Monkeyshines's Profile

I agree 100% with Kjersti. You can argue the aesthetics of color choice, but the way it's done just looks half-@ssed, cheap and lazy with the steps being painted as well. I can't imagine they'll wear well. If they did the lintels, capstones, window headers, etc. with, maybe a gloss black it would at least look a little more cohesive and thought-out, although likely still ugly.

I view this like I view software piracy - it's harmful when you're getting something that you otherwise would have purchased, however the company actually benefits if you're not taking revenue from their pocket.

What I mean is: I may procure a copy of Photoshop, as opposed to using the Gimp or some other freeware program, however I would never have the money to purchase Photoshop myself so if I couldn't get that pirated copy, I would never expose myself to it and would not have a familiarity with it. By investing my mindshare in that program, however, I'm increasing Adobe's market dominance and in a business setting I would encourage purchase of that program because I'm already familiar with it.

Similarly, I may not be able to afford a $2,500 table right now, and so have to settle for a cheap knock-off - but if the opportunity presents itself later in life for me to purchase the real thing, my appreciation for the design would result in me ponying up for it. Also, there is the investment value to consider - while you can often achieve most of the short-term aesthetic benefit with a knockoff (at least in some cases), like all "used" furniture it's going to depreciate over time while a piece with the name behind it will, at worst, hold a higher percentage of its value and at best will actually appreciate in value.