We really like 'qumei' -- scandinavian designers, but somewhat higher end. They have a range of prices -- from the ikea range and up and up. They are a chain, so I'm sure they have branches in shanghai.

If shanghai is anything like beijing, there are hundreds of options. Including locally made, non-grotesque, furniture. Your daughter has been in shanghai for quite a while now, so I'm sure she probably already knows of lots of options if she has spent time with non-studenty types: both expat and chinese.

tb