Stratospheric Furniture Dust

The air is thin at the top. I mean at the very top. Up where you need supplemental oxygen to breathe. Such as a furniture budget equal to what most people spend on a home. Or where people actually do say "if you have to ask, you can't afford it."

But oh what a view!

Like a Ferrari Enzo or a Bugatti Veyron it is the details that justify the price tag. Hand-made to standards that exceed anything a production furniture manufacturer could do, furniture in this class is produced like a one-of-a-kind work of art.

Here are my picks for world's best quality furniture.

1. Burton-Ching

Burton-Ching is a unique story in the world of 18th century reproductions. Their president, Sen Ching is a master furniture craftsman. He learned the art of furniture making as an apprentice and honed his talents restoring and repairing fine antiques. Mr. Ching's mission statement for the company can be summed up as: "how much pleasure will a reproduction provide its owners, not just today, but for generations to come?" They are not reproducing just the style though, their goal is to create an original that is true to the construction, style and essence of fine 18th century furniture. Their attention to detail is reflected in an exclusive 13-step French Polish which gives each item a rich patina and unique character. The collection includes more than 200 pieces.