Can you tell me anything about Scott Thomas and/or Bevan lines? They look great to me, but I'm unfamiliar with them. How do they compare with companies like Henredon and Baker? I've been eyeing some inlaid pieces from Scott Thomas that look gorgeous, and I have an opportunity to get them at a deep discount from a warehouse sale at a local manufacturer. Should I go for it? Thank you for your insight. I've never bought new furniture before and I'm overwhelmed.

Michelle: Imagine for a moment there is a place in town where you can find a Lexus, Mercedes, Acura, BMW, Ferrari, Cadillac, Bentley and Rolls Royce dealer all lined up on the east side of the road. Across the street on the west side are a Saturn, Chevrolet, Ford and Daiwoo dealership. If you had the money and wanted a top quality car you could pick just about anything from the east side of the road and you couldn't go wrong.

Without being too simplistic, I would line the Scott Thomas, Bevan Funnel, Henredon and Baker on the east side of the road. Pick one and you can't go wrong. Remember though, some of these manufacturers set the prices the dealers can charge so they are not as competitive with a similar brand that allows the dealers to price according to their market.