What name brands actually reflect quality?

[Anonymous]

So there are a lot of posts about different expensive items, but I have found that very few brands actually reflect a high standard of quality in their items, and are more of a status symbol than anything. This is particularly true for clothes.

One clothing brand that I think always has good-quality items is Carter's baby clothes, for example. I honestly can't think of many others.

What brands do you think actually reflect some craftsmanship and quality, especially in proportion to their price? I'm talking anything, especially home items (thinking of making purchases for a new home).

[Anonymous]

LL Bean

Stickley

[Anonymous]

For home stuff, I honestly can't think of any. I've worked in many the luxury kitchen where the Wolf or the La Cornue was either on the fritz or just a pain in the ass. I've honestly never seen a broken Kenmore stove, you know? My Dyson lasted less than a year; my hoover is on year 5 and going strong. My JCP sheets outlasted my four-times-the-price Lauren sheets by years... And so on.

There are some clear brand standouts, though: Coca-Cola. Philadelphia cream cheese. No substitutes will be accepted.

[Anonymous]

BMW

[Anonymous]

Dawn detergent... sounds silly but it's the best.

Same goes for Tide.

Neutrogena

I'm getting off track here. I know you asked for home goods, but I can't think of any!

[Anonymous]

Lasko fans have outlasted any other brand I've had. The motors on other fans have burned out. Lasko just keeps going strong.

Garnet Hill has very nice quality sheets, blankets, comforters, etc.

[Anonymous]

It is object-specific and you have to do your research on consumer websites to really educate yourself. It takes time, but it is worth it.

I was dreaming of Miele appliances, for instance, but could only afford a Samsung French door fridge and Samsung washer and dryer - research showed me that some of their models were very appreciated, and after a year I find the quality-price ratio is excellent.

I did splurge on wallpaper (Nina Campbell, shipped from England), fireplace tiles (hand-made Dutch scenes from the Netherlands) and my beloved walnut kitchen countertop ($$$).

Less toxic Aura paint from Benjamin Moore, the pricier paint.
Bath fixtures from the more reasonably-priced and perfectly working Kohler instead of others.
Organic bedding from Pottery barn is great quality and design for the price. Can't say the same for the rest of PB...

Now for clothes, I prefer to buy the best quality (Patagonia, Petit Bateau, Jacadi, Tilley hats etc) but used!
eBay and consignment stores are wonderful resources.

[Anonymous]

Pottery barn throws are amazing. I tried to buy cheaper ones and ended up returning them.

[Anonymous]

BMW - are you kidding? the repairs ...

[Anonymous]

Corelle dishes. Have been using the same cereal bowls for -- no exaggeration -- 33 years.

[Anonymous]

if we are on dishes, wedgewood Nantucket Basket series ... white with woven edge. Midrange expensive for china -- so TOUGH - will last for generations. So light and great and beautiful. Have purchased for many brides.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is object-specific and you have to do your research on consumer websites to really educate yourself. It takes time, but it is worth it.

I was dreaming of Miele appliances, for instance, but could only afford a Samsung French door fridge and Samsung washer and dryer - research showed me that some of their models were very appreciated, and after a year I find the quality-price ratio is excellent.

I did splurge on wallpaper (Nina Campbell, shipped from England), fireplace tiles (hand-made Dutch scenes from the Netherlands) and my beloved walnut kitchen countertop ($$$).

Less toxic Aura paint from Benjamin Moore, the pricier paint.
Bath fixtures from the more reasonably-priced and perfectly working Kohler instead of others.
Organic bedding from Pottery barn is great quality and design for the price. Can't say the same for the rest of PB...

Now for clothes, I prefer to buy the best quality (Patagonia, Petit Bateau, Jacadi, Tilley hats etc) but used!
eBay and consignment stores are wonderful resources.

Kohler actually makes some really nice fixture.

I also agree with LL Bean.

Add to this:
Frye boots
Honda
Lands End sheets
Keen shoes (for kids)

[Anonymous]

You do realize that children are not in their size for long, and that unless you have twelve children, all of the same gender, you don't need to pay top dollar for children's clothes, right? In addition, you do realize that children do not care what name brand they are wearing, and that if you are hanging around such shallow moms (or worse are one of them) then you need to reassess for your and your child's sake? Right?

[Anonymous]

Benjamin Moore paint
Thomasville furniture
Restoration Hardware
Sunbrella fabrics
Tide
Lubriderm
Apple
Honda
Ikea- meatballs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

You do realize that children are not in their size for long, and that unless you have twelve children, all of the same gender, you don't need to pay top dollar for children's clothes, right? In addition, you do realize that children do not care what name brand they are wearing, and that if you are hanging around such shallow moms (or worse are one of them) then you need to reassess for your and your child's sake? Right?

Whoa there, Nellie. OP was asking about home goods.

Next time, decaf.