Handmade versus mass produced

[Hopthegoodgod]

Looking to buy a new fabric covered chesterfield ( four seater)
All quotes for handmade have been around 6 k.
Store bought are half that but don't look or feel as good. Any suggestions for or against.

Personally I would go for the handmade and consider it an investment.
It looks and feels better and will last a lot longer.
Over the last few years Ive been replacing furniture with the best I could afford, ready assembled, no flatpacks or things with veneers. It looks better, is more robust and hopefully I will never have to replace it again
I've got a few thousand left over from a redundancy payment and am investing in a lovely reclaimed wood dining table and made to measure cloakroom cupboard.

Have you looked at reconditioned ones? I love the vintage ones that have been up cycled, not always cheaper but more original and better made

Handmade will probably be better materials and sturdier so last longer. If you keep it for 15 years or so it will not have cost much per year BUT if you are someone who will want a change of style in a few years it might not be worth it.

Early in 1986 I took delivery of 2 3-seater sofas from Delcor. Since then the seat cushion covers were all replaced in September 1993 ( due to accidental damage) and the sofas sent back to the factory for a complete overhaul in 2010 ( I think ). I am still sitting on them today but would like to send them again for a re overhaul again. 39 yeas and they are still my favourite.

This is always my concern with ‘investment pieces’. With the best will in the world they will eventually look dated.

i personally like to give myself the option of updating as and when. If I paid a huge amount thinking it would last forever I’d not be able to do that.

Do classic, well designed pieces of furniture ever date?
I've never bought 'fashionable' furniture.
Like many people I bought what I could afford. At times I probably had a bit too much pine, but that can be changed. I've just sanded down a chest of drawers so I can paint it
I've also bought my son new bedroom furniture with the intention he takes it with him when he moves out. It's solid wood, plain in design, soft cream colour. I can't imagine it would ever look dated.

Not like 80s black ash