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Places to buy furniture in Portland

YoursTrulyYoursTruly
edited July 2011
Hello!

We are moving there in five days and are going to need to buy a bunch of furniture.
We specifically are interested in vintagey stuff that is not ridiculously expensive. I'm a bit concerned that this does not exist in Portland, due to everybody having a fine eye and prices being driven up. I'm considering buying a bunch of furniture here at the rad cheap antique shop and then just bringing it all to Portland, EXCEPT that we don't really know what our new house looks like or what kinds of things we are going to want yet.

Are there cool places to buy reasonably priced furniture that is nice? I'm looking for something in between Goodwill and a store like the one Catherine Keener runs in "Please Give," where a coffee table costs $2,000 or whatever. I'm picturing like a classy 1960's armchair or nice little kitchen table for 100 bucks, that kind of vibe. Does this exist? If so, can you name these places for me so that I can go there immediately upon arrival?

Also, if you were in the market for a new bed/mattress, would you still just go to Ikea, or what? In terms of comfort/price.

Thank you.

Comments

  • joeyjoey
    edited July 2011
    There is a place called "the Mercantile" in Anacortes, WA.
    They sell great inexpensive furniture, but they are only opened once every three weeks.
    Yesterday and today they are open. They had these cool chairs in there called "Chanel" chairs, sort of looked clam shaped, black velvet. They also had these pretty nice orange chairs that were ten bucks a piece.
    They also tend to have quite a bit of wooden tables and chests with drawers.
    You should come to Anacortes and do some furniture shopping in three weeks!
    (Ok, I know this is asking a lot)
  • DeathDeath
    edited July 2011
    There is a place in Tigard that is pretty ok called Union Gospel Mission Thrift. The place is pretty Goodwill-esque, but they do have tons of furniture and some nice stuff sometimes, and you can haggle the prices down super easily. I furnished my old apartment from that place for 200 bucks. The big plus is that they will deliver as much as you can buy for 35 bucks flat. Warning: They may awkwardly thank Jesus in front of you for how much they were able to help you. The employees are recovering drug addicts, but they are super nice.

    Bed Mart is a good way to go for a bed. I have a combo self modified queen sized bed stand from IKEA, and mattress from Bed Mart that I think was around 500 altogether.
  • the_owlsthe_owls
    There are a few places to get cheap/reasonable mattresses around town, and bed frames probably cheapest on craigs? Or, the plainest Ikea frame?

    Other furniture is getting sort of ridiculous... there are plenty of places to buy cute vintage furniture, but it's not that cheap. I just sort of gave up on ever buying anything for our house, because we have basically enough to get by on and I can't rationalize spending $$$ on more things, even though they would make life a bit cozier.
    The items you mentioned would be more than $100...

    If you can swing it, bring a few pieces with you! And a few for me too.
  • MirandaJulyMirandaJuly
    edited July 2011
    Mattress Lot is a local business that has reasonable prices. It's on Sandy.

    There are furniture places up and down Hawthorne with varying prices.

    Board member Bobby has stated that he is very good at getting expensive bed sets for less via haggling out in the suburbs. Talk to him for more details.
  • flossy_log_ladyflossy_log_lady
    Definitely check out the community warehouse (http://www.communitywarehouse.org/). Sounds like just what you're looking for. Also, I think some of the vintage furniture shops on Hawthorne might fit your description -- they're certainly not goodwill prices, but not new-york-vintage-shop prices, either.

    Why not check out estate sales? So much fun and reasonable prices! Hit-or-miss, though, I guess.
  • Judar_SpitzerJudar_Spitzer
    I GOT WUT U WANT
  • Cherry_PieCherry_Pie
    I love Lounge Lizard on Hawethorne- it is relatively reasonable and they have a big, ever rotating selection of furniture. But my favorite place for very reasonably priced, but carefully curated vintage furniture and housewares is Rerun on Fremont. They are a thrift store/consignment shop like the kind I went to with my mom as a kid back in Denver. It's a great vibe, they do cool work with/for the community, they have nice stuff. The only downside is that they're more of a clothing/housewares place. However they do always have a small but rad collection of furniture and if you don't see what you are looking for you can ask sweetly to have your dreamed-of item put on their wish list and they will call you if something comes in. Cool right?

    For beds I really recommend Comfort Cloud Futon on NE Broadway. It's not futons like we had in college! My bed is so awesome- the mattress is all organic cotton with wool lining and it is sooo comfortable. The frame is basic, and admittedly a little janky. You could get a cheaper better frame on craigslist. But the futon? So kind.

    I can't wait for you to come here!
  • lml__0_0__lmllml__0_0__lml
    i work for a furniture company that makes the very best heirloom quality furniture and therefore i do not own any of it. however, i have that good look you are talking about and can identify pieces based on their shape and fabric. here is my recommendation:

    if you are looking to spend $200 to outfit your house, you are going to spend way more time looking for the right piece and eating meatballs at ikea than actual buying-and-moving. the best places for this (in town) are the bins and resale shops. sometimes deals can be found at the SE goodwill (on like, MLK/Grand?) def check craigslist 4x a day and know exactly what you're looking for.

    if you want to spend $2000 to outfit your house, try shopping at the hawthorne places (hawthorne vintage, the one on 13th?, and look modern :-/ ). If you are looking for a specific model (for instance, saarinen executive chairs and eames shelves) then you will probably have better luck these places.

    take a trip out to the suburbs, -i'll send you a PM with specific locations of good furniture findings- and bring cash and a truck.
  • YoursTrulyYoursTruly
    THIS IS GREAT YOU GUYS!
    So helpful!!!

    Feeling great about all this!!!!!!!

    I would say we are somewhere in between 200 and 2000. Like maybe willing to spend, I don't know, 800 bucks on the house. Like buying a couple real nice things and then a couple random goodwill things.

    I think this is doable, now with this list of spots/suggestions!

    Thanks dudes!!!

  • Loose_ThreadLoose_Thread
    edited July 2011
    give yourself two sundays to go to estate sales for three hours each time and you will find two special pieces, i guarantee
  • ed_chigliaked_chigliak
    I second the estate sales recommendation. Especially ones that say "50 yrs accumulation" or "house + garage packed"
  • Loose_ThreadLoose_Thread
    Richard I don't know if this is exactly your style but my advice is, keep an open mind, remember what you need but most importantly remember why you need it. Like, think "something to organize my clothes" instead of "4 drawer dresser" I think you know what I mean... keep it flexible to a certain degree and that will help go along. If you go into one store looking for a coffee table and they have nothing but credenzas, what do you do? It is just frustrating to feel like you are forced to buy something because you're there. No regrets
  • YoursTrulyYoursTruly
    this is good advice, dude, I will keep it in mind. I do tend to get frantic while furniture shopping. JUST NEED A DESK NOW!!!!! NOW! OK I WILL BUY THIS EXTRA REFRIGERATOR
  • lml__0_0__lmllml__0_0__lml
    im sure there's a magazine or internet article about repurposing an old refrigerator into a desk. all those little compartments? hello organization!!
  • the_owlsthe_owls
    Yes Loose Thread!

    I make a list of all the things I want for my home and keep it in my journal, so when I am spaced out and see a basket or a chair I don't have to try and think about where it would go or if I need it or not... handy list is my master.
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