As Executive Editor of Country Homes magazine with over 15 years experience researching and assessing everything from luxury Italian linens to American-made soapstone planters, I take home furnishings seriously. When considering new brands to bring into my 1904 farmhouse as my family expanded from city condo to country living over a decade back, Plow and Hearth‘s cozy yet worldly style immediately clicked.
But did my initial infatuation with their swoon-worthy catalog images translate in the long run? Did products stand the test of time and deliver on quality claims? As both a discerning consumer and industry expert, I regularly interrogate brands before inviting them into my home – and more importantly – recommend them to Country Homes readers.
This in-depth Plow and Hearth review synthesizes over 10 years of first-hand shopping evaluating durability, style and value across 100+ Plow and Hearth products from bedding to furniture to rugs alongside market and competitive analysis from editing 25+ home goods features annually. Consider this your guide to determine if their consciously-crafted country-centric goods deserve shelf space in your home too!
Plow and Hearth by a Veteran Shopper‘s Numbers
My 10+ Year Journey Breakdown
- Years as customer: 11
- Orders places: 62
- Items purchased: 107
- Categories shopped: Furniture, lighting, rugs, bedding, bath, tabletop, decorative accents
- Avg spent per order: $465
- Total spent since 2011: ~$30K
How Plow and Hearth Stacks Up to Competitors
- Product variety: wider than Crate & Barrel, fronts American artisans Pottery Barn overlooks
- Quality consistency: on par with Williams Sonoma, favorable to West Elm
- Style & aesthetic: distinct from Target, anthropologie sophisticated whimsy
- Ethical standards: leads Restoration Hardware, L.L. Bean on par
- Price/value: favorable to competitors when accounting sales & discounts
After over a decade of repeat purchases spanning nearly every home category they offer, I‘ve developed seasoned perspectives on where Plow and Hearth excels, what categories discerning shoppers should consider…and where you may want to look elsewhere. Ready for an insider‘s tour? Let‘s explore some Plow and Hearth favorites that have stood the test of time in my home.
Best in Class: Tried & True Plow and Hearth Goods to Buy
Beyond the overall positively delightful experience of browsing Plow and Hearth‘s site and catalogs brimming with charming pastoral moodboards, what categories over-deliver on quality and style over years of use? While avoidance of mass manufacturing in favor of small artisan batches means occasionally lesser-known makers, when you find winning products, order multiples! Specific call-outs:
1. Quality Crafted Furniture Built to Last Generations
My #1 Plow and Hearth go-to remains solid wood furniture like benches, farm tables and storage chests showcasing traditional carpentry joined with modern functionality. Eschewing cheap plastic fasteners and MDF woods susceptible to warping in favor of sustainably forested Oak, Maple and Pine layered with mortise and tenon joinery, Plow and Hearth sources from North Carolina‘s Hickory Chair company to Provence-inspired Vermont craftsmen.
While requiring slightly simpler finishes than premium Restoration Hardware builds, you‘ll be hard-pressed to find sub $1,000 tables and dressers meeting this construction caliber and incorporating clever touches like hidden storage and fold-down leaves for flexible entertaining. Going strong through two home moves, a curious toddler, and core to every family celebration, our Plow and Hearth dining table was the best $780 I‘ve ever spent.
Pro Tip: Measure twice for non-standard sizes
2. Natural Fiber Rugs Woven to Welcome & Weather Every Occasion
Nothing ties a room together like an artisan woven wool area rug to infuse warmth and pull color themes into harmony. In my decade with Plow and Hearth, their braided, loom knotted and flat woven works rate among the softest underfoot thanks to ethical sourcing allowing supremely scrutiny on fiber inputs. Modestly priced compared to retailers like West Elm, you‘ll appreciate less off-gassing and shedding.
While online color accuracy proves hit or miss, take a chance on their time-honored patterns in EverStrand wool-nylon hybrid or wool-jute rugs. Even high traffic paths around my dining set reveal minimal wear. Bonus: occasional pet accidents require just mild soap and water thanks to quality dense construction.
Pro Tip: Measure the entire room when buying sized rugs
3. Year-Round Bedding for Cozy, Chemical-Free Comfort
Curl up with Plow and Hearth‘s signature bedding as the perfect antidote to mass market offerings pumped full of wrinkle and stain resistant chemicals. Instead, responsible growing practices generate supremely soft Pima cotton, cashmere-soft wool and durably crisp European linens.
While the price per piece runs higher than big box players, breathability and fewer irritants during sleep justify the spend. As a hot sleeper, I adore lightweight, breathable linen duvet covers in the summer and made in America flannel sheets once temperatures drop. Finish the look with charming accent pillows every season.
Pro Tip: Splurge on pillows pairs with coupon codes
4. Garden Decor and Accents Aligning Form With Function
Informed by generations of homesteaders making the most of small footprints, Plow and Hearh‘s garden accents celebrate the union of charm and utility whether your have 100 acres or a tiny patio container oasis. Handcrafted birdhouses attract desirable songbirds to enhance biodiversity. Water features like wavy glass solar-powered fountains or rustic millstones repurposed into ponds add soothing auditory relaxation to unwind after work.
And vibrant glazed planters protect overflowing herbs and flowers in high traffic areas with style. While pricing runs higher than big box garden centers, the artistry and thoughtful designs merit costs for gifts or personal sanctuary investments.
Pro Tip: Seek out their regular 40% off sitewide sales
Beyond these four categories consistently delivering delight over 10+ years of regular use and wear, Plow and Hearth makes curating an intentional, artisanal look possible without going bankrupt. Just plan purchases using their frequent 40% off entire order sitewide promotions around standard markdowns up to 60% in clearance.
What I Don‘t Recommend Buying at Plow and Hearth
With an overwhelmingly positive experience across dozens of orders, what common pitfalls should first-timers avoid? Where does Plow and Hearth fail to satisfy? Two categories regularly miss the mark:
1. Streamlined Modern Silhouettes Feel Out of Place
While Plow and Hearth circa 2022 incorporates more contemporary finishes like iron frames and slipcovered upholstery, clean lines lacking ornamentation like Shaker chairs still feel slightly out of their comfort zone. Products veering modern err towards smaller boutique operations lacking the production polish and design scrutiny of dedicated contemporary brands.
If your home leans urban modern with soft Scandinavian minimalism, stick to structured specialists like Article, Joybird or Interior Define. Or properly vintage mid-century furniture over Plow and Hearth‘s classic Americana styles with the occasional modern update.
2. Subpar Lighting Fixtures Marring the Ambiance
Inemployee proper lighting spawn cohesive, welcoming rooms through thoughtful glare reduction, task lighting functionality and accent beams playing with dimensional textures across wall, ceilings and display surfaces. I‘ve struggled curating this balance across Plow and Hearth‘s lighting assortment.
While promotional copy hypes extensive testing, inconsistent finishes, distracting details that competitors exclude and scale issues diminishing statement-making impact cause more buyer‘s remorse than value. Explore handmade American brands like Farmhouse Fanatics for fixtures punching above their weight with creative charm and flattering illumination starting under $100.
Final Call: Should You Shop Plow and Hearth?
If channeling cottagecore vibes through touches of handcrafted weathered wood furniture, cozy textiles and homespun accents sounds like home to you, then absolutely embrace Plow and Hearth! As both a veteran lifestyle editor and longtime brand fan spanning over 100 purchases, I confidently recommend their consciously created products celebrating heritage hospitality with mostly modern functionality.
Through a decade-plus of experience, I hope this insider‘s guide provides clarity around ideal categories for investment based on personal crusading for quality, value and charm. Just dodge lackluster value lighting and temper expectations around streamlined furnishings. With the right expectations set on this brand delivering Americana coziness anchored in ethics and sustainability, get ready to find favorite pieces your family will enjoy for years to come!
Now excuse me while I go snuggle up with my wool throw and favorite embossed ceramic mug on the leather bench I first bought back in 2012, still aging beautifully by the fireplace…
Do you have any other Plow and Hearth questions I can answer from my decade of experience? Ask away in comments!
