Best Furniture Buys

[scduck]

Hi, I wish to purchase some quality furniture ( I quite fancy the idea of Teakwood throughout) ... beds, wardrobes, side tables, dining table and chairs and sofa together with some patio furniture.

Has anyone got any suggestions, other than Home Pro and Tesco Lotus? Please give me an idea of quality and value for money, and a rough idea of where I can find them.

Many Thanks.

[johnnyk]

Dechanuchit Road going toward the sea:

On the right side is Baipoo2 with complete catalogue.

When you get to the bottom you will find ThaiWood on the corner of the Hilton road.

ThaiWood also has a showroom Petchkasem soi 52 on the left side going toward ChaAm. They have a second shop just before Baipoo2 same side of Dechanuchit.

Baipoo2 is run by Khun Tanaporn aka Lek

ThaiWood is run by Khun Mai

Both smart energetic women.

[lotus eater]

Hi, I wish to purchase some quality furniture ( I quite fancy the idea of Teakwood throughout) ... beds, wardrobes, side tables, dining table and chairs and sofa together with some patio furniture.

Has anyone got any suggestions, other than Home Pro and Tesco Lotus? Please give me an idea of quality and value for money, and a rough idea of where I can find them.

Many Thanks.

Anything like this in Chiang Mai or thereabouts?

[johnnyk]

CM is the centre of the furniture industry in Thailand.

[taxexile]

most of the furniture available in the hua hin shops is styled in the cliched tropical look. looks great for about 30 seconds . personally find it overpriced and after seeing it everywhere for it just looks boring.

if you just want decent run of the mill contemporary furniture then index , or sb furniture at home pro have a good selection.

there is a shop next to the big index store that has some genuine antique chinese style furtniture , in various states of restoration. if you have an eye for style and interior decoration then you should start there.

a couple of doors up from that shop is a place called "beautiful world" , falang run , as well as the cliched tropical paradise look (thai ikea) they do have some interesting stuff that wont look silly after a few years , their stock changes regularly and discounts can be negotiated.

there is a huge place called "world of luxury furniture" out on the road to the land department , again its falang run and the prices are steep for what you get , but amongst all the usual tropical hotel lobby fodder you can find a gem or two.

the nicest stuff , in my opinion , is to be found at a shop called "monsoon" , on phetkasem going south before the turn off to takiap. its in an old white painted wooden stilted mansion. a lot of vietnamese style furniture there. they say they import the stuff , very high prices.

if you have the time , then you can save yourself a fortune by going to chatuchak market in bangkok , where everything available in the high priced furniture shops is available for half the price. but finding these places in chatuchak is harder than locating bin laden.

there are frequent furniture exhibitions in bangkok , many companies displaying , again if you have the time its worth a trip.

there are some second hand furniture places dotted around the hua hin area , some unusual stuff can occasionally be uncovered that will need some time and elbow grease to restore them back to their former glory.

[lotus eater]

CM is the centre of the furniture industry in Thailand.

Apologies for the stupid question - I am just taking my first steps of the move to CM and don't yet know the city/area at all. Would it be equally impossible/stupid question to ask for a recommendation of a seller/manufacturer of quality teak, wood, rattan furniture - of thai inspired design? would expecting websites be too optimistic?

Or does such stuff get designed and marketted in Bangkok - even if the manufacture is in CM?

[johnnyk]

CM is the centre of the furniture industry in Thailand.

Apologies for the stupid question - I am just taking my first steps of the move to CM and don't yet know the city/area at all. Would it be equally impossible/stupid question to ask for a recommendation of a seller/manufacturer of quality teak, wood, rattan furniture - of thai inspired design? would expecting websites be too optimistic?

Or does such stuff get designed and marketted in Bangkok - even if the manufacture is in CM?

I'm far from an expert but my experience is that many of their websites aren't set up for people to reply and contain very little info other than a pic or three.

Thais are also not great at answering falang e-mail. My guess is they bin the e-mails because they don't want to lose face by having to ask someone for help in translating.

A lot of the Euro-style stuff at places like Index is veneer over sawdust which I don't think is going to hold up in the heat/humidity over time.

Design may be done in BKK but many many factories are in CM because that's where the wood is and its a traditional industry.

Maybe check out as many CM websites as you can or google CM +furniture or wait until you are in CM and ask around.

I'm pretty sure factories will sell directly to you (money #1).

[lotus eater]

johnnyk, thanks for the reply.

i'll do as you suggest. and i'm going to go there in a fornight though my primary purpose is to find a house, and anyway it'll be best to think about the furniture after one know the house it's going to go in.

i'm actually interested in thai styles, or something that's a 'fusion' of western and thai in design - as much as a purely western style furniture.

i imagine shops where i see something i like are going to tell me which factory made it for them. is there a concentration of factories/wholesalers etc in a particular area in the environs of chiang mai?

taxexile, thanks too for your ideas, some of sound exactly what i'm looking for. however havingraised my hopes you point out that the sources are far flung - hua hin, bangkok exhibitions - or pricey, or as hidden as bin laden. however i will follow up your leads - a bangkok trip is always on the cards anyway, and i'll time it with an exhibition or something. perhaps i'll be lucky and something like that will happen in chiang mai too.

i

[taxexile]

I'm pretty sure factories will sell directly to you (money #1).

factories do sell direct , and you can get the location of the factories from the exhibitors at the furniture exhibitions , or if you can read thai , you pass these direct selling factories or factories with stock clearance sales every now and again on the road.

the store selling antique chinese stuff in hua hin is not quite next to index , its about 6 doors north , (about 50 metres) and 2 or 3 doors south of "beautiful world". i dont think there is a sign on the shop.

[johnnyk]

In HH there's also a shop on the Pala-U road when it curves around to the right after the railway tracks and before it turns left again to go to Pala-U.

Its an open-air place on the left side, solid wood stuff, not antique but they did have tables made from old tree trunks and unvarnished which I kinda like for a rustic-look patio table.

[JimmyGreaves]

Where is a good place to buy bamboo/reed/cane stuff. 3 piece stuff?

[taxexile]

beautiful world , near index has a lot of that stuff.

there is also a small workshop/shop about 100 to 200 yards south of the end of the flyover coming into cha am from the north.

[jayhech]

Hua Hin is everything over-priced, from a dish of fried rice to land buying.

Better off shopping for your furniture in CM. A friend of mine owns a teakwood, rustic furniture shop on Petchkasem Rd., buys his pieces from local factories in CM and resells to make more than 100% profit in Hua Hin. Good business indeed! I hope he doesn't know I'm writing this

Hua Hin doesn't provide many local expertise except Thai sweets and some Thai silk. If you want to shop for unique and cheap stuff, look at somewhere else.

Sawaddee.

[johnnyk]

Hua Hin is everything over-priced, from a dish of fried rice to land buying.

Better off shopping for your furniture in CM. A friend of mine owns a teakwood, rustic furniture shop on Petchkasem Rd., buys his pieces from local factories in CM and resells to make more than 100% profit in Hua Hin. Good business indeed! I hope he doesn't know I'm writing this

Hua Hin doesn't provide many local expertise except Thai sweets and some Thai silk. If you want to shop for unique and cheap stuff, look at somewhere else.

Sawaddee.

Of course he makes a profit.

He is a business person who has invested time and money and taken a risk to operate a business. He is not a social welfare agency.

Of course one can get it cheaper in CM.

Now factor in the cost of return trip, accomodation, food, trying to find the factories and negotiating if you don't speak Thai and how much money is saved?

Yes, HH is not cheap, it keeps the riffraff out.

Personally, I have not noticed any price difference for fried rice between HH and Isaan.

[jayhech]

JohnnyK,

with all due respect, I hope you noticed I did mention "good business, indeed!". I do business as well and we're all grown-ups who see what business's there for.

Did I say stay away from Hua Hin? Maybe. After all, mine is just one opinion.

Best,

jayhech

[jayhech]

Johnnyk,

One more thing, I really cannot help but seeing the riff-raff floating, walking around Hua Hin more than you think the high price could keep them away. But, why should you keep them away, anyway? I thought Hua Hin is for everyone who can afford a visit.

Like any other tourist cities, Hua Hin is full of different people from different background. Yes, there are dishes of fried rice the same price like those in Isaan. However, as I personally live in Hua Hin but never have the chance to visit Isaan just yet, I don't really know where to hang out for the Isaan price in Hua Hin. How much is it anyway?

Respectfully,

jayhech

[johnnyk]

Johnnyk,

One more thing, I really cannot help but seeing the riff-raff floating, walking around Hua Hin more than you think the high price could keep them away. But, why should you keep them away, anyway? I thought Hua Hin is for everyone who can afford a visit.

Like any other tourist cities, Hua Hin is full of different people from different background. Yes, there are dishes of fried rice the same price like those in Isaan. However, as I personally live in Hua Hin but never have the chance to visit Isaan just yet, I don't really know where to hang out for the Isaan price in Hua Hin. How much is it anyway?

Respectfully,

jayhech

Hi jayhech,

My riffraff comment was tongue in cheek.

Riffraff are everywhere but HH has less than other places in Thailand I'm sure you would agree. Still, they have as much right as anyone else to be where they want, I just don't want to be around them when they drink too much and fight.

In truth, I don't find HH terribly expensive. Cheaper than BKK for many things but more expensive than Pattaya or upcountry. There are still guesthouses in HH for 300 baht a night and a plate of fried rice can be had for 35 baht or less and it can be gotten anywhere outside the main tourist areas in little Thai cafes and street vendors.

If you can find the time a trip to Isaan is well worth it. The scenery is not great (its a large plateau without outstanding geography) but the people are quite fine and welcoming. Its very hot because its far from water and the cuisine is even hotter. Mai phet in Isaan can still burn your lips off!

If you can go I would say a day or two in Khon Kaen is nice and Nong Khai is a very pleasant town. Decent hotels with a/c and good plumbing are 400-500 baht. Many friends of mine like Udon and RoiEt very much but I haven't been there. Good eating in Isaan markets and cafes for under 100 baht.

I'm not in HH right now but will be back so if you would like to have a beer sometime PM me.

Cheers

[swinging_rich]

good info here people, but can anyone recommend furniture shops for teak bedroom furniture in central bangkok ? Am there for 3 days next month and am looking to buy a whole house load and ship it back to the UK - does anyone know any stores that would arrange this or have experience of the cost of doing so ?

[klikster]

Hi, I wish to purchase some quality furniture ( I quite fancy the idea of Teakwood throughout) ... beds, wardrobes, side tables, dining table and chairs and sofa together with some patio furniture.

Has anyone got any suggestions, other than Home Pro and Tesco Lotus? Please give me an idea of quality and value for money, and a rough idea of where I can find them.

Many Thanks.

Take a trip to Den Chai (south of Phrae). You can actually get pre-built teakwood houses as well.

[saree]

Hi,

I am furniture designer and I don't think the furniture from CM. have a good quality.

[johnnyk]

Hi Saree,

Can you recommend where to find tradtional-style, solid wood furniture at a good quality/price?

Cheers

jk

[saree]

Hi Saree,

Can you recommend where to find tradtional-style, solid wood furniture at a good quality/price?

Cheers

jk

Dear JK.

I don't have any idea about what your need. If you need tradtional american-style like are Berhardt Americandraw or Manchester furniture. your can buy from factory outlet-sale at chonburi(those new furniture are not second hand but made like tradtional-style with solid rubberwood and veneer press on engneering wood

[johnnyk]

Hi Saree,

Can you recommend where to find tradtional-style, solid wood furniture at a good quality/price?

Cheers

jk

Dear JK.

I don't have any idea about what your need. If you need tradtional american-style like are Berhardt Americandraw or Manchester furniture. your can buy from factory outlet-sale at chonburi(those new furniture are not second hand but made like tradtional-style with solid rubberwood and veneer press on engneering wood

Thank you for the reply Saree.

I am looking for traditional Thai-style and solid wood, no presswood/veneer.

[Sheades]

Hi, I wish to purchase some quality furniture ( I quite fancy the idea of Teakwood throughout) ... beds, wardrobes, side tables, dining table and chairs and sofa together with some patio furniture.

Has anyone got any suggestions, other than Home Pro and Tesco Lotus? Please give me an idea of quality and value for money, and a rough idea of where I can find them.

Many Thanks.

hello

I searched high and low in Hua Hin and could not find anything that wouldnt fall aparto or that wasnt overpriced. I founf a company online that furnished my whole condo, with towels and toasters to the teak furniture. The woman was very helpful and my condo looks great. The price was very good, they do not have a shop but will send info via email. (She ordered a wardrobe to fit in the small bedroom). the company was called huahinfurniture.com

[Orangutan]

CM is the centre of the furniture industry in Thailand.

Apologies for the stupid question - I am just taking my first steps of the move to CM and don't yet know the city/area at all. Would it be equally impossible/stupid question to ask for a recommendation of a seller/manufacturer of quality teak, wood, rattan furniture - of thai inspired design? would expecting websites be too optimistic?

Or does such stuff get designed and marketted in Bangkok - even if the manufacture is in CM?

Go to Hang Dong. 20 min. from downtown CM.

-O

[Topgun51]

Just arrived back from Hua Hin with all the furniture information I could get. Spent 10 days travelling/visiting EVERYBODY; Beautiful World, Index, Winner, Cabinet, Asian Living, W.O.L.F etc. Took photoes, calculated and compared prices and 1000 of other things. Our only purpose of this trip was to find and order furnitures to be delivered to the new house in March 2008. So, what was the result?

Winner - no thank you!

Index - could hardly speak/understand english and was not very interested either

Cabinet - too eager to sell, not sure of the quality. Looked OK from the outside but al veneer inside.

Beautiful World - good stuff, reasonable prises, positive management, friendly. Will sure go back there.

Asian Living - a little too asian for out taste

W.O.L.F - a lot of nice things, especially very good beds! Lots of very nice lamps. Will also sure go back.

BUT - bought all outdoor and indoor rattan; sofas, armchairs & tables plus dining table & chairs at the "rattan factory" northe of Cha Am.

And - thanks to this site we found our way to Siam Old Teak! What a gold mine! We designed all the other furnitures; wardrobes, mirrors, beds, tables, TV-bench, kitchen cabinet etc - everyting in old teak, handmade & beautiful - to less of the prices compared to W.O.L.F and Beautiful World, who was the two only shops we could consider but in turn all their futintures was in rubber wood!? And we got the same, no better! In old teak, personally designed and wondefully handcrafted!

So in March we will move in to a very personal designed house, just as we wanted, and to a very good price; really below our budget!

[klikster]

There is a big furniture shop near the Burmese Border at Dan Singkorn (km marker 331 ?) that has some pretty nice stuff. Not teak, but nice wood. Not sure about the price comparisons. They say they deliver locally.

[klikster]

In the North, lots of basic design teak furniture mfg at Den Chai, south of Phrae. Even complete Thai style teak houses.

[thaiowl]

I went to Cabinet last week and was pretty impressed. They can interior design my condo and I may even buy some furniture from them, even though most of it is rubber wood. I will try Siam Old Teak as well.

Does any anyone know of a decent interior design company in Hua Hin?

[Burgernev]

We furnish all our places with Beautiful World furniture.

They've got a big diversity of styles, its all good quality wood and looks modern and stylish, if that's your taste ofcourse.

It's not cheap but its not expensive either for the quality you get, and they're always open to negotiation above the advertised discounts.

Staff and service is first class compared to most other places and they always deliver on time so far.

Other places:

W.O.L.F. used them before, quality wasn't there, it was 2 months late and customer service was abysmal. That was farangs.

Asian Living, great solid stuff a bit more traditional and less contemporary/fancy, but small selection and v. expensive. Swedish guy that runs it is very professional and helpful though.

Index/Winner - two bob, period.

Cabinet Company - good for kitchens for me (although some have have bad experiences), don't rate their furniture at all or prices.

Siam Old Teak - never been yet but heard good reports. Solid, sturdy stuff and reasonably prices people say. Worth a look.

The only other place I'd recommend is SB Furniture in back of HomePro, they have some decent attractive stuff, again quite contemporary/modern if that's you're taste. They're cheaper than Beautiful World although not the same 'solid wood' for want of a better description.

But this is just my opinion/taste (or lack of), they're all around town so go take a look and judge yourself.

Burgernev