap from Prc.

Yous tin can tweet that. :]

Just there's another icky problem that is really behind this expose and it's this.

Not simply are they screwing the public, they have cheated many loyal designers who shop at that place for their clients. People like me. (well, not me. I don't shop there). Only now, Restoration Hardware is giving the designer discount to EVERYONE! And that just plain sucks. Information technology'south rampant greed at it's finest.

Still, these shoddy business organization practices appear to be catching upward with them.

Restoration Hardware'southward stock quote for the final v years.

restoration hardware stock tumble Baronial 2016

I hear from my fellow designers that they have had nothing simply problems with the quality of the article of furniture.

And they aren't solitary co-ordinate to Consumer Affairs. Out of 43 ratings, 33 gave them one-star.

Furthermore, RH is yet foisting this garbage on us.

We already went through this abomination in an old post almost the best sofas to purchase.

A detailed shot to hi-low-cal the grotesqueness.

A Polar Deport for only $12,000 or $sixteen,000 if you're likewise shnoop to pay the 100 bucks a year.

The unproblematic truth is ______ you fill in the blank.

I think I've made it very clear how I feel.

I want people to buy quality. And while I realize that not everything tin can exist fabricated in this state, a lot of my vendors ARE producing a quality production in the United states and selling it for an appropriate margin.

And that's all I accept to say about that.

I'll return to our textile and furniture offerings on Sunday.

To stop on a far happier note. The fabulous artist, Allison Creation from Sun'due south postal service, discovered information technology and sent me the nearly darling note today. And she told me that she's going to be unveiling some of her prints at Zoe Bios Creative  at the next High Point Market. I will definitely be calculation those resources to Laurel's Rolodex.

Oh my stars! I about forgot. Nosotros do accept three winners of the contest and two of them have come forward to collect their prize, but I haven't heard from the third ane. I've sent out two emails. I'll give her another day or so and then I will go to the side by side person on the listing.

I used random.org to randomly pick the winners. Everyone was assigned a number and I told information technology to choice 3 numbers and the numbers connected to the names were the winners. Then, I realized that I ameliorate have some alternates, so I did it ane more than fourth dimension and picked 3 more.

Hearty Congratulations to Susan S., Aubrey T. and Suzy K.!!! (who I'one thousand waiting to hear from)

xo,

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Source: https://laurelberninteriors.com/2016/08/10/shocking-truth-restoration-hardware/

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