Conference moira::parenting_v3

    Bonnie,
    
    Not sure where you're located, but the Baby Specialties store on
    Grove Street in Worcester, MA has expanded their line to include
    juvenile furniture.  They have quite a nice selection the last
    time I looked and may be worth a check for you.
    
    The other place that I like for a line of furniture that you can
    expand on is THIS END UP - the crate style furniture.  This stuff
    is real rugged and they have all kinds of things in the line -
    from bunkbeds to desks to bookcases to child's table and chairs.
    However, it isn't very feminine, if that's one of your criteria.
    
    I love the "pickled" furniture - very country so can blend well
    with the antiques.  You could do it yourself on the unfinished
    furniture.   Minwax has a product out now for just this purpose;
    it works quite nice.
    
    We went the antique route for Jason.    We collect turn-of-the-century
    (or thereabouts) oak pieces, so we got him a 5 drawer curved front
    bureau and a 3 drawer flat bureau.   We don't spend alot on this 
    stuff (each was under $300) so if gets messed up, it's not the
    end of the world.   His crib (and bed) were both new and also oak.
    The other pieces (toy box, book case) are children's pieces in 
    bright colors (i.e. formica-type stuff over particle board).
    
    Gosh, I'm rambling.   Good luck,   Carol

    I second the THIS END UP furniture and agree that although it's
    not very feminine, it is extremly rugged and will last a good long
    time.  A friend of mine has thier furniture in her living room and
    also in both of her son's bedrooms.  Her sons are 16 & 18 and have
    a lot of friends that are always at the house and can be pretty
    rough.  Her furniture is at least three years old and still looks
    as good as the day she bought it.  She also mentioned to me that
    it was quite inexpensive also.
    
    Lori B.

    
    I've seen "This End Up" furniture at Pheasant Lane Mall in Nashua, NH. 
    I agree that it's reasonably priced and sturdy as heck, but you're
    right--I am looking for something a little more feminine.  Not
    frilly--I don't want white french provincial (remember that stuff--with
    the gold inlay and the canopy beds--I thought that stuff was THE MOST
    GEORGEOUS when I was a kid--my mother always thought it was
    hideous--thank goodness!).  Anyway, I am looking for furniture that
    would be unisex or a bit feminine (I consider pickled furniture to be a
    bit feminine--some might disagree)--the headboard on her bed is white
    iron--and we do have an old house (large room--high ceiling--window
    jogs--intricate baseboard and ceiling moldings...want something in the
    traditional vein that would go with the mood of the house).
    
    B.
    
    

    
    Okay, I have another suggestion but I'm still not sure where 
    you're from.   There is a place in Cherry Valley (west of
    Worcester) called Sargeant's Country Barn.  They have a HUGE
    selection of traditional/colonial furniture (oak, cherry, pine, etc)
    for both the living room and bedroom - and the prices are 
    excellent!  The basement of the place also has unfinished furniture 
    (mostly pine).
    
    Sounds like the pickled furniture would work real well with the
    white iron headboard.
    
    Carol
    

    I'm another voter for This End Up, my entire living room is in it as
    well as my bed. With a greyhound who sleeps on anything that has
    cushions, I have found it to be highly durable and well worth the
    relatively inexpensive cost.

    There is a store on the upper level of the Pheasant Lane Mall which is
    a branch off of This End Up (can't think of the name right now). It's
    basically the same furniture but sanded down and stained whites and
    greens I think. They have a children's section set up at the back of the
    store. You might want to check them out.
    
			Wendy
    

I looked briefly at This End Up and felt that the prices were absurdly high
for furniture that looked like it was made from discarded packing crates.

			Steve

    If you're worried about the finish chipping, get a polyurethane
    finish.  That stuff is indestructable.  I expect that if Nashua
    ever gets nuked, they will find in the blasted rubble of our house
    the polyurethane shell of Steven's dresser . . .
    
    --bonnie
    
    p.s. I always wanted one of those canopied French provinical beds,
    so when Kat was little I splurged and bought her one.  After only
    a couple of years she quit using it (ref. squirming note) and now
    Steven's got it.  He doesn't use the canopy, but he loves the gold
    trim....

    I purchased a bunk bed set and a 5 drawer dresser 2 years ago for my
    boys room.  Now that they each have their own room, the set is in my 3
    year old's room.  It is like the "THIS END UP", however, it is by some
    _____Crate company.  It is heavy, durable, well put together, nice
    looking and well worth the cash (I can't remember the exact price but I
    do remember  being surprised that it was ALOT cheaper than the
    "original" TEU stuff.
    
    The store I got them from was Newman's in Haverhill, MA.  I'm sorry I
    am terrible with directions, but I know that if you come into Haverhill
    center from 125 it is just to the left of the huge metal bridge.  It
    has been years since I was there. 
    
    A friend saw my set and wanted to get one for her 8-10 yr old girls,
    but ended up with something different - she remarked too about Newman's
    prices.
    
    Check it out - I've been pleased with their offerings!
    
    Weird thing is - the store looks like you are walking into a Woolworth
    or something - the furniture is upstairs and they have loads of kids
    clothes on the street level that are also inexpensive.
    
    -sandy
    

    Check out Boston Interiors.  They have stores in Brookline Village,
    Hanover and on route 9 near Shopper's World (not sure if it's in
    Framingham or one of the surrounding towns).
    
    I found a nice put-it-together-yourself wardrobe and noticed that they
    had a good selection of children's/juvenile furniture.  Their prices
    were better than most I've seen.
    
    If you get the Sunday "Globe" the magazine section always has ads for
    furniture places.  
    
    
    Judi
    

    I like "old" stuff, too and did my house all in Shaker.  There's a
    place in Merrimack, N.H. called the Yield House and you can buy
    furniture (all styles, mostly Shaker) either finished or unfinished
    and mostly in pine.  They've just recently come out with children's
    furniture and a lot of it is really nice.  And it's not only for
    the bedroom, either.  They've got a beautiful Shaker style high chair.
    I've got a lot of stuff from this place (pencil-post bed, quilt rack,
    numerous trestle tables and end tables, lamps, etc.) and have no
    complaints with it.  You can go directly to the store or get the
    stuff through mail order.  I think it's reasonably priced...
    
    - Kathryn
    

    Unfortunately, I can't remember the name of the furniture store,
    but plan on going back there to get Kevin a bedroom set in acouple
    of months. (So, I can set up the nursery for our new little one
    due in the spring).  It's on Rte 9 in Framingham, Ma. on the east bound
    side just before Chevy's?? (Used to be Chateau DeVille) and Caldor's.
    
    Lot's of children styled bedrooms, made from ash, oak or pine. 
    The quality was great, so the prices reflected the the quality in
    the wood and the craftmanship.  
    
    You may find something there, get the maker and style numbers then
    call one of the discount furniture stores in Gardner and see what
    kind of a price they will offer it at.  We've done this with several
    pieces of furniture for our home.
    
    Good luck,
    
    Pat k.
    

    First, I'm in Worcester County, is there a This End Up near us? That
    could be anywhere from Framingham, to Springfield or even into CT or
    RI.
    
    Our scheme for cheap but looks good and holds up has been Levitz
    Furniture, affordable, and you carry it home unless you want to pay for
    delivery, usually available immediately.  Or Rotman's in Worcester,
    they carry pretty much the same things as Levitz, generally in the same
    price range, delivery is free and some towns get Saturday deliveries!
    We got a couple pieces for AJ in the kid's furniture section, mostly
    because each piece runs under $100, and it a pretty stable stock so we
    could buy a piece this month, and go back for another coordinating
    piece next month without worrying that it will be discontinued. (Watch
    the Sunday papers for these bedroom sets, available a piece at a time)
    I have heard some local people talk about a place in Worcester called
    Rainbow Furniture, near College Square off 290.  I have no personal
    experience, just that friends have mentioned fabulous prices, and
    fairly good construction.  We recently bought AJ a "mates bed", a twin
    bed with 2 drawers under, at Sears in their closeout section, we were
    able to order it in the same light oak as the bureau we'd gotten at
    Rotmans'
    
    Lyn
    (the oringinal bargain hunter!)

    I know of two "This End Up" stores in Worcester County (MA).  One is in
    the SearsTown Mall in Leominster and the other is in the Greendale Mall
    in Worcester.
    
                                                    Tracy