I’m not going to say a WORD about what a bummer it was to return to 40-degree weather and several inches of snow from the 80-degree heaven that was Miami Beach…
Not one word.
Before we left, I had the opportunity to spend some time in CB2 on Lincoln Road – right after I popped into the Jonathan Adler store.
CB2 has even fewer stores across the country than Jonathan Adler, so I hazard to guess that many of us have never seen the goods in person.
But we’re all familiar with the catalog, because, well, CB2 is the inexpensive, modernist younger sister of Crate & Barrel, and they keep better track of our addresses than the federal government.
In general, I’m a fan of CB2.
The prices are outstanding. The furniture is generally well constructed. And the smaller scale makes CB2 the perfect resource for apartment dwellers or teeny historic house owners. (The houses, not the owners. I don’t care what size the owners are.) CB2’s aesthetic is modern, but the pieces are versatile enough to mix with more traditional pieces – even antiques.
But I understand that it’s a leap of faith to order big, pain-in-neck-to-return items you haven’t seen in person. So let me tell you where CB2 shines and where you’ll want to be careful.
CONSOLE TABLES – EXCELLENT
Small console tables are notoriously difficult to find. Let alone inexpensive, clean lined ones. The Gear ($249) and Smart ($199) console tables are fantastic.
COFFEE TABLES – ALSO EXCELLENT
I’ve been ordering from CB2 since their first catalog popped through my mail slot. (The Peekaboo Coffee Table, to be specific. And it’s great, except that I trip over it all the time, because it’s Lucite and I don’t see it. But that’s not the table’s fault.)
The Smart Round Marble Coffee Table ($299) is fantastic. And marble, for that price? I know it’s not the fanciest marble, but wow.
Well, shoot. I really loved this coffee table below, but it’s not on the website. Could be some things are only available through the stores…that hardly seems fair.
The Go-Cart Two Shelf Table/Media Cart ($149) is another simple, good-looking piece. More industrial, of course, and versatile, as the name implies. This one IS available online.
Let me take this opportunity to say that anything on casters is a really great idea. We have an aluminum cart my mother bought at a restaurant supply store in, oh, must have been the early 80’s. (It looks like the one at right, but it’s all metal and has a handle for pushing.) Over the course of 17 years (!), I’ve used that thing in 3 kitchens, a dining room, and 2 porches. It is amazing.
DINING TABLES – AGAIN, PRETTY DARN GREAT
Are we seeing a pattern here? CB2 = very good for tables of all sorts. Here’s a close-up of the pretty top of the Tribe Dining Table ($499).
The Silverado Rectangular Dining Table ($299) is a perfect super contemporary table, especially for the price. Don’t feel you have to put 6 chairs around a small DR table, by the way. 4 can look better.
I also liked the Darjeeling Dining Table ($899). Maybe because it looks an awful lot like my own DR table.
And the Bobby Dining Table ($399), although you have to be careful when you start getting into tubular steel.
DINING CHAIRS – HERE’S WHERE IT GETS TRICKY
As hinted at above, I may have unearthed a dormant prejudice against tubular steel. But I simply don’t like the Echo Chair ($79.95). I can see how it would work in many different situations, but objectively speaking, I just think it looks a little cheap.
Thumbs down also on the Blueprint Chair ($99), which is an awkward ripoff of the Bertoia Side Chair (a Knoll classic, pictured at right). The knockoffs debate is an ongoing one, but the Blueprint is such a clunky interpretation – copy, homage, whatever – that, ethics aside, I just can’t get excited about it.
Maybe my bias is against painted tubular steel, because I think CB2’s Reed Chair ($119) is lovely. It’s almost a cross between Conran and Sundance. I like the organic waviness of the metal weave – and it just looks more comfortable than the Blueprint.
THE BEST OF THE REST
I’ve ordered a lot of CB2 office furniture over the years, and it’s really served my clients and me well. I’m seriously considering the Graph Desk ($299) for my current office.
The Hancock Bookcase ($199) would be great in an office, but I could also see it in a loft dining area. I prefer the orange one, of course.
And the Tesso Bookcase ($299) is very stylish. The unhandy among us please take note: this does need to be attached to the wall. But I think it’s worth the trouble. It’s great for a living room, sure, but I could also see it in a bedroom.
As for upholstered pieces, I’d say that overall CB2’s quality is better than you might expect. Buying upholstered furniture without sitting on it is tough, though, so I’m not going to push you on that.
I hope this is helpful. Back to the cold, hard reality of DC living. Hey…could you imagine if DC got a Jonathan Adler store and a CB2 on 14th Street? I’d never have to leave! Hmmmmm….
