Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Aug 11, 2015 6:09 pm Saw an interesting article in The Age today about replica furniture getting more popular in Oz, generally due to the high cost of the original design. http://news.domain.com.au/domain/real-estate-news/is-it-ok-to-buy-replica-furniture-20150810-givdd5.html What do you think? Would you pay more for the original design or would you prefer the replica and the savings? I found this super interesting as I am literally wondering whether I want to spend $400 on David's floral light fitting or spend $60 online for a plastic white pendant. For a new home buyer that's a massive price difference for a light fitting. Still haven't made up my mind, I would love the original one.. but need to save every dollar. Re: Will you buy replica furniture and homewares or designer 2Aug 11, 2015 8:45 pm Even with people in the industry there are polar opinions on this subject. A combination of the some goods in Australia being considerably more than other places around the world and the laws in this country allowing 'replicas'/'copies', in addition to the cost to register designs even before a designer knows if it will be successful makes it very tempting for the consumer. Especially when so much money has been spent to buy/build the property and the desire to reflect the interiors so widely published online or in magazines, a cost saving is a welcome avenue. Personally having experience of coming up with a design idea and the process and knowledge required, those who copy cut out that creativeness and skills. Songwriters/musicians expect and obtain royalties and have a say on the use of their work when it comes to covers. The fine line of copying or having inspiration is often seen in the fashion industry, it is just that those that are usually copied are the major fashion houses with deep pockets to take legal action. Copies are often made with inferior materials and inferior constructions techniques. The copy may not be a exact copy of the original and may lose that pleasing proportions. If it is a design I love I would rather save up for the original, and I know I am more likely to take care of it than some throw away copy. Try a Kate Moss approach to your interiors where she will mix top end couture with high street fashion (ok she can afford more of the top end than most) rather middle of the road everything. There is also another thing in couture where, say, the lining of jacket has hand bound hems - it is not visible to most people but the wearer knows about it and it can be a satisfying touch to the owner. Having the replica may give you that feeling of, it's just a replica, it not quite as good as the original..... If it is one light then I would go for the original you desire (when you can afford it or delay other items to obtain it). Re: Will you buy replica furniture and homewares or designer 3Aug 11, 2015 9:02 pm You raise some good points. I've been browsing some designer websites for pendant lights I like and I can find similar copies for a few hundred dollars less. The problem is even though no one else will know, I WILL know that its not original and I will feel guilty. I think I will try and stick with Aussie designers and save up for the real thing. I can always take the lights with me if I move at least Makes me wonder what other things I've bought without even knowing they are copies. One thing I really want to do when I move into my new house is become more aware of what I purchase and where it comes from, so I can make ethical and environmentally friendly choices. I guess this is just another aspect of that. Still curious what other people think/do though. Be nice to have a bit of a debate/discussion. I know Kmart does some really great homewares these days for cheap.. at what stage is something a copy or just similar.. Good point about having a few high quality pieces and then cheaper 'basics'. That's what I try to do with clothes, a good idea to do it with the house too I always try to focus on quality over quantity because I find you throw things out less/consume less which is better for the environment. Re: Will you buy replica furniture and homewares or designer 4Aug 11, 2015 9:40 pm I really like supporting local artists and artisans if I can. I also like the fact they are one off, or less likely for everyone to have them. I have bought quite a bit of original art. I have got some lovely unframed prints or paintings at art show or markets for very reasonable prices. We have also got some lights that are made locally. For furniture I prefer originals, but have a pretty limited budget, so generally look for them 'pre-loved'. To be honest the price of new 'replica' furniture is out of my budget anyway Re: Will you buy replica furniture and homewares or designer 5Aug 12, 2015 8:01 am It comes down to how much you want to spend. I love the Eames chairs but at $1500+ per chair they are out of my price range especially as I'd want a matching pair. I know I could buy the materials for $200 and for a few hours work to a talented chippie like myself well... Stewie Re: Will you buy replica furniture and homewares or designer 6Aug 12, 2015 10:49 am This is a difficult one. When we started our reno's I never realised I had a 'thing' for lights In the end I did go for the originals, however only the 'main' light features e.g. kitchen pendants. Luckily they didn't cost me $1000+. I also love some of the designer furniture and I know that the original pieces are often passed onto family as they don't date and are classic pieces. Perhaps as mentioned above pick the main items you would like as originals and mix them up with lesser expensive pieces. I think that whatever you buy just make sure you really like it. That way you are less likely to throw it out and it ends up as landfill. I haven't gone out and purchased much at all for our 'new' spaces. We opted instead to spend more on the construction and sustainable design/technologies whilst building. These choices can usually only be made during construction. In the end they we better choices for us and the environment Good luck Re: Will you buy replica furniture and homewares or designer 7Aug 12, 2015 6:01 pm All good points. I thought about it more and realised that spending $1,500 on pendant lights just to go designer is nuts. I'd be spending more on that then my appliances! So I am thinking to go simple ones, and maybe upgrade later. Need to find out how hard that will be.. or maybe go cheap for two of the pendants and get one nice one. Re: Will you buy replica furniture and homewares or designer 8Aug 13, 2015 12:52 am Hey, I was interviewed for that article! I can go either way on this argument. One thing I would recommend is that if you plan to buy a replica, make sure you see it before you buy it online. Some of the replicas are very poor quality that you can't pick up from an online photo. I like to support the original designers where I can, within my budget. For me, that usually means Australian made products which is an added bonus. http://www.housebythewater.wordpress.com From blank block to new home in Mandurah, Western Australia. viewtopic.php?f=31&t=65564 Re: Will you buy replica furniture and homewares or designer 10Aug 13, 2015 7:18 pm With lights, furniture, etc, I buy quality based on look; feel, etc, whats designer is subjective, as everything begins from ideas from journeys, who the hell would say what a lovely couch or what beautiful lights, then say is it designer. Re: Will you buy replica furniture and homewares or designer 11Aug 13, 2015 7:23 pm I don't think we mean designer quite in that way. I am talking more like I can go to David Turbridge's website and buy the Coral pendant he designed for $400AUD or I can go to a website and buy a 'replica' of his pendant made by someone else for about $100 cheaper. I guess it's a bit like do you pay for a CD or download a song for free. Not quite the same.. but I guess you are disadvantaging the creator by going for the fake.. and without the designers, what would people model the fakes on right? If I just saw something at a lighting shop I like I would buy it, but thanks to the article I now KNOW that if I buy the cheaper one I'm hurting the designer. But..the cost difference can be quite big..and I'm poor. Your build is relatively simple, I believe your job can be easily done by a good building designer, you really do not need to pay for the architect. 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