Whether they're looking for a lamp or a chaise-longue, smart shoppers are turning to the internet for their furniture. Just check the small print before you click.
THANKS TO THE INTERNET, shopping for furniture around the world has never been more accessible, or more tempting - it is almost as easy to buy a sofa in London than to pop out to the Hollywood Road for one. However, buyer beware - shipping costs vary enormously from site to site.
If money is no object, bookmark potter Jonathan Adler (
www.jonathanadler.com), whose foray into furniture design once had buyers from Barneys New York going gaga over his kitsch ceramic lamps and mod-inspired rugs. His 'happy, handcrafted and luxe' designs have appeared on the set of Sex and the City, so if you're looking to add a touch of Carrie Bradshaw to your home, Adler's whimsical vision might be just what you need. Shipping rates start at US$111 for small home accessories. For bigger furniture pieces, the shipping cost is by 'request' - in other words, it will cost more than the items themselves.
Those who can't justify the extortionate postage prices should look to the more flexible Icone - Design for Living (
www.icone.co.uk). Icone is an innovative online store featuring lighting and home accessories from leading brands such as Flos, Tom Dixon, Nigella Lawson and Allegra Hicks. Shipping costs vary, but the company absorbs as much of the cost as it can. If the order is big enough, shipping might even be free.
For those after a quick buy who don't have the patience to negotiate shipping costs, log on to CB2 (
www.cb2.com), a great online alternative to Ikea. But be warned: the playful site makes everything from the wall tealight candleholders (US$19.95) to the splash lights (US$9.95) irresistible, so double check your shopping cart before you pull out the plastic.
If sleek and shiny is more your thing, Boltz (
www.boltz.com) makes steel furniture reinforced with style. Boltz offers solid strong pieces for the bedroom, office and home theatre - all flat-packed for easy shipping. The music-obsessed should invest in the standing CD-600 rack (US$219), a Boltz best-seller which holds 600 CDs. Shipping to Hong Kong is automatically 25 percent of the total purchase cost.
The internet can be a great place to save some cash - if you know where to look. Europe by Net (
www.europebynet.com) has been providing home owners with 'serious price saving' on popular European home-furnishing brands - everything from Flexform to Cappellini - since 1999. Despite the shipping costs, savings for certain items can be up to 40 per cent off the retail price. If you're looking for something unique, be prepared to splurge. Blend (
www.blend-design-store.co.uk), a furniture store in Brighton on Britain's south coast, is just one of the many online retailers attempting to furnish homes across the globe. Chock full of the quirky and unusual, Blend is a shift away from the fashionable minimalist decor of the past decade. Check out the Spiral wallpaper by Erica Wakerly for #39 ($557) per 10-metre roll, or Matthew Ridsdale's suspended bed (#2,350), which promises a more peaceful sleep.
Richard Ward of WAWA (
www.wawa.co.uk) has mastered sophisticated cool with his bespoke hand-made sofas. His designs range from the ultra modern to the classically regal and he has already gained a following in Europe and Singapore.
All furniture is made from solid beech or birch plywood frames and upholstered with a range of modern fabrics including Sahco Hesselein, Andrew Martin and Kvadrat. Fabric samples can be mailed on request, or you can supply your own. Average lead time for a seat or sofa is six to eight weeks, but for the quality of the product, it's well worth the wait. You'll have to enquire about shipping costs though - and we all know what that means.
