22
Jun
What’s so horrible about Ethan Allen anyway?
Ethan Allen… Devil big box mass produced crap or awesome source for home decor? I almost never read a positive review of Ethan Allen. Supposedly, their products are poorly constructed, way overpriced AND they have bad customer service.
(I made my navy blue couch with them, and I found just the opposite. The couch is comfortable, it wasnt that expensive, it came in 5 weeks and when a little bit of welt started to open up, they were over the next day fixing it.)
Let’s talk about their design aesthetic. I dont find it to be so horrible. I actually like some of the stuff. And I would say that they have similar pricing and quality to the stuff and Crate and Barrel and Restoration Hardware. (Also, you can customize anything in a ton of designer fabrics, and all their stuff is American made. )
They stupidly allowed me to take pictures today. I think they are a little heavy handed on the decorating and styling, but if you use your secret samurai shopping skills (Thanks Zhush!), you can find some pieces that are cool, and dont look big box.
I like this bedroom. I like the ikat duvet cover, and I really like the linen slipper chair in the corner. I hate the art. 
This bedroom is just eh… the pieces are all ok, but its pulled together in a clean and classic way. I think I like the headboard and the wallpaper.
Thumbs up to the desk and the lamp. Thumbs down to the ottoman’s fabric and the chair’s tufting. Also thumbs down to the orbs on the desk. 
Mad love for the lamp. I also really love that end table used as a nightstand. Done correctly, that table could be very Thomas O Brian.
I hate that rug, but I like the couch and I like the coffee table.
I love the wallpaper and I love the stripe on the couch. I hate the way they hung that art and I HATE the pillows they put on the couch. Excuse me, I dont hate the pillows, I hate that they put them there. 
My favorite thing in the store- those two lamps. Each $169. VERY awesome. Perfect for behind a sofa or on nightstands.
I like the drapes, I like the leather couch. I hate those glass candlesticks mostly because you can buy ones like em at CB2 for $12 each and those cost $90. 
That wall art is awful. But the club chairs are nice. I like the beat up leather and the shape of the chair. 
Not bad Ethan Allen. I kinda like this little vignette. I actually really like the plaid ottoman.
So what do you think about Ethan Allen? Do any of you own anything that you’ve bought there? Or have I been smoking design crack? Spill it!
12 Responses to “What’s so horrible about Ethan Allen anyway?”
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Ive only purchased two items (at one time) from Ethan Allen so I hardly have a lot to say about them but I think they were both great quality and had very smooth customer service.(Very unlike my experiences with ABC Home and Drexel Heritage where complete nightmares!)
Yea, I agree. I had a really easy time working with them too.
I love the bed in picture 2, I visit it quite often. It is a bit pricey but I just love it. It also can be made custom with different tufting, borders and variations of hardware.
Never been to any of their stores (may I say again how envious I am of all the furniture stores and chains in the states?) but from the pictures it seems they have quite a few good pieces (esp the lamps), but are a bit off with the styling.
I own three of their pieces – my cream on cream stripe living room sofa ‘the marilyn”, and a sofa and chair in my family room. I have owned all three pieces 6+ years and they all still look brand new…3 kids, 3 cats, and one dog later! Of course the lr is off limits, but the family room furniture gets plenty of use – the rule is no eating on the furniture, we eat in the kitchen only…I think that is what has saved it!
Nineteen years ago, my husband and I bought a couch from Ethan Allen. My husband chose the fabric, which is dark, with a tight busy pattern. Looks like new. Yeah, Nicole, I like the store too.
not my cup of tea
sorry on the delay in commenting, i’m new…. but i was trolling your site, drooling over your JA sofa, and felt the need to comment on this. personally, i spent an arm and a leg (for my 23 yr old budget) on complete furnishings for a dining room, an entertainment console, and custom fabric to reupholster a wingback chair. what i was impressed with is fabric quality and selection, i ordered a beautiful orange and yellow ikat, its great quality, my chair looks fantastic (it also went to an upholsterer my mother recommended). it is nice to see higher end fabric more readily available to the public vs. the whole to the trade exclusivity. what was disheartening is that not everything EA is made in the USA any longer, nor is wood furniture from EA solid wood. it is merely a veneer, and for that price, wow – ouchie. the delivery men placed my table leaves (in cardboard boxes) on top of my unprotected table and scratched it. the EA store didn’t seem to want to believe me, and it was quite a struggle to get someone out to look at it, attempt (and fail) to fix is, and a lot of phone tag before i got a the manager to agree to replace it. i was then told that basically nothing should ever sit on the bare table, that it will scratch. my ikea furniture from college looks better and its 2 years old…. just sad. i wouldn’t do it again for wood furniture, but i am glad your upholstery worked out.
Ohhhh… That really sucks. Wood does scratch. A lot. So does glass… My ikea table is chipping like all hell… i need to replace it but I just dont know with what yet!
Well, I can tell you why Ethan Allen is horrible. They have no customer service skills and will fight you tooth and nail over poor quality. The sad thing is that the store managers are powerless but have to hear the endless customer complaints everyday. Then when the customer has had it and calls the corporate office in Danbury, the store manager catches hell all over again. This is exactly how it happens. I am a professional interior desinger (yes, one that actually has a degree)and I am a former Ethan Allen Manager. Over 50% of the product is coming from Asia. This is no longer the distinguished American company it once was. I no longer work for the company, but I still hear the complaints from former clients, friends and people who still work there (because we all have to eat). Procede with caution when purchasing!!
Good to know Karen- Thanks for the details! I never had that experience, but I know that they have a TERRIBLE reputation and I was wondering why!
What’s so horrible about Ethan Allen? I wouldn’t say they are horrible, but I think that fewer people would buy there if they understood some of Ethan Allen’s quality issues and service issues. I bought a hardwood furniture set from Ethan Allen. The finish on one piece was so poor that I could see where the varnish ran. Amazingly, it had passed their quality control inspection. One piece had scratches across the top. Ethan Allen told me that their furniture is distressed, which says to me that they cannot guarantee a quality finish. They replaced the scratched panel, but the new panel had a crack. Ethan Allen said that cracks are not defects, and they wouldn’t replace the new cracked panel. Maybe other furniture companies are the same (I’ve read a lot of negative comments about Thomasville too). I still have a lot of furniture shopping to do, but Ethan Allen won’t be on the list. They’ve lost credibility with me. How do I trust a warranty when they say cracks aren’t defects?