About to make a major new furniture purchase? Don't. At least, not until you've studied our guide to the best American furniture brands.
These are the top picks of the nation's interior designers, the brands they recommend and return to over and over again when they're furnishing their own homes or completing interior design schemes for their clients. So if you're looking for well-designed, long lasting furniture for your home, allow our industry experts to give you the inside story. They're ready to share their favorite American brands that you should trust no matter what your design style.
Some of these companies are already household names, at least in the interiors world, others you may not have heard of before. But that's what's great about insider knowledge, it helps you find something different and, thanks to the interior designers' recommendations, something that's well made, beautifully designed and will give you pleasure for years to come.
Check out our A-Z (or almost to Z) of the best American furniture brands according to design experts.
A. Rudin
Since 1912, and for four generations, A. Rudin has been a family owned business. From its Los Angeles base, the company's skilled craftspeople produce elegant and enduring pieces using traditional techniques. The range encompasses upholstered furniture of all kinds: sofas, chairs, beds, along with stylish case goods, and all can be customized, whether that's different dimensions, finish or design details.
Massachusetts-based interior designer Vani Sayeed says 'A. Rudin is a classic American brand. Their quality and style are exceptional. In terms of my favorite pieces, No. 591 and No. 692 are super comfortable chairs. I also really like No. 2881 in a sofa or sectional.'
Pictured above, is the brand's No. 591 armchair, as specified by Vani for a client's recent living room redesign.
And Objects
Now with a New York showroom, but founded in London in 2015, And Objects aims to create furniture and objets that combine a sense of purpose and belonging with style and fun. Co-founders Martin Brudnizki and Nick Jeanes bring together their 'love for materiality and technical detailing with exquisite finishes and a flare for the unexpected.'
The brand is a favorite for interior designer Melissa Urdang Bodie, co-founder of Melissa & Miller, who says: 'With beauty, frivolity, boldness and technical perfection, And Objects are unique, individual pieces with a sense of personality. Their Easton chair (pictured) is a favorite, due to its simple but bold approach in color selection and use. The leather is of the highest quality, and makes for a perfect dining chair. We love the fern and teal combo.'
Chaddock Home
When an interior designer rates a furniture brand so highly that they agree to collaborate to produce a licensed collection, that says it all. Designer Benjamin Johnston says Chaddock is one of his all-time favorite brands and is delighted to have designed the Gaia sofa (pictured above) along with a range of other pieces for Chaddock, inspired by midcentury forms.
'Chaddock's commitment to American manufacturing, customization and quality is unparalleled and it’s what makes them a preferred vendor for our team and our clients. Nearly 90% of the brand's products are designed and made in their home base of Morganton, North Carolina, and 100% domestically finished. Those are some very impressive numbers and ones you don’t see often, especially in the age of fast furniture!' says Benjamin. 'I often recommend Chaddock for not only their superior quality but also their diversity of product and the endless opportunities they offer for customization.'
Community Manufacturing
When New York-based interior designer Christin Farrar is working on a village house redesign in Southampton or the dunes of Amagansett, Community Manufacturing is usually her first choice for furniture.
All the brand's pieces are bench made in Los Angeles, and are currently available to trade only, ordered through their 'community' of interior designers. 'Their pieces are the embodiment of casual coastal cool,' says Christin, 'and are the perfect option when I need a coastal look that feels relaxed but more considered. Every piece is handmade in house and they are wonderful to work with on custom pieces. We recently purchased their new Pickering coffee table for clients and I never tire of the Vander bench, pictured above, Everyone loves it when they see it in person!'
Donghia
'Whenever we specify furniture pieces for projects and explain the rationale for our selections to our clients, we always emphasize the importance of not just form and aesthetics, but quality in construction,' says Tanner Morgan of Morgan Madison Design. 'Specifically, the value of well-made, handmade furniture items that lend heirloom status in a home.'
One of Tanner's favorite American furniture partners is Donghia. The brand is known for its often iconic – always classic – pieces with visual weight or punch, and an architectural harmony to their form that makes a major statement in a room.
'We find that the Donghia collection can run the gamut,' adds Tanner. 'The elegant Lana chair (pictured above), is so pretty in the round. While the versatile and customizable Manhattan sectional is the go-to for many of the larger martini lounge-like areas we design. The craftsmanship of Donghia pieces is off the scale – from hand-carved frames to eight-way hand-tied stringing in the decking. Many pieces are handed down from one generation to the next, with only a change in upholstery.'
East Otis
The brainchild of husband and wife team Emma and Will Haughery, East Otis Studio designs and handcrafts contemporary furniture with a small team in Lancaster, PA. They custom make sculptural designs and more utilitarian pieces in wood from domestic US grown ethically sourced, sustainable lumber yards and don’t use exotic or imported woods. All designs are beautifully finished with simple but unexpected details.
Interior designer Melissa Urdang Bodie, co-founder of Melissa + Miller Interiors is a big fan of the brand's designs and ethos. 'East Otis Studio makes heirloom pieces that are built to age through every season of one’s life,' says Melissa. 'And the detailing is always exquisite.'
Egg Collective
From their base in the Tribeca neighborhood of New York, Egg Collective creates sculptural handmade pieces in natural materials and puts community, quality and stewardship of the natural world at the company's core.
Sarah Giesenhagen, founder and creative director of The Bureau, lists Egg Collective among her best American furniture brands. 'The powerhouse all-female team have backgrounds in art, architecture, and woodworking, and are a great showcase of a female-run creative business. They also create fantastic and beautiful coffee tables options consistently.' says Sarah. 'I really like their Fortune Tables (pictured) and their upholstered pieces are delightful and gorgeous, too.'
Gentner Design
Where design and art meet you'll find Gentner Design. The label's groundbreaking furniture designs are the work of Christopher Gentner, an authority on metal fabrication and furniture based in Chicago, who incidentally created the stunning new gates to the city's Frank Lloyd Wright Robie House.
Gentner's furniture uses metal as a base combined with other natural materials including glass, leather and wood. Designer Tanner Morgan says: 'We can't get enough of their furniture and spectacular line of accessories that are incredibly sculptural and truly unique. The Semainier (pictured above), with its statuesque proportions, is one of the most elegant pieces of furniture we’ve seen.'
Hickory Chair
With more than 100 years of furniture making history at its North Carolina home, Hickory Chair is the place to go to find well made pieces for traditional interiors.
Designer Vani Sayeed agrees, and says 'The 9th Street collection in particular is beautiful and ergonomically designed we often spec this sofa and sofa-chair, I love the transitional look of all the Hickory Chair furniture.'
Holly Hunt
Founder and CEO of her eponymous company since 1983, Holly Hunt champions good American design for discerning people. The showroom experience is part of the brand's USP, with just as much care taken over displaying the furniture as making it. Consistently producing classic furniture in quality materials – no wonder Holly Hunt is a favorite for two of the designers we spoke to.
Vani Sayeed says: 'Holly Hunt furniture is all about stunning lines and is beautifully crafted with exceptional detailing. Our favorites are the Rhone sofa for its comfort and beautiful lines and the Caldera cocktail table for its gorgeous organic form.'
Tanner Morgan adds: 'With its undeniable quality and classic yet modern design approach, their pieces typically complement and enhance any space and are a go-to for me on all kinds of projects.'
John Pomp at Thomas Lavin
Describing himself as a design-driven artisan manufacturer, John Pomp combines molten glass, warped metal, and refracted light in his organic furniture and lighting collections.
Interior designer Denise Morrison recognizes great American design when she sees it, since she heads her own homegrown furniture company, House of Morrison. She says John Pomp's The Warp console (pictured above) sums up what's great about his pieces, and points people to The John Pomp Gallery at Thomas Lavin, for a curated collection of the brand's furniture and lighting. 'This deliberate selection ensures that each item is chosen with meticulous attention to design integrity and quality, appealing to those with a discerning eye for fine furnishings,' says Denise. 'Their adept use of metal and glass in their designs exemplifies their skill in blending materials harmoniously.'
Kalon Studios
Next stop Los Angeles, and the calm, quiet and successful blend of form and function that Kalon Studios so thoughtfully creates.
'Simplicity and elegance is not always easy to achieve,' says designer Sarah Giesenhagen, 'but with Kalon's beautifully crafted pieces I think they do it. Nothing feels lacking in thoughtfulness and nothing feels overdone. And for anyone that has shopped for a crib, their Caravan crib stands out as beautiful and practical, and reassuringly, it has an organic plant-based finish.'
Kin & Company
Kin & Company is the Brooklyn design practice of cousins Joseph Vidich, a Columbia Universty-trained architect, and Kira de Paola, an interior designer with a background in high-end furniture.
'Their edgy, sculptural pieces make for a statement in any space with their beautiful and interesting proportions,' says Melissa Urdang Bodie. 'They thrive on material experimentation, and their steel Thin Chair (pictured above) and Table 1 explore the line between form and function. The table is one of my favorite pieces, and one I often specify for clients.'
Konekt
New York brand Konekt is another of Melissa's recommendations. Founded by a mother-daughter-duo, this modern furniture and lighting studio combines unexpected materials like horsehair and chainmail with traditional ones, highlighting the juxtaposition of contrasting textures and finishes.
'Konekt furniture is meticulously designed and crafted.' says Melissa. 'We picked their Armor pendant light for one of our clients at the beach. It's so beautiful – inventive and classic at the same time.'
Kravet
Another American furniture company that comes highly recommended by designer Vani Sayeed is Kravet. 'This multi-generational all-encompassing brand is a go-to for us at Vani Sayeed Studios,' she says. 'What I like best in their repertoire is the company's Tailor range and its offering of various options to customize the furniture in both case goods and upholstered.'
Pictured above, in one of Vani's recent projects, are a customized Tailor sofa and chair from Kravet's Tailor range in their I Create Collection.
Lawson Fenning
The LF Collection from Lawson-Fenning is a great California-based brand that works well for design enthusiasts. 'Each piece feels inspired and organically modern with traditional detailing,' says interior designer Christin Farrar. 'I am always looking for brands that can live both on the Upper East side of Manhattan and on the beach in Long Island, and the LF Collection is a go-to for my studio. My favorite pieces include the Maker’s Day Bed and the Prospect Coffee Table (pictured above). They are room makers!'
Lawson-Fenning is on Denise Morrison's list too. 'The appeal begins with the fact that they're a designer-driven brand. This results in designs that are cohesive, thoughtful, and infused with a unique perspective. They combine vintage charm with modern flair, offering pieces that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also imbued with creativity, quality craftsmanship, and a sense of individuality.' Signature pieces for Denise include the Ojai Lounge Chair, Curved Back Swivel Chair, and Portola Lounge Chair
McKinnon and Harris
With an outstanding reputation for quality outdoor furniture, and the just launched Scout range of folding yacht furniture, McKinnon and Harris are the high performers when it comes to high performance, comfortable, and long-lasting pieces.
For designer Tanner Morgan, they are the go-to brand. 'McKinnon and Harris are our most tried and trusted American-made outdoor furniture line,' she says. 'In particular, the Beaufort (pictured) and Duval seating collections have just the classic-with-a-twist vibe we lean into when designing all spaces. The indestructible nature and extreme comfort of their pieces, combined with their high level of design, allows us to create outdoor spaces that are extensions of indoor spaces; spaces that our clients gravitate toward even as the temperatures begin to dip.'
Mous
Third-generation furniture designers and siblings Tanner Moussa and Mackenzie Lewis are the creatives behind the fresh Mous line-up of contemporary case goods.
Interior designer Vani is a big fan, and says: 'The modern sensuous aesthetic of this fairly new American brand has captivated us, we really like the Pi chair, Ellipse side table (pictured above) and Cassini end table.'
Muskoka Living
Muskoka Living is based in California, where the company designs and builds furniture that embodies the region's reputation for elegant yet relaxed style. It describes its furniture as having an 'easy-going aesthetic with a soft edge', and it's all made to order, and is fully customizable.
Designer Christin Farrar was thrilled when Fayette Collective brought a pop-up Muskoka Living to the Hamptons for the summer. 'The show room is inspirational and their line is instantly recognizable yet so distinct – casual and playful but still sophisticated and well edited,' says Christin. 'My favorite pieces are the Macy counter stool (above), and the Sag Harbor outdoor chair and ottoman. And although it's all made in LA it translates well to the East Coast in more transitional and modern homes.'
Nat Fry Woodworking
Using traditional joinery techniques that ensure each piece is built to last, Nat Fry is a custom woodworker who creates handmade pieces of furniture in his woodshop in Willistown, Pennsylvania. He uses ethically-sourced hardwoods such as ash, walnut, cherry and oak.
He enjoys working with clients to create bespoke furniture and recently worked with designer Melissa Urdang Bodie. 'Co-designed by us and Nat, we recently incorporated a custom cabinet/console, similar to the one pictured, in natural walnut with cane doors for a project near Philadelphia. It looks amazing.' says Melissa.
Quintus
In addition to making exceptionally stylish case goods, seating and tables, Quintus is one of the most reliable furniture companies in the US, says designer Christin Farrar. 'I can always count on them to deliver quality products on schedule. Some of my favorite pieces include the Zoey Desk (pictured) which I used in a handsome home office in Manhattan and the Jacosta game chair which is equally elegant and comfortable.'
Rose Tarlow Melrose House
When Rose Tarlow Antiques evolved into Rose Tarlow Melrose House in the mid 1980s, the brand quickly developed a reputation for well designed and well made traditional pieces of furniture. Taking inspiration from classic antiques, but reinterpreting them by playing with materials and scale, Rose Tarlow creates iconic furniture and homewares with enduring appeal.
Tanner Morgan loves the brand. 'Rose Tarlow is a must any time we are tackling a country or lake house. Their four-poster beds are unparalleled and the William cabinet (pictured) is a stunner of massive proportions.'
Denise Morrison rates the brand very highly too. 'Designer-driven, Rose Tarlow is favored for its intricate details and high level of craftsmanship. These qualities not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of each piece but also signify a dedication to quality and timeless design,' says Denise. 'I have a lot of time for their textiles, and the Paco Lounge Chair and Ezio Barstool are real signature pieces.'
Stephen Kenn
Los Angeles based Stephen Kenn and his partner Beks run his namesake company. Stephen's creative pieces span clothing and travel goods, as well as furniture and furnishings.
'He is always testing new things, products and stunning rich materials,' says designer Sarah Giesenhagen. 'A lot of the time they are vintage or repurposed. He has a background in fashion design as well so look out for great detailing with those materials.
'I would recommend any of their upholstered pieces, they have a new one coming out now called Ease, and the Inheritance sofa (pictured) is a true classic Stephen Kenn design, but they really do great work across the span. They are great cultivators of the design industry and make well designed, high quality pieces, and they deliver them with professionalism and fun!'
Thomas Hayes Studio
Thomas Hayes Studio is another great contact from Denise Morrison's address book. This Hollywood company custom makes original pieces that capture the essence of Brazilian midcentury designs and Modernism.
'This special brand distinguishes itself through its commitment to creating a small collection of beautifully designed, high-quality pieces,' says designer Denise. 'With a focus on craftsmanship, attention to detail, and a distinctive style, Thomas Hayes appeals to clients who value elegance and craftsmanship.'
Stand-out signature pieces include the Iron and Rolled Counter Stool (pictured), the Strap Stool, and the enigmatic quadrant-shaped Caiu Bench.
Verellen
North Carolina brand Verellen has earned quite a reputation for its luxurious, clean-lined furniture that will enhance any space. Christin Farrar discovered Verellen’s striking silhouettes in 2012 and has been sourcing them ever since.
'Their exceptional attention to detail, perfectionism, and craftsmanship gives a bespoke quality to every piece,' says Christin, 'and Verellen’s flexibility in customization make it a great choice for my clients in New York City or the Hamptons. After installing it a couple of times, I still love the Barcelona table (pictured) – in every finish! It always looks beautiful as an entry table, game table or dining table.'
Waka Waka
Shin Okuda of Waka Waka turns humble plywood into utilitarian works of art. If that sounds like a contradiction in terms, well that just about sums up the ethos of this LA-based studio. Their handmade furniture is simple in form but plays with proportion and interesting details, like the Cylinder Back Armchair, pictured.
Designer Sarah Giesenhagen likes the Waka Waka approach and products. 'This family-run business oozes with creative energy and levity, all while being kind, engaging people,' she says. 'Their plywood pieces have a subtle 70s/80s Japanese post-modern quirky edge. If you have something in your home by Waka Waka it’s like having an easy going but stylish friend around all of the time!'
