Sublime Sofas
I am starting on my quest to find a new sofa and here is the short list (in my dreams)
When I first moved in with my husband, he had these two huge Ikea sofas in his sitting room that basically took up all the floor space. To say they were eyesores would be an understatement. Before I moved in, I didn’t give them much thought; they were there for two men to sit on while playing video games, eating, and watching TV. However, this promptly changed when I realized this was now our shared space, and I began to detest them with a fervent passion.
This coincided with Gabby Deeming (founder of Daydress), my then boss and former Creative Director of House & Garden, designing a sofa collection for Arlo & Jacob. Although I had no hand in the design process, the topic of sofas became quite engaging. Gabby was the perfect woman for the job, having already designed The Editors Chair for David Seyfried—a chair that predicted and helped ignite the trend for wavy and scalloped pieces. Her sofa collection was truly delightful, and one piece, in particular, caught my eye. Having an inside connection at Arlo & Jacob, I asked if there would be a press discount, and indeed there was. I managed to snag an ex-display sofa for £800. My then-boyfriend, now husband, thought this was an exorbitant amount to pay. He only conceded that it was a good deal after consulting his colleagues in insurance, not taking the word of his girlfriend who worked in the industry.
This sofa has been ours for eight years, a trusty steed that has played host to many parties, naps, and a vast amount of TV watching. However, it is now too small for the size of our room, so I plan to replace it within the next year. This is a long process as, my goodness, sofas have become expensive! As noted below, many are handmade in the UK, so the price is understandable, but generally, you're looking at a couple of thousand pounds at least. I've included a few vintage options and some from high street stores; although I once lamented the Ikea sofas my husband had, I've been astounded by how good some people have made Ikea sofas look.
Here are a few tips to help you on your way -
Measure Your Space: Before shopping, carefully measure where you plan to place the sofa. Consider the dimensions of the sofa, including width, depth, and height, to ensure it fits comfortably without overcrowding the room. Also, measure doorways, hallways, and any stairs leading to your living room to ensure the sofa can reach its destination - the anxiety of bringing a sofa into a room is the pits. I have never been good at forward-thinking, and it is only through the helpfulness and ingenuity of the delivery men that we have managed it.
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