Lillian August

Lillian August has beautiful things, there's no questioning that. While the prices can be shock-inducing, there ARE more reasonably priced items if you take the time to look. I furnished my entire living room there, it wasn't cheap but didn't break the bank, and it looks decor-magazine gorgeous. I also got tons of ideas just from walking around the enormous store and looking at all the little vignettes they have set up. I also spot things I like there, and then hope they turn up at Lillian August's outlet in South Norwalk. My den furniture is all items I happened to picked up at the Outlet over a few years' time. You really do have to go frequently, though, b/c the outlet inventory changes often. But Lillian August's Achille's heel is their service. I actually don't go anymore because of this. To get someone on the floor to help you is impossible. When you finally do, 9 times out of ten the salesperson is utterly condescending, and looks like they'd rather be doing anything else. I don't enjoy being made to feel stupid or cheap by a salesperson. The two in-store interior decorators I worked with there were the same. It's like they were doing me a favor. Their attitude was just terrible. I placed an order for several pieces of furniture in February, meant to be ready and delivered in May, which did not actually arrive until October! And during that time, I never got any calls with updates, nor any apologies. I had to chase them down to get occasional status reports. And they've gotten things wrong on two of of the three times I've ordered custom items from them. (Small lumbar pillows when I ordered large square pillows. and a right-facing sofa when I ordered a left-facing one.) Again, the service was unresponsive, unconcerned, and took forever. I finally decided it's not worth it to return. Go there to get ideas, and then hunt down the items elsewhere.