Berkeley Parents Network: Where to Buy Furniture & Furnishings

10/99
Does anyone have a suggestion as to where to buy a child's table and chairs (preferably wood or at least sturdy) for reasonable cost -- used ones would be great too. Toy-R-Us only had a plastic picnic table with benches and Orchard Supply Hardware said this morning that they don't carry these though I know I've seen at least the chairs there before. I keep calling the used toy/ baby equipment stores, so far with no luck. Any other suggestions? Much appreciated.

This is just the type of stuff Ikea specializes in! I preordered an Ikea catalog in anticipation of their store opening in Emeryville and found a round kids wooden table for $14.95 (!!) and chairs to match for $9.95. There is also a unfinished solid wood set of 2 chairs and a table for $34.95. AND Ikea has a (brightly) painted or plain wooden kid tables for $34.95, matching chairs $19.95 each, and benches for $29. Ikea should be opening in March or so, but if you want to get their catalog now, you can get it at www.ikea.com. (No, I don't work for them, but you can bet I am gonna shop there!)

1. Saw something at Crate & Barrel 2 weeks ago that was wooden, forget the price but it wasn't that high.
2. JC Penney Catalogue (it is on line too) has a 2-3 page section on kid's tables, some wooden some plastic, all prices.

10/99
We looked all over the place for used wooden children's furniture. Though Toy Go Round on Solano occasionally has it, I think it goes pretty quickly. We finally purchased a very sturdy set from 'RDreams' on the web. It was not cheap (nor the most expensive of what we saw), but it's very nice looking, sturdy, and practical (easy to clean).

10/99
Both Target and KMart have children's wooden tables and chairs on sale this week. The ones at Target cost $50 for 1 table or 2 chairs i.e. $100 total for a table + 2 chairs. The one at Kmart comes with Disney Design. I forgot the price though but I think it is somewhat cheaper than Target.

10/99
Target has sturdy all wood oak tables and chairs. a pair of chairs costs 49 and the table is 49. These are simple but very nice. My daughter loves them and is now all into entertaining herself at HER table. Good luck.

10/99
If you are looking for a wooden table/chairs, try either Gorman and Sons or Saw Mill. Also, Rockridge Kids sometimes has them. A friend of mine found a *great* little table & chair set at the Crate and Barrel outlet in Berkely. That said, let me share something with you -- my husband and I went thru this about 6 months ago, and ended up buying a table and chairs down at the Lakeshore Learning Center in San Leandro. They were a little more expensive than we had originally planned on, but we decided that the height adjustability of the table made it a great investment, since we anticipate that this table will be part of our household for AWHILE (our little one just turned two). These are the same style tables that you will find in daycare and schools -- very sturdy, washable, and they come in a variety of sizes/shapes. Good luck in your search!

10/99
We found a cute set, two chairs and a table, red and light colored wood, at Target in El Cerrito. The chairs come in one box and the table in another, and the whole thing costs about $120. Assembly is required, of course, but the quality is good and the instructions were simple. I think they had other styles as well, something with a sports theme and another with pastel colors. Our 2 year old is able to get in and out of the chairs easily, though his feet don't touch the floor when he's sitting, just to give you an idea of the size.

10/99
Regarding the request for affordable wood children's table and chairs, you might try Target which has advertised hardwood sets for around $50. Also, Pier 1 Imports or Cost Plus sometimes have this kind of thing. One last thought is for a low table maybe intended as a coffee table that might be a hardwood veneer from a place like Scandinavian Designs. Good luck,

10/99
Child's Table and Chairs: Crate and Barrel has a set in their current catalog & often carries them at their outlet store on 4th Street

10/99
I found a pretty good, not fancy, table and 2 chairs at Baby Depot in Hayward for $60. Painted "wood" (particle-board but heavyduty) and I've seen one at Darla's in El Cerrito, real wood and nice looking in the $150. range.

Crate and Barrel has a very nice low childrens' table with two chairs. Wood, solid, and cheerful colors. I think it cost about $120 for the table and chairs, which was about what the people at one of the unfinished furniture shops on San Pablo were charging as a special favor to make something similar, but not as nice. Crate and Barrel has a website, although we got ours from their catalog.

Dominic (6/99)

Gormans furniture store in Berkeley (on Telegraph at Derby) probably has a good quality unfinished wooden chair and table set in a child's size. I got one there for my daughter 17 years ago, and it is still going strong! The nice thing about their furniture is that it is so well made that it lasts forever. By the way, I think that little table/chair set was one of the best investments I ever made, both my kids loved having their own special space for projects.

Deborah (6/99)

Inexpensive Furniture for the House

11/99
Try Reliance Antiques in Berkeley -- 6th and Gilman (I believe). Their stuff is beautiful and reasonably priced. Doug and Theresa Harbo own the store and are nice to work with.

From: Rose (10/98)

If you are looking for a new couch I recommend that you stop by Tradeway on San Pablo Ave in El Cerrito. They are a block or two north of the Safeway on Moser. They have GREAT deals on furniture. When were looking for a couch we found a complete set (full size couch, and two armchairs with ottomans) for around $900. They also have bedroom and dinning room furniture. Some of their stuff is dicontinued, damaged or flawed stuff, but if you look carefully you can find some great stuff. Their number is 529-2360. You may want to call for their hours. I think they are closed Sundays. Also on San Pablo is Kiefers. (Across from Nations at the intersection of Central and San Pablo). They don't have as much merchandise, and we didn't find their prices as good as Tradeway, but they were still cheaper than many furniture stores.

From: Toby (10/98)

The book, Bargain Hunting in the Bay Area is a great resource for buying almost anything. I bought our refrigerator at Wards in Richmond. They have a section of "damaged" goods, which might mean a scratch or small dent. We also go to the Tradeway Furniture store for couches/beds, etc.

Scandinavian Furniture

8/99
Can anyone recommend a furniture store that sells furniture similar to what Scandinavian Designs sells? We are just looking for more options. Thanks. Dana Lear So far, the best deal on simple all-wood maple furniture I've seen is the Nordwins line at Woodworks in Concord 1150 Concord Ave. I'm planning to get chests of drawers and such there. The Crate and Barrel Outlet on 4th Street has reasonable prices on tables. I'm interested to hear others' findings., too, since I need *everything*. danalear@earthlink.net

Fran 8/99
When we were looking for Scandinavian style furniture about 8 years ago, we went to two others. One was a large store in San Francisco, I think on Van Ness. They used to advertise a lot on the radio ("free parking"). The other was on a main street in Alameda. That one was listed in the phone book. I don't recall the names of either one but I think the Alameda one was a Swedish family name. While we were in this mode, my in-laws took us into a Scandinavian furniture store up in Medford, OR that they like. The salesperson said people come there from the SF area because of the lack of choice down there and the fact that there is no sales tax in Oregon. (I fell in love with one of the designs they had.) If you have a reason to go up there and have a way to get the furniture down here, I recommend checking them out. It's called scan|design-- e-mail me if you want the address or phone number.

Ada 8/99
viking trader and a store that is located in the corner of university and the street where the sauna place is, i do not remember the name, but is before the use credit union.

8/99
I just bought a small, teak cabinet from Danish Interiors, Inc. at 1325 Park Street in Alameda. The shop appears to be run by an enthusiastic Danish man and his English wife, a funny and charming couple. Their shop is crammed full of an amazing selection of high quality tables, chairs, office furniture etc. Prices are not as low as Scandinavian Designs, but it all comes assembled and delivery was free to our house in Oakland. You get lots of personal attention at this shop and the furniture is in beautiful condition.

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