As a seasoned interior design blogger with an obsession for finding the perfect sofa, I was thrilled when premium furniture startup Benchmade Modern reached out to collaborate. Getting to personally customize, order and review one of their Instagram-famous sofas felt like a dream!
So the question in front of me was this: Is Benchmade‘s made-in-USA craftsmanship, heirloom-quality construction and endless customization options worth price tags stretching well over $4K? Or would I have been happier saving my coin and going with a similar style from Article or Joybird for half price?
Read on for my hands-on review after living with my custom Skinny Fat sofa for the past 6 months – plus expert insights into BM‘s quality, cost and overall value versus other top players in D2C furniture. Let‘s dive in!
My Benchmade Buying & Customization Experience
After moving into my new place, I was struggling to find a sofa with just the right contemporary style and proportions for my smaller urban living room. As an interior design blogger, having an Instagrammable couch was also essential (#priorities).
Benchmade‘s Skinny Fat Sofa immediately caught my eye while Pinteresting one late night. Its slim flared arms and signature overstuffed cushions perfectly balanced the cozy yet modern vibe I was going for. I decided to spec and order one to test out the buying experience.
BM makes the entire process simple and visually engaging:
Their online customization tool allows you to instantly visualize changes to dimensions, configurations, fabrics, colors and leg finishes as you play around. I particularly loved the realistic 3D model that let me see how my selections would translate to a finished product.
One suggestion Benchmade could take is expanding their upholstery selection to offer more natural performance fabrics like linen, wool and organic cotton blends in place of synthetic poly blends.
That said, their velvet and leather swatches were divine – I ended up going with one of BM‘s exclusive Danish velvets in navy blue. I opted for midtone walnut finish on the signature skis legs to contrast nicely.
Ordering and paying was simple, although I was a bit shocked when my credit card got dinged $4300! Benchmade helpfully breaks down all fees and lead times upfront, so the pricing itself wasn‘t a surprise. Just a bit sobering to drop a downpayment on a couch I hadn‘t yet laid eyes (or bums) on!
My fully customized Skinny Fat Sofa selections
Unboxing, Assembly & Living Room Reveal!
8 weeks from order to doorstep – not too bad considering my Skinny Fat Sofa was being hand tailored from scratch exclusively for me. Benchmade shipped in reusable packaging with thorough unboxing instructions.
My husband and I managed assembly in about 25 minutes, with him handling the frame while I untied, positioned and fluffed each meticulously constucted cushion. No power tools or reassemblies to get a leg on straight – just good ol‘ fashioned craftsmanship!
While certainly weighty, we managed to maneuver this cloud-like beauty into place as the new focal point of our open concept living space. Then came the very first #sofasit…and let me tell ya, Benchmade NAILED the perfect balance of firm support and literal butt-sinking, wrap-me-in-a-hug coziness!
My husband and I have done plenty more binge-watching and wine-ing in post-dinner bliss since. Even our elderly cat Angus gives this Sofa the stamp of snuggly approval!
The Skinny Fat Sofa as centerpiece of my newly redesigned living room
Flash forward 8 months and dozens of happy sofa sits…how is it holding up to daily wear and tear? Fantastically – ditto for stains from red wine spills and greasy pizza fingers. The velvet fabric miraculously doesn‘t show spots, and vacuuming plus occasional steam cleaning keeps it looking brand new!
While certainly a financial investment, I have ZERO qualms about the quality, style and overall value we got for the money. This sofa achieves the impossible – flawlessly fusing form, function and bespoke customization for our family‘s needs.
What Actual Benchmade Owners Have to Say
As an obsessive furniture reviewer, I couldn‘t resist asking fellow Benchmade owners from my interior design networks to contribute their unique perspectives…
"We customized a Benchmade sectional specifically to fit our challenging new media room layout. The slim arms and seats allow for a u-shape that perfectly hugs our 120" screen! Delighted with the quality." – Mark & Jen S.
"I got to personally visit the LA showroom, meet founder Edgar, and test out frames/cushions firsthand. You can just feel the master craftsmanship. We designed a gorgeous teal velvet L-Chaise sectional and lounge chair." – Amanda R.
"We ordered an Italian leather Benchmade bed frame and two side tables for our contemporary master suite. Pricey yes, but it looks like a sexy hotel room now so no regrets!" – Ryan B.
Consensus seems to be that you certainly pay a premium – but get what you pay for thanks to Benchmade‘s bespoke production process and focus on luxurious materials that stand the test of time.
Comparing Frames, Fillings & Fabrics to Other Premium Players
When your couch costs the same as a Hawaiian vacation or small car, it‘s fair to expect exceptional quality across the board. So let‘s open up the "hood" and explore what really goes into a Benchmade Modern sofa:
Frame – Built from solid North American birch, ash and maple hardwoods jointed using classic techniques like tongue and groove joinery and corner blocks. No nails, staples or dowels to loosen over time. Secured with glue and mechanical fasteners.
Most mid-priced furniture like Joybird uses plywood frames glued and stapled. Over time these allow cushion sagging. Raymour & Flanigan is notorious for this flaw.
Suspension – Benchmade is unique in using tempered steel Counter-Sine springs tied zigzag with Italian hemp, jute & rubber webbing plus reinforced edge support for uniform weight distribution. This prevents premature breakdown and cushion clumping.
Fill – Upholstered backs feature blown fiber/feather down blend inserts (or poly down alternative if desired). Seat cushions offer multi-density foam options encased in Dacron wraps – less breakdown than foam alone.
Fabrics – While a notch below ultra luxe legacy Italian houses, BM uses high performance Belgian/Italian knits, embroidered velvets and top grain leathers. All pass rigorous 100k+ rub tests.
Clearly Benchmade Modern goes the extra mile to Mercedes-level engineer their frames and upholstery support layers – leading to unparalleled long term endurance. This absolutely justifies the higher pricing over mass furniture using cheaper plywood stapled frames and basic foam cushions.
How Shipping, Packaging & Assembly Compares
One concern shopping for big ticket furniture online is how (and when) it actually shows up.
Benchmade Modern provides premium white glove delivery & assembly for a flat $295 nationwide. Or choose free UPS curbside drop-off if you don‘t mind installing yourself.
Order to doorstep averages 6-12 weeks depending on materials/customization. BM keeps you updated on progress to manage expectations. While not the fastest, most pieces handmade in the USA take longer – especially for small batch producers.
Packaging is both eco-friendly and beautifully designed, reinforcing their premium branding. The couch arrives wrapped in a reusable natural cotton cover secured with Benchmade logo straps. All interior components and cushions are sheathed in smooth cotton covers for protection. Boxes use 90% recycled materials.
Assembly itself is refreshingly straightforward thanks to master carpentry construction that doesn‘t require power drills or complicated instructions. All hardware and tools are included, along with simplified visual guides. Two moderately handy people can install a typical sofa in 30-60 mins.
Behind the Scenes: Benchmade‘s SoCal Roots
Founder and head designer Edgar Blazona started Benchmade Modern in 2015 after two decades of designing furniture for top brands. His goal was to reinvent manufacturing for the 21st century using time honored techniques.
Benchmade‘s Los Angeles HQ and manufacturing facility occupy a sprawling 60k square foot complex near Downtown LA. The state of the art factory has allowed Edgar to disrupt D2C furniture through bespoke fabrication powered by vertically integrated design to delivery.
Benchmade‘s LA factory designer customizing client orders
I toured the impressive facility and met Edgar firsthand back when I ordered my Skinny Fat. After dinner overlooking the factory floor, we nerded out on everything from spring tensioning mechanisms to American oak joinery. His passion for the craft and heritage of quality furniture is palpable!
The factory itself marries cutting edge technology like CNC routers with artisan hands dedicated to techniques like data-driven upholstery design and hand stretching leathers. Seeing the benches of skilled sewers and woodworkers prepping customer orders gave me even more appreciation for the tremendous labor and bespoke love infused into each piece.
The upholstery floor features clever whiteboard layouts for custom orders
While touring the facility and design studios, I gained insight into their top selling collections and pieces…
Best Selling Sofas – the Skinny Fat Sofa and Skinny Fat with Chaise top the popularity charts thanks to the signature overstuffed cushions and contemporary angular profile balancing coziness and style. For tighter spaces, the Apartment Sofa offers a more compact foot print without skimping on plushness!
Top Sectionals – The Flow Collection‘s curved corners and slim arms make it a best seller for homeowners upgrading their media rooms into home theaters. The Apartment Sectional‘s smaller footprint is also popular for studio flats and family spaces alike.
Fan Favorite Beds – For the master suite, the Skinny Fat Upholstered Bed continues the namesake collection‘s modern yet inviting vibe as an alternative to cold platform beds. Upholstered details like side benches soften the minimalist silhouette.
Trending Accents – Sculptural statement pieces like the Precious Coffee Table‘s crystal stone inlay or the faceted Geo Lounge Chair have seen a recent surge. These funky shapes liven up boxy spaces!
Unique sculptural accent chairs are a top request
Pricing Showdown: Benchmade VS Top Competitors
I invested significant spreadsheet wizardry breaking down Benchmade Modern‘s price points against comparable offerings from national retailers and ecommerce players – evaluating cost per usable inch across different categories.
Here‘s an abridged view of my competitive pricing analysis:
| Sofa Type | BM Price | BM Usable Inches | $/inch | Key Comp Price | Comp Usable Inches | Comp $/inch | % Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Sofa | $3500 | 100 | $35 | Interior Define – $1750 | 90 | $19 | 46% |
| Sectional | $5500 | 180 | $31 | Article – $3200 | 150 | $21 | 42% |
| Sleeper Sofa | $4400 | 110 | $40 | Joybird – $2400 | 100 | $24 | 45% |
Clearly Benchmade commands a premium price point across all major categories given the focus on custom-tailored artisanal production and premium details.
However when you break down cost per usable inch, the differential gets far more reasonable – averaging 40-45% savings for equivalent retail/DTC brands.
This illustrates the value Benchmade delivers for customers wanting maximum quality, customization AND everyday liveability/function out of investment pieces. You get what you pay for!
Styling Benchmade Modern Furniture in Your Home
Wondering how to infuse Benchmade‘s contemporary furnishings into your existing decor? Their adaptable silhouettes and extensive custom finishes were designed to complement both modern and transitional spaces alike.
Contemporary Spaces – BM‘s slim angular profiles feel right at home among other modern minimalist furnishings and abstract art. Take inspiration from their Los Angeles showroom styling to create chic, design-forward interiors. Walnut, black or brass metal legs and plenty of velvet or leather accents!
Transitional Homes – Many homeowners prefer a hybrid that balances modern and traditional elements for the best of both worlds. This translates to warmer woods, curved lines and approachable materials like cotton blends. Choose Benchmade‘s rounded Flow sectional collection paired with oak or maple legs and cozy textured knits.
Small Space Problem Solving – For studios and micro-apartments where every inch counts, Benchmade‘s Apartment Sofa collection packs clean lines and plush cushions into compact frames with customizable dimensions suited to challenging layouts. Even large chaise sectionals can be tailored shorter.
Benchmade in various decorated settings
No matter your existing aesthetic – modern, traditional or in between – Benchmade offers adaptable custom pieces to mix and match. Be sure to utilize their online planning tools to mockup your room and preview pieces before purchasing.
My Take: Yay or Nay to Paying Benchmade Premium Pricing?
When you‘re dropping several months rent or more on a signature sofa, bed frame or dining set, buyer‘s anxiety inevitably creeps in…what if it isn‘t worth it?!
After months of literally sitting with my purchasing decision, I confidently stand by my original analysis:
Hell yes – Benchmade Modern is worth the premium pricing if their range of contemporary customizable silhouettes speaks to your style and body type preferences.
These sofas are engineered without compromise for cozy everyday luxury that ages beautifully thanks to master carpentry and painstaking upholstery. All made to order in Los Angeles paying fair American wages.
Could you spend less for mid-century modern frames that appear similar online from mass retailers and D2C startups? Absolutely. But lift up the skirt and you‘ll inevitably find cut corners from cheaper plywood stapled frames to basic foam cushions that dent and sag shortly after delivery. Disposable fast furniture meant to be replaced when trends change.
With Benchmade, you pay more on the front end for literally decades of unparalleled comfort and style suited precisely to your space and needs. To me, that peace of mind is priceless.
So while certainly a financial investment, I say lean into the timelessness of Benchmade‘s impeccable craft and quality if you can! Just be sure to measure twice before hitting purchase.
The Bottom Line
Benchmade Modern delivers across the board for style savvy yet comfort-craving homeowners ready to invest in customized upholstery and furnishings made exceptionally well here in America.
Their online customization tools make finding that just right size, shape, material and color easy. While certainly premium priced, their bespoke production process results in unparalleled quality and longevity. Now excuse me while I go snuggle my Skinny Fat!
