okay so i said i was going to write a post on why i thought crate and barrel did a good job w/ their furniture and so here it is. again, when i thought mail order catalogs, crate and barrel would not have been my first choice on who to turn to for the "look" but going to the store surprised me and this is why... the upholstery was very current. i really loved the ross sofa. i think it really depicts a coastal feel w/ the current look i tend to go for (slipcovered, squared arms, waterfall drop skirt). the next thing that i liked was the pacifica dining room table and buffet/ hutch combo. it has a natural finish that i think looks great in a beach environment. also the big sur is a great look for dining. i was shocked at how much the calypso chairs are modeled after mcguire. they are really sharp looking and a minuscule of the cost. i also really loved the madsen mirror...it Is a take on the convex mirror that is going around and it's done very well. lastly, with it being summer, everyone is in the market for outdoor furniture. while i ADORED the stuff restoration hardware had (especially the antiqua outdoor collection) i was shocked at how horrible it sat...very low to the ground and not comfortable at all. c & b's outdoor stuff was by far the most comfortable...but i will say they need to update their styles. so there you have why i liked crate and barrel...i guess it really just depends on what you are shopping around for....