VS.
If you live in Canada, you will be very familiar with the Canadian furniture store, Leon's. Grown from a family business into a national empire, Leon's is known for its ridiculous and entertaining commercials, like their annual 'Ho, Ho, Hold the Payments!' December promo and polyurethane sectionals with built-in compartments to store snacks and drinks.
And then there is Ethan Allen. A higher-end American furniture maker rooted in the colonies, with a classic, country-based design. While it's not the finest craftsmanship and highest of prices, their pieces are beautiful and recognized for their quality.
So, why am I suggesting these two could go head-to head? Let's take a closer look! Over the years, Leon's has gradually begun to offer more classically styled pieces similar to those by Ethan Allen. Do you see the similarities in these sofas? Which one(s) would you choose?:
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| Marielle sofa - Leon's (top) Oxford sofa - Ethan Allen (bottom) |
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| Ariel sofa - Leon's (top), Bennett sofa - Ethan Allen (bottom) |
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| London sofa - Leon's (top), Emerson sofa - Ethan Allen (bottom) |
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| Tristan sofa - Leon's (top), Mansfield sofa - Ethan Allen (bottom) |
Some other points to consider: Did you know that Leon's now offers several soft and hard furnishings made in Canada? Some other pieces are of course made 'Off Shore' or in 'Asia', but, so are many of Ethan Allen's.
Secondly, fabric choices are a major factor in determining if a piece will work for you or not. Ethan Allen offers pieces with a fully customizable range of fabrics and stain colors (You'll pay for it). They also offer a line of 'Custom Quick Ship' that is similar to what Leon's offers with some of their pieces - a few color choices in one fabric selection for that piece.
My last point is warranty. Both companies offer a warranty on their goods, but what type of warranty? Since I am specifically featuring sofas in this post I will point out that Ethan Allen does not cover any deficiencies in wood as a result of expansion and contraction caused by humidity and dryness. Leon's warranty offers a lifetime coverage on the frame for some sofas, (Like the Marielle featured above). but not on all of their styles.
~So much to consider! And you thought buying a new sofa was going to be easy~
{Image sources: Leons.ca, Ethanallen.ca}
