Dennis & Leen is a boutique furniture brand focused on handcrafted, artisanal pieces with a rustic-modern charm, often using reclaimed and sustainable materials. In contrast, Restoration Hardware (RH) operates as a luxury retailer, offering grand, large-scale furniture inspired by classic European design that aims to make a bold, sophisticated statement.
Let's compare everything you need to know about these two high-end brands to see which is the right fit for your home.
Dennis & Leen: The Artisanal & Sustainable Choice
Dennis & Leen is built on a foundation of craftsmanship and unique design, creating timeless furniture that feels both authentic and modern. The brand appeals to buyers seeking durable, one-of-a-kind pieces that highlight the natural beauty of materials like reclaimed wood. It is a go-to for shoppers who value a personal touch and an ethically sourced product.
- Product mix: A focused collection of furniture including dining tables, beds, accent furniture, and storage pieces.
- Style/vibe: Rustic-modern design that blends farmhouse charm with contemporary minimalism. Pieces are characterized by natural wood finishes, simple lines, and a warm, inviting feel.
- Price point: Mid-to-high range, offering artisanal quality at a more accessible price than top-tier luxury brands. Sofas start around $2,000, dining tables from $3,000, and beds upwards of $4,000.
- Quality & Materials: Emphasizes handcrafted construction using reclaimed and sustainably sourced woods and natural finishes. D&L uses traditional woodworking techniques like hand-joinery, highlighting its artisanal approach.
- Sustainability: A core part of the brand's identity, with a strong focus on using reclaimed wood and environmentally friendly finishes to minimize its impact.
- Shopping Experience: Primarily sold through their official website and select high-end showrooms, offering a more niche, personalized shopping journey.
Dennis & Leen offers high-quality, handcrafted furniture with a tangible connection to craftsmanship and sustainability, ideal for shoppers creating warm, authentic interiors.
Shop Dennis & Leen: dennisandleen.com
Restoration Hardware: The Timeless Luxury Retailer
Restoration Hardware, now known as RH, is a dominant force in the luxury home furnishings market. The brand is known for its grand, often oversized pieces that draw inspiration from classic, historical designs and are crafted with premium materials. RH's audience wants to create a sophisticated, highly curated atmosphere with statement furniture that commands attention.
- Product mix: An extensive range of home goods, including furniture for every room, lighting, textiles, bathware, hardware, and outdoor collections.
- Style/vibe: Timeless, refined elegance with a focus on classical and modern inspirations. The aesthetic is defined by grand scale, luxurious materials, and a sophisticated, often neutral, color palette.
- Price point: Luxury. Sofas typically start around $3,000 but can easily exceed $6,000, dining tables begin at $4,500, and beds often surpass $5,000.
- Quality & Materials: High-quality construction focusing on premium materials like kiln-dried hardwoods, rich leathers, Belgian linens, and metal finishes. While well-made, many pieces are mass-produced in large factories.
- Dimensions/Scale: Renowned for its large-scale and oversized furniture. Sofas are deep, tables are long, and beds have a significant presence, making them suitable for spacious rooms.
- Shopping Experience: Operates through massive, gallery-like showrooms, an extensive online store, and an iconic catalog. Offers premium services like design consultation and white-glove delivery.
RH provides an all-encompassing luxury experience, from its impressive showrooms to its high-impact furniture designed for sophisticated, grand-scale interiors.
Shop Restoration Hardware: rh.com
Dennis & Leen vs. Restoration Hardware Comparison
Price Comparison
Restoration Hardware is generally the more expensive of the two brands. A sofa from RH typically starts around $3,000-$6,000, while a Dennis & Leen sofa starts closer to $2,000. This trend continues with dining tables, which start around $4,500 at RH but can be found from $3,000 at Dennis & Leen.
In terms of value, Dennis & Leen provides high-level craftsmanship and unique, sustainable materials at a price that feels more accessible within the high-end market. The value of RH lies in its brand prestige, signature oversized scale, and full-service luxury experience. Both brands hold sales events, but RH also offers a membership program for year-round discounts.
Style & Aesthetic
Dennis & Leen's aesthetic is best described as rustic-modern. Its collections are grounded in the authenticity of natural materials, blending the warmth of farmhouse style with the clean lines of contemporary design. The overall feel is understated, inviting, and focused on natural character.
Restoration Hardware leans toward grandeur and opulence. Its style is refined and inspired by historical designs, updated for a modern audience. Featuring a largely neutral color palette and luxurious textures, RH designs are meant to feel timeless, elegant, and impactful. While Dennis & Leen delivers charm, RH delivers drama.
Quality & Materials
Both brands produce high-quality, long-lasting furniture, but their production philosophies differ. Dennis & Leen champions an artisanal approach, focusing on handcrafted construction, traditional joinery, and reclaimed, sustainable wood. Each piece often has a unique story and feels one-of-a-kind.
RH prioritizes premium, luxurious materials like solid kiln-dried hardwoods, top-grain leathers, and high-performance fabrics. Their construction is robust and designed for longevity, but production is at a much larger scale, which can result in a more uniform-looking product compared to the character-rich pieces from Dennis & Leen.
Scale & Sizing
The difference in scale is one of the most significant distinctions between the two. Restoration Hardware is famous for its oversized furniture. Its sofas are deep, its chandeliers are massive, and its dining tables are built to anchor large rooms. This grand scale is a key part of the brand’s identity but can be overwhelming in smaller or average-sized spaces.
Dennis & Leen, on the other hand, offers furniture that is more proportionally scaled for everyday living. While still substantial and well-built, their pieces are designed to fit comfortably into a broader range of room sizes without dominating the space.
Shopping Experience
Shopping at RH is an immersive experience. Their showrooms are designed as multi-story galleries, complete with design ateliers and, sometimes, restaurants. The brand provides a high-touch service model, with in-house designers ready to help plan your entire space.
The Dennis & Leen experience is more boutique and personal. Purchases are made online or through select high-end retailers, offering a more direct and intimate transaction that aligns with its artisanal identity.
Sustainability & Ethics
Sustainability is a cornerstone of the Dennis & Leen brand. Their heavy use of reclaimed wood and eco-friendly finishes makes them a clear choice for environmentally conscious consumers. The focus on local craftsmanship further supports this ethos.
RH has made efforts toward responsible sourcing and eco-friendly practices, including offering GREENGUARD Gold Certified items. However, due to its massive scale and global production network, its overall environmental footprint is naturally larger than that of a smaller, artisan-focused brand.
Which One Should You Choose?
The right choice comes down to your personal style, the scale of your home, and your priorities as a shopper.
Choose Dennis & Leen if:
- You prefer a warm, rustic-modern aesthetic with personality.
- Supporting sustainability and artisanal craftsmanship is important to you.
- You are looking for a unique, high-quality piece that feels one-of-a-kind.
- You need furniture that is beautifully proportioned for an average-sized home.
Choose Restoration Hardware if:
- You desire a grand, luxurious, and classically elegant interior.
- Your goal is to make a bold statement with large-scale furniture.
- You have a spacious home with high ceilings that can accommodate oversized pieces.
- You value a full-service, premium shopping experience with access to in-house designers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dennis & Leen or Restoration Hardware more expensive?
Restoration Hardware is generally more expensive across all categories. Its luxury branding, premium materials, and oversized scale contribute to a higher price point compared to Dennis & Leen's artisanal, yet more accessibly priced, high-end pieces.
Which brand has better quality furniture?
Both brands offer products known for excellent craftsmanship. The difference is in the style of production. Dennis & Leen focuses on handcrafted, artisanal quality with an emphasis on unique, natural materials, while Restoration Hardware provides high-quality, luxury-grade furniture produced at scale with premium, refined materials.
What style is Dennis & Leen furniture?
Dennis & Leen's style is best described as rustic-modern. It combines the warmth and character of farmhouse and rustic design with the clean lines and simplicity of modern aesthetics.
What style is Restoration Hardware furniture?
Restoration Hardware's style is timeless, grand, sophisticated, and classically elegant. It draws inspiration from historical European and American designs, reinterpreting them with modern sensibilities and a signature oversized scale.
Which brand is better for sustainability?
Dennis & Leen places a much stronger emphasis on sustainability, using reclaimed wood and eco-friendly finishes as a core part of its brand identity. RH has sustainable initiatives, but it is not the central pillar of its brand.
Is Restoration Hardware furniture good for small spaces?
Generally, no. Most RH furniture is intentionally oversized to create a grand effect and is best suited for large, open spaces with high ceilings. Some smaller decor and accessory items may work, but their core furniture collections can overwhelm a small room.
Where can I buy Dennis & Leen furniture?
You can purchase Dennis & Leen furniture directly from their official website and through select high-end showrooms and boutique furniture retailers.
Does Restoration Hardware have sales?
Yes, RH holds seasonal sales events. More consistently, shoppers can join the RH Members Program for an annual fee, which provides a fixed discount (typically 25%) on all full-priced items year-round.
At Interior Insider, we're dedicated to curating the best in home decor, interior design, and home essentials to help you discover brands we think you'll love. Every brand we feature is independently selected by our editorial team based on quality, design, and craftsmanship. When you make a purchase through our links, Interior Insider may earn a commission - which helps support our small team and allows us to continue bringing you inspiration and expert advice for creating your perfect space.
Looking for more inspiration? Explore our curated design guides to find your next favorite piece.
