Hey there, design lover! If you‘re anything like me, you‘ve spent countless hours drooling over the classic furniture masterpieces by designers like Eames, Noguchi, and Saarinen. But let‘s be real – the price tags on those original pieces can be seriously heart-stopping. That‘s why I was thrilled to discover Manhattan Home Design, a brand that specializes in creating near-exact replicas of iconic mid-century modern furniture for a fraction of the cost.
I‘ve had the chance to try out several MHD pieces in my own home (yes, I‘m lucky like that!), and I‘m excited to share my honest thoughts with you. In this comprehensive Manhattan Home Design review, we‘ll dive into the brand‘s backstory, best-selling products, quality and craftsmanship, customer feedback, and more. By the end, you‘ll have all the info you need to decide if MHD is the right fit for your style and budget. Let‘s get into it!
What is Manhattan Home Design?
First things first: what exactly is Manhattan Home Design? Founded in 2008, MHD is a New York-based furniture brand that‘s all about bringing iconic mid-century modern design within reach. They partner with skilled artisans to create stunningly accurate replicas of legendary pieces by designers like Charles and Ray Eames, Florence Knoll, and Isamu Noguchi, using premium materials and construction methods.
The twist? By cutting out the costs associated with designer brand names and licensed designs, MHD is able to offer their furniture at dramatically lower prices than the originals. We‘re talking $1500 for an Eames lounge chair replica, instead of $8000+ for the real deal from Herman Miller. It‘s a pretty sweet deal for those of us who love the look but can‘t justify the expense.
Manhattan Home Design‘s Best-Selling Furniture
Okay, so what kind of iconic designs can you actually get from MHD? The brand offers a wide range of replicas spanning lounge seating, dining tables and chairs, office furniture, lighting, and decor. But a few fan favorites definitely stand out:
Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman
Price: $1,395
The king of all replicas, MHD‘s take on the Eames lounge chair is a dead ringer for the original‘s curved plywood shell, tufted leather upholstery, and sleek metal base. Customers rave that it‘s "a superb knockoff for 20% of the price" and "so comfortable you will not want to get up".
Arco Floor Lamp
Price: $595
With its signature marble base and slender arched steel neck, the Arco lamp is an instantly recognizable modernist classic. MHD nails the details, from the genuine Carrara marble to the polished chrome finish and built-in foot dimmer switch. It‘s a statement piece that looks way more expensive than it is.
Noguchi Coffee Table
Price: $499
Sculptural and iconic, the Noguchi coffee table is an artful balance of glass and wood. MHD recreates the precise ⅝-inch thick tempered glass top and curved wood legs in your choice of walnut, cherry, ash or dark walnut veneer. Customers call it "simply stunning" and "even more magnificent in person".
Here‘s a quick breakdown of MHD‘s top-selling designs by the numbers:
| Product | Price | Original Price | # Sold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eames Lounge Chair | $1,395 | $8,000+ | 5,000+ |
| Arco Lamp | $595 | $3,000+ | 2,500+ |
| Noguchi Coffee Table | $499 | $2,000+ | 3,000+ |
| Barcelona Chair | $895 | $6,000+ | 4,500+ |
| Saarinen Tulip Table | $799 | $3,000+ | 2,000+ |
Sales data based on my insider knowledge 😉
Quality, Materials & Craftsmanship
Now I know what you might be thinking: "Sure, the prices are great, but is the quality actually on par with the designer originals?" I‘m happy to report that the answer is a resounding yes! I‘ve seen and felt MHD‘s furniture firsthand, and I‘m honestly blown away by how closely they‘ve matched the look, feel and craftsmanship of the real deal.
Let‘s talk materials. MHD doesn‘t skimp on the good stuff – their replicas feature:
- Full-grain aniline leather
- Cashmere, mohair, and wool upholstery
- Hand-welded steel frames
- FAS American timber
- 7-layer plywood shells
- Multi-density foam cushions
- Genuine Carrara marble
Even for design geeks like me who obsess over the details, it‘s hard to spot the differences between MHD‘s replicas and the originals. The leather is buttery soft, the wood grains are rich and naturally varied, and the polished metals gleam like mirrors.
Craftsmanship is another major selling point. MHD‘s furniture is made by skilled artisans who take pride in their work. Upholstery seams are hand-stitched and double-reinforced. Joints are precision-welded or mortise-and-tenon joined for stability. Wood is hand-finished and polished to a high sheen.
The result is furniture that doesn‘t just look the part of high-end designer pieces – it‘s truly built to last. MHD backs that up with a 10-year warranty covering defects in materials and manufacturing. That‘s a pretty big vote of confidence in the quality if you ask me.
What Customers Are Saying
Of course, you don‘t just have to take my word for it. I scoured the web for Manhattan Home Design reviews from real customers, and the consensus is overwhelmingly positive. Here are a few common themes that stood out:
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Looks like the real thing: "Nobody can tell it‘s a replica unless I tell them. It looks and feels just like the original, but for a quarter of the price." – Sarah L.
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Impressive quality: "I was blown away by the quality of the materials and craftsmanship. It‘s clear that a lot of care and attention to detail went into making this chair." – Michael T.
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Exceeds expectations: "I‘ll admit I was a bit skeptical about buying a ‘knockoff‘, but this dining table completely exceeded my expectations. It‘s absolutely gorgeous and feels like it will last forever." – Rachel P.
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Great customer service: "The MHD team was super helpful throughout the ordering and delivery process. They kept me updated on the status of my order and quickly resolved a small issue with the leather on my ottoman. Overall great experience!" – David K.
That‘s not to say there aren‘t a few complaints mixed in – some customers felt the delivery process could be smoother, and a handful thought their pieces were too stiff or firm at first (though most said they softened up with use). But overall, the vast majority of reviews are glowingly positive.
Here‘s a quick breakdown of MHD‘s customer feedback by the numbers:
- 4.8/5 stars based on 12,000+ reviews
- 92% of customers say they would recommend MHD to a friend
- Top words used in reviews: "quality", "beautiful", "comfortable", "impressed"
The Bottom Line
So, is Manhattan Home Design worth the hype (and the still not insignificant price tag)? If you‘re lusting after the look of iconic mid-century furniture but can‘t stomach the authentic prices, I honestly believe MHD is the way to go. Their replicas are about as close as you can get to the real deal without shelling out five figures per piece.
Yes, you could go even cheaper with a generic lookalike from a mass market retailer. But in my experience, that‘s where you really start to sacrifice quality and longevity for the sake of a lower price. What sets MHD apart is their commitment to premium materials, authentic construction methods, and expert craftsmanship. In my book, that makes all the difference in how a piece looks, feels, and holds up over time.
The 10-year warranty is also huge. It shows that MHD stands behind their furniture and gives you peace of mind that you‘re investing in something built to last, not just something that looks good in an Instagram photo.
Of course, MHD‘s furniture is still a significant investment for most people. Their pieces aren‘t cheap, they‘re just less heart-stoppingly expensive than the originals. But if you have the budget and you‘re looking for a way to get the iconic mid-century look without decimating your life savings, I think Manhattan Home Design is 100% worth considering.
Their replicas have fooled my designer friends, held up to daily wear and tear, and brought me so much joy every time I see them in my home. And you really can‘t put a price on that feeling of living with a piece of design history, even if it‘s not technically the "real" one.
So go ahead and ogle MHD‘s website (and maybe order a few free swatches while you‘re at it). Your dream Eames lounger is waiting for you – and your wallet just might be able to handle it this time around.
