Reviewer: Stewart Fussell, commerce SEO analyst
Model tested: Uncle Sal Chair
The details: BenchMade Modern is a custom furniture company that produces a range of products from sectionals to beds and chairs. Established in 2015, the brand prides itself on being able to fill orders in as little as two weeks while competitors can take months.
Before delivery
Price: How much does it cost? Are there payment plans available?
The Uncle Sal chair starts at about $3,000 for fabrics such as linen, tweed, and velvet. I decided to test out a premium leather which brought the price up to $3,740. Compared to other brands this is on the higher side but these products are made by hand in the United States with the highest-quality materials. In terms of payment plans, they offer 3-, 6-, and 12-month options (each with different interest rates) through Affirm.
What are the upholstery or customization options? Did you choose any? (are there free swatch options available?)
Benchmade offers 90+ upholstery options in varying textures and colors. Upon request, the company will send you free swatches. They arrive in a day or two and it’s a lot of fun to look through each of them. This is especially true for the premium materials where you can physically feel the difference. I locked on to a supple leather based on how soft the swatch was.
While you can’t change the size of the Uncle Sal chair, you can select your chair leg color and cushion package. The legs are available in Espresso (black), Stained Walnut (dark brown), and Honey Walnut (tan) but I opted for Stained Walnut. Meanwhile, there are two cushion packages Foam & Fiber (which is firm) and Foam & Trillium (a fluffier polyester fill similar to down). I went with the latter as I knew the leather would give the chair some structure already.
What is the lead time for customization, manufacturing, and delivery?
While there are a few ready-to-ship sofas on the website, the vast majority of the furniture is made to order. The Uncle Sal chair can be created in as little as two weeks but the leather option I chose took four. Shipping and delivery took another two weeks for a total of six in all.
After delivery
What are the dimensions? How does it fit in your space? Would it be better suited for a different type of home?
I would consider this to be a chair and a half; it is BIG. Before ordering I measured to be sure we had space for it. You can even order a free paper printout of the chair which is a great way to truly see the scope of it. My chair measures 31″H x 35″W x 39″D, but I love its large footprint. All of that said, I would not recommend this chair for small spaces.
Sit Test: Is it comfortable? Does it feel well made? Does the chair have a tendency to sag?
