Designer furniture: More than just aesthetically pleasing

Eames lounge chair from Vitra

Occasionally, just occasionally a curious glance at the price of a piece of designer furniture is enough to take your breath away. Chairs, lamps and sideboards from Fritz Haller, Philippe Starck, Nils Holger Moormann et al are not always something that can simply be casually paid for out of the “housekeeping“.

However, once one recovers from the initial shock one has time to reflect that a high quality piece of designer furniture is not to be understood only as a luxury accessory to improve the home environment, but much more as a long-term investment. Additionally, on account of the functional design and high quality material, you get a longer lasting piece of furniture than is the case with mass produced articles; and over the years a well looked after original from companies such as Vitra or USM Haller can increase in price. Enthusiasts and collectors often being prepared to pay large sums for additions to their collections or simply articles to adorn their homes and offices.

And importantly, anyone is planning to celebrate 2009 with a new piece of designer furniture has still a little time to save some money; from 01.01.2009 some producers are raising their prices

* USM Haller: 6% from 01.01.2009

* Vitra: 4% from 01.01.2009

* Artemide : from 01.01.2009, % as yet not confirmed

* Moormann: 6% from 01.01.2009

Thonet and Kartell will also raise their prices, but later in the year. In the case of Lampert the last price increase was on 01.09.2008.