Huntington House Furniture Reviews: The Unvarnished Truth Before You Invest
Investing in new furniture is a significant decision. You’re not just buying an object; you’re choosing a centerpiece for your home’s comfort and style that you expect to last for years. The problem is a market saturated with options that prioritize fleeting trends over foundational quality, leaving you anxious about making a costly mistake. Many homeowners feel trapped between disposable “fast furniture” that won’t survive a few years and the intimidating world of high-end, custom pieces.
This is where brands like Huntington House enter the conversation, promising heritage craftsmanship and bespoke quality. But do they deliver? This comprehensive review drills down into the construction, materials, customization options, and real-world owner experiences to provide a clear, unvarnished look at whether Huntington House furniture is the right long-term investment for your home.
You'll Learn About
Who is Huntington House? A Legacy of American Craftsmanship
Huntington House is a family-owned and operated furniture company with deep roots in the upholstery business, tracing its lineage back for three generations. All of their furniture is handcrafted in the foothills of North Carolina, a region renowned for its skilled artisans and history of high-quality furniture manufacturing. This commitment to American-made quality is a cornerstone of their brand identity.
The company specializes in custom upholstered furniture, offering a vast array of styles, from traditional to transitional and modern. With over 300 chair and sofa styles and more than 1,000 fabric and leather choices, their primary focus is on providing a tailored experience, allowing customers to create pieces that perfectly fit their space and lifestyle.
The Anatomy of Quality: Deconstructing Huntington House Furniture
A beautiful piece of furniture is one thing, but a durable one is another. The true value of a sofa or chair lies beneath the surface, in the materials and construction techniques that dictate its longevity and comfort. Huntington House builds its reputation on using traditional, time-tested methods.
Solid Hardwood Frames
The foundation of any quality sofa is its frame. Huntington House uses kiln-dried 5/4″ hardwood lumber harvested locally in North Carolina. Kiln-drying is a critical process that removes moisture from the wood, preventing it from warping or cracking over time. All joints are tightly fitted, glued, double-doweled, and reinforced with corner blocks for superior strength and stability. This robust construction is backed by a lifetime warranty.
The Gold Standard: 8-Way Hand-Tied Springs
One of the most significant markers of high-end furniture is the use of an 8-way hand-tied spring system. This labor-intensive technique involves skilled craftspeople tying each individual hourglass-shaped coil spring to the surrounding springs and the frame using strong twine. The springs are tied in eight directions—front to back, side to side, and diagonally—creating a web of support that moves in unison.
This method ensures even weight distribution, which prevents sagging and creates a uniquely comfortable and resilient seat. It is widely considered the gold standard for durable, supportive, and long-lasting upholstered furniture. Huntington House uses this technique for all their pieces, a commitment to quality that sets them apart from many competitors who use less durable sinuous springs or drop-in coil units.
Cushions and Tailoring
Comfort is highly subjective, which is why Huntington House offers six different seat cushion options, ranging from firm to soft. Their cushions feature a high-resiliency soy-based foam core with a density of 2.4, which is a high-quality standard that resists premature flattening. These cores are then wrapped in plush fiber and encased in a fabric ticking.
The company also emphasizes its hand-cutting and 360-degree tailoring process. Fabrics are cut individually by hand to ensure precision, and layers of cotton batting and foam are used throughout the frame to create a smooth, well-formed shape from every angle. This meticulous attention to detail contributes to a polished, high-end finish.
The Customization Experience: Designing Your Perfect Piece
The core appeal of Huntington House is the ability to create furniture that is uniquely yours. For many homeowners, this is the ultimate solution to finding a piece that fits perfectly, both physically and aesthetically. The process involves selecting from hundreds of frames and then tailoring every detail to your preference.
Key areas of customization include:
- Fabric and Leather: With over 1,000 choices, the options are vast. For homes with children or pets, performance fabrics offer stain and wear resistance. For a more formal look, materials like velvet or high-grade leather are available.
- Cushion Fill: You can select the cushion core that best suits your comfort preference, whether you like a firm, supportive seat or a soft, sink-in feel.
- Finishes and Details: You can choose the wood finish for the legs, add nailhead trim for a classic touch, or select specific welt cord styles for a clean, modern look.
This level of personalization ensures you are not just settling for what’s available. Just as you might meticulously compare appliance features, like debating a Bosch vs. KitchenAid wall oven for its long-term kitchen value, applying the same detailed consideration to your furniture ensures it meets every need.
Huntington House Furniture Reviews: What Real Owners Say
While the construction specs are impressive, the true test of a furniture brand is the long-term satisfaction of its customers. A comprehensive look at owner feedback reveals a consistent pattern of both praise and criticism.
The Pros: Quality, Durability, and Comfort
Overwhelmingly, positive reviews focus on the brand’s solid build quality and longevity. Many owners who have had their furniture for several years report that it has held up remarkably well, with cushions retaining their shape and frames remaining sturdy. The phrase “built like a tank” appears often in discussions.
The comfort provided by the 8-way hand-tied system is another frequent point of praise. Customers appreciate the supportive-yet-flexible seating that doesn’t sag like cheaper alternatives. The “Made in the USA” aspect and the sheer beauty of the custom designs are also significant factors for satisfied buyers.
The Cons: Price, Lead Times, and Inconsistent Experiences
The most significant hurdle for many is the premium price point. Huntington House is a considerable investment, with sofas often costing several thousand dollars. This places it in a competitive bracket with other high-quality American manufacturers. While many feel the quality justifies the cost, it is a major consideration.
Another common complaint revolves around long lead times and delivery delays. Because each piece is made to order, the wait can be several weeks or even months, which can be frustrating for buyers needing furniture promptly.
Perhaps the most concerning feedback involves reports of premature wear on certain fabrics and cushion cores. Some customers have experienced issues like fabric pilling or cushions compressing much faster than expected, sometimes within months of purchase. In some cases, customers have reported unsatisfactory responses from the company or the retailer when seeking warranty claims, citing “misuse” as a reason for denying service. These negative experiences, while not the majority, highlight the importance of choosing the right fabric for your lifestyle and understanding the warranty’s limitations.
How Does Huntington House Compare?
To provide context, it’s helpful to see how Huntington House stacks up against its direct competitors. Brands like Smith Brothers of Berne, Taylor King, and Hancock & Moore are often mentioned in the same quality tier. The following table offers a general comparison.
| Feature | Huntington House | Smith Brothers of Berne | Taylor King |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frame Construction | Kiln-dried solid hardwood | Kiln-dried solid maple | Kiln-dried hardwood |
| Spring System | 8-way hand-tied | 8-way hand-tied standard | 8-way hand-tied standard |
| Manufacturing | North Carolina, USA | Berne, Indiana, USA | North Carolina, USA |
| Customization | Extensive (frames, fabrics, fills) | Extensive (frames, fabrics, fills) | Extensive (frames, fabrics, fills) |
| Price Point | Upper-Mid to High | Upper-Mid to High | High |
| General Reputation | Very good build quality, some fabric/cushion concerns | Excellent build quality and durability | Excellent build and tailoring, premium price |
Is Huntington House Furniture Worth the Investment?
After a thorough analysis, the answer depends on your priorities. Huntington House furniture is an excellent choice for the discerning buyer who prioritizes solid, traditional construction and deep customization over speed and budget.
If your primary goal is to purchase a piece of furniture that will last for a decade or more, built with foundational techniques like a solid hardwood frame and 8-way hand-tied springs, then Huntington House delivers on that promise. The ability to tailor every aspect of the piece to your specific taste is a powerful advantage. A beautiful piece of furniture can elevate an entire room, and for a truly polished aesthetic, every detail counts. This might even prompt you to consider other upgrades and ask yourself, is it worth replacing baseboards to match the quality of your new centerpiece?
However, this brand is likely not the right fit for someone on a tight budget or a tight timeline. Furthermore, the reports of issues with certain cushions and fabrics mean that prospective buyers should be diligent. It is crucial to select a durable, high-performance fabric if the piece will see heavy use and to clarify warranty details with the retailer before purchase.
A Note on Choosing the Right Retailer
Since Huntington House is sold through a network of authorized dealers, your purchase experience can be heavily influenced by the retailer you choose. A knowledgeable and reputable dealer will guide you through the customization process, help you select appropriate materials, and be your advocate if any warranty issues arise. Reading reviews of the specific furniture store is just as important as reading reviews of the brand itself.
Protecting Your Investment: Care and Maintenance
High-quality furniture requires proper care to maintain its beauty and longevity. Following a simple maintenance routine can make a world of difference in extending the life of your Huntington House pieces.
Regular Cleaning is Key: Vacuum your upholstery weekly using a soft brush attachment to remove dust and abrasive particles that can wear down fibers over time. For leather, a regular dusting with a soft, dry cloth is sufficient.
Rotate and Fluff Cushions: To ensure even wear and help cushions maintain their shape, flip, rotate, and fluff them regularly. This prevents one area from becoming compressed and worn out faster than others.
Protect from the Elements: Direct sunlight can cause fabric and leather to fade. Position your furniture away from windows where it will receive intense, prolonged sun exposure, or use window treatments to diffuse the light.
Address Spills Immediately: Blot spills immediately with a clean, dry white cloth, working from the outside of the spill inward. Avoid rubbing, as this can push the stain deeper into the fibers. Always check your fabric’s cleaning code (W, S, SW) before using any water-based or solvent-based cleaners.
By investing a little time in care, you also protect your home. After all, safeguarding furniture from damage extends to protecting your entire space from unforeseen issues, such as a destructive water leak from the wall behind the washing machine, which can ruin not just furniture but floors and walls as well.
