This year, Sofa.com celebrates two decades of British design heritage, marking 20 years of crafting meticulously made, design-led upholstered furniture in the UK. Rooted in craftsmanship, material integrity and timeless style, the brand enters its anniversary year with a renewed design direction; being marked by bold creativity, thoughtfully engineered fabrics and innovative silhouettes that respond directly to the evolving demands of interior design today.
Throughout the year, Sofa.com will reinterpret its heritage through a contemporary lens, refining its iconic forms while evolving its fabric capabilities to support both aesthetic direction and performance-driven environments. A focal point of the anniversary programme is a curated spotlight on 12 of its most recognisable designs, each reimagined in 12 new fabrics that explore colour, tactility and material expression in modern ways.
The year launched with a different take on Isla, Sofa.com’s refined drawing-room classic, introduced in the new fabric Caper Smart Velvet. Pairing luxury with resilience, Smart Velvet features a protective coating that helps prevent spills and stains from penetrating the material, allowing designers to specify fabrics with confidence in high-use settings.
Following this, Sofa.com will debut the Marco Slim, streamlined yet generous, finished in a linen-look Aquaclean Chenille designed to balance elegance and long-term practicality. Alongside these key pieces, 2026 will see a continued expansion of the brand’s accessory portfolio, including a versatile footstool in May and a Ciel desk in October.
Beyond refreshed icons, Sofa.com will further expand its fabric library and introduce recently developed designs, reinforcing its commitment to flexibility, personalisation and performance; qualities increasingly essential for designers specifying for commercial and hospitality projects, where durability, comfort and cultivated aesthetics must coexist.
Since opening its doors in 2006, Sofa.com has become a trusted partner for designers seeking craftsmanship and creative possibility. With an extensive fabric offering and a breadth of adaptable styles, the brand continues to provide design professionals with the tools to create meaningful, emotionally resonant spaces with longevity at their core.
About Sofa.com
Passionate about outstanding interiors, sofa.com offers a diverse and design led collection of made-to-order sofas, armchairs, beds, footstools and home accessories. With an extensive range of styles and over 100 fabrics to choose from, as well as the option to upholster in your own fabric, the customisable nature of sofa.com’s products make each piece easily adaptable to any interior style – perfect for interior designers and specifiers looking for stand-out pieces for upcoming projects.
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For over 85 years, Duresta has stood as a symbol of British craftsmanship, timeless design, and refined comfort. Born in 1938 and still handmade in the heart of England, Duresta furniture continues to reflect a proud tradition of artisanal excellence—where every stitch, every frame, and every fabric selection is a celebration of personal style and enduring quality.
At the heart of Duresta is a devoted team of designers and upholsterers whose knowledge and skill are unmatched. “Only when you produce quality do you understand quality,” says Dale Corner, a master upholsterer who began his journey at Duresta in 1979. Now with 45 years of experience, Dale remains driven by the same passion he had as a young apprentice. “My aim is to produce the very best furniture possible—and to leave a legacy of quality and design for future upholsterers.”
Duresta’s ethos is built around one central promise: comfort. Whether through plush cushions, perfect proportions, or indulgent fabric choices, each piece of Duresta furniture is designed to offer the ultimate in luxury seating. With roots in traditional English upholstery techniques, Duresta’s handcrafted sofas and chairs carry subtle yet defining characteristics: deep seats, generous padding, and supportive structure—all brought to life with a meticulous eye for detail.
While comfort may be at the core, Duresta is equally defined by its unwavering devotion to self-expression. With an expansive catalogue of designs—ranging from classically elegant to clean-lined contemporary—customers are empowered to express their individual tastes and personalities through their furniture.
The brand’s bespoke approach ensures every Duresta piece is uniquely tailored. From choosing from an impressive palette of luxurious fabrics—featuring bold colours, intricate textures, and artistic prints—to selecting from refined wood finishes and interior trims, Duresta furniture becomes a true reflection of the homeowner’s vision.
“We don't just build furniture,” explains a Duresta design lead. “We help people tell stories about who they are and how they want their home to feel.”
Duresta’s legacy is deeply woven into the fabric of Long Eaton, a historic centre of upholstery craftsmanship. The company remains one of the last standing British manufacturers committed to producing luxury furniture entirely by hand—right here in the UK.
Each frame is made from solid hardwood and assembled using traditional joinery methods. Every detail—from pattern cutting and sewing to the final upholstery—is overseen by artisans who bring decades of experience to their work.
“Our people are our pride,” says the Duresta leadership team. “Behind every beautifully made sofa or armchair is a person whose hands and heart shaped it.”
In an age of disposable design and mass production, Duresta stands out for its dedication to sustainability and longevity. Pieces are not only built to look stunning, but also to stand the test of time—both structurally and stylistically. This commitment to quality means that a Duresta piece is an investment, not just in aesthetics, but in durability and responsible production.
By continuing to manufacture in the UK, Duresta also reduces its carbon footprint, supports local employment, and maintains tighter quality control—all of which contribute to a more sustainable furniture industry.
As Duresta looks ahead, the brand remains grounded in the traditions that built it—yet inspired by the possibilities of modern design and materials. Innovation meets heritage in every new range, as Duresta seeks to balance timeless appeal with contemporary living.
“Whether you’re furnishing a Georgian townhouse or a modern apartment,” says a spokesperson, “Duresta offers you the opportunity to create a living space that is both beautifully personal and incredibly comfortable.”
About Duresta
Luxury sofa and chair company that is handcrafted in England using the finest materials and traditional methods, using a wide range of beautiful fabrics to suit your requirements. See our website to view the full selection of both English luxury designed models and International luxury products.
Set up in 1961, the trade fair boasts a wide range of furnishing products, distinguished by their expressive power and their functional, technological and material innovation, devised to enhance the domestic scene. Ingenuity, vision, innovation, sustainable excellence and emotion make up the familiar lexicon of the companies and brands that exhibit at the Salone Internazionale del Mobile, which has now been proved to be increasingly more global, inclusive and in dialogue with the entire creative and productive furnishing system.
SBID Members earn 2 x CPD points for attending!
The focus is on strongly-in-demand interiors solutions that are market-ready for the international furniture trade – from furniture trade chains through purchasing associations to the online mail order trade. As a modern business platform, imm cologne efficiently brings together the consumer-oriented interiors industry and decision makers of the international furniture industry on four days – compact, cost-efficient and focused on the essential. The annual date in January remains: perfect for a successful start to the interiors year. Be part of it from 20 to 23 January 2026 in Cologne!
As the premier destination for premium furniture and innovative design, JFS is perfectly placed in the retail calendar, giving visitors the opportunity to be the very first to see the launch of new-season styles and trends.
Crafted with visitors needs in mind JFS welcomes the highest calibre of brands and buyers to NEC Birmingham, where more than 50,000 products are showcased across the event’s 4 curated sectors. Alongside sourcing, JFS is the meeting place for the industry with trade buyers and brands flocking from across the UK and beyond to connect, buy, sell, learn, and network.
Sofa.com are proud to have welcomed many guests to their recently unveiled the House of sofa.com. Open for a limited period from 7th November to 19th December, the immersive, design-led townhouse in the heart of Chelsea brought to life the vision of Creative Director Nicky Emlick. Conceived as an inspiring destination for trade customers, the House of sofa.com served as an expression of the brand’s artistry, technical expertise and longstanding commitment to thoughtful collaboration.
Each space, from the tranquil bedroom suites to the elegant dining room, was carefully composed to showcase both sofa.com’s established collections and a series of bespoke pieces created exclusively for the house. The meticulously renovated residence demonstrated the full breadth of sofa.com’s made-to-order capabilities, inviting designers, retailers and specifiers to experience the collections within a beautifully curated, real-home environment.
Throughout the house, the versatility and creative freedom of sofa.com’s COM offering was brought to life. Signature house designs were reimagined in an extensive range of textiles, illustrating the limitless potential for personalisation and the ease with which designers could apply their own chosen fabrics to sofa.com’s frames.
sofa.com’s master upholsterers in Poznań, Poland, renowned for their exceptional craftsmanship and attention to detail, produced a series of custom headboards, mirrors, benches and stools, each exemplifying the highest standards of upholstery and finish.
The project was further elevated through the collaboration of distinguished brand partners. With inspiration rooted in her Welsh heritage, Kelly Jenkins brought a custom bench to life, layering it with symbols of love, comfort, and home to create a stunning, one-of-a-kind art piece. Phillip Jeffries wallcoverings enveloped the interiors in a sophisticated, tactile warmth, while GP & J Baker fabrics introduced expressive pattern and refined texture across key furniture pieces, reinforcing the house as a celebration of design, craftsmanship and collaboration.
Leather is entering a fascinating new chapter in contemporary interiors. Once closely associated with the formality of Chesterfield and traditional club chairs, it is now being reinterpreted through a refined, design-led lens. In spaces where atmosphere, durability, and sensory appeal must coexist in perfect harmony, leather’s versatility has never been more compelling.
This season, designers are exploring mid-century influences translated for modern interiors. Elevated legs, clean, sculptural lines, and generously proportioned cushions allow leather to retain its characteristic warmth without imposing visual weight. The result is a material that exudes understated elegance rather than overt grandeur; an aesthetic that resonates across lounges, study areas, home offices, and residential living spaces alike. Where leather once commanded attention, it now invites engagement, offering a tactile, immersive presence that enriches the spatial experience.
At the forefront of this contemporary approach is sofa.com’s Ellora armchair, a piece that epitomises the balance between heritage and modern sophistication. Ellora reinterprets the classic leather armchair with soft, enveloping cushions and retro contours, providing all the warmth and familiarity of traditional design, while shedding its formality. Its relaxed, mid-century-inspired silhouette ensures versatility, equally suited to a serene reading nook, a collaborative workspace, or a refined executive study. Ellora embodies a guiding principle of modern interiors: furniture should be as inviting as it is aspirational.
Durability remains one of leather’s most significant qualities. Few materials respond to the passage of time with such grace. Over months and even years, natural creasing and subtle tonal variations develop into a rich patina, imbuing each piece with singular character. Rather than diminishing in time, leather accrues distinction, rendering it a long-term investment that enhances both the aesthetic and functional integrity of a space.
Above all, comfort remains central to design. The Ellora’s generous cushioning encourages people to linger, whether for work, reading, or conversation. Its tactile richness fosters a sense of intimacy and luxury, while its elegant proportions elevate the overall visual composition.
This autumn, sofa.com is making a bold statement, launching their largest and most luxurious sofa to date. With its adaptable modular configuration, Sloane is ideal for openplan living and for clients seeking flexibility without compromising on style.
Featuring generous proportions, a low-slung silhouette and a distinctive angled corner module, Sloane presents a sculptural alternative to the traditional L-shape. The innovative angled module maximises seating potential while transforming the corner into an inviting, design-led focal point. This unique configuration supports fluid, sociable layouts – perfect for zoning larger living spaces.
Inspired by the ‘Pure’ trend – rooted in minimalism, tactility and longevity – Sloane’s design is grounded in both aesthetics and functionality. It rests on a solid oak plinth, balancing its substantial scale with visual lightness. Comfort is equally considered: a Quallofill fibre and shredded foam blend provides resilience, shape retention and a sink-in feel suited to everyday lounging.
Available in over 100 upholstery options – including high-performance Aquaclean fabrics, leathers and natural fibres – Sloane offers both customisability and long-lasting durability for the modern home.
The Ciel console table reimagines a classic form through the lens of organic modernism. Upholstered entirely in fabric and topped with solid oak in a walnut finish, it offers a tactile experience and a safety-conscious design for family homes.
With soft, continuous curves and rounded edges, Ciel eliminates sharp corners, making it ideal for homes with young children without compromising on style. With its soft form, Ciel adds visual interest and sculptural presence to any space. Measuring just 44cm deep, it's perfect for compact layouts, whether used as a console or a slimline writing desk. Designers can choose from sofa.com’s full upholstery library or apply COM (Customer’s Own Material) for a truly bespoke finish.
Whether used as a standalone statement or integrated into a cohesive scheme, Ciel balances function, form and safety with design-forward appeal.
Jonathan Clark, Creative Director at Shelved, has given his insights into the industry.
Shelved specialises in modular storage and shelving solutions that blend style and function for modern interiors.
Shelved was launched in May 2021 as a direct-to-consumer extension of Rack Systems Ltd, a long-established British manufacturer of commercial furniture components. Based in rural North Yorkshire, Shelved was founded on the vision to bring high quality, modular furniture directly into people’s homes—with over 30 years of manufacturing expertise behind it.
The concept began as a commercial, adaptable shelving system. Realising its potential in residential spaces, Creative Director, Jonathan Clark, reimagined it for the home, building the brand and product range and including nuances to suit this market. Behind the scenes the team developed the product, ensuring specification and assembly were made as simple as possible, via our online product configurator and by adding a patent pending “click together” assembly system for ease and longevity.
Modularity & Customisation: Built around a 40 × 40 cm grid, the Shelved system empowers designers and clients to create storage or display solutions that fit their space and functional needs.
Configurator Plus AR Tools: The intuitive 3D product configurator allows you to create, customise, and visualise designs in real time. Even better, the augmented reality (AR) feature lets you see the design in situ before ordering.
High-Quality, Made in Britain: All furniture is designed and manufactured in Shelved’s North Yorkshire factory. The steel framework, panels, all components—and even packaging—are UK-made and delivered directly, offering both quality and value.
Sustainability & Longevity: With durable steel, recyclable materials, and a re-configurable nature, products are built to adapt, not to be thrown away, fully aligning with sustainable design principles.
Shelved occupies a unique modular, made‑in‑Britain furniture niche, blending industrial robustness with interior design flexibility. Its modular system isn’t just functional; it evolves with the user’s lifestyle and aesthetic, offering long-term value, customisation, and reduced waste. This stands in contrast to typical flat-pack furniture, which is often disposable and hard to adapt.
Being accredited by Made in Britain reinforces Shelved’s commitment to quality, sustainability, and ethical manufacturing standards.
Free Design Service: Shelved offers a complimentary one-to-one design consultation. Designers can share client needs in the form of dimensions, style, function—and the Shelved team delivers thoughtful proposals and works through revisions as needed.
Trade pricing: We recognise the valuable contribution and benefit of working with interior design professionals, and are keen to reward and support partners that specify our product. We offer incentivised pricing to ensure the partnerships are mutually beneficial for all involved.
Trade Accounts & Galleries: There’s a dedicated Trade Gallery and collections, like Commercial Spaces, specifically tailored for design professionals.
Configurator & AR Tools: Designers benefit from powerful tools to iterate designs with clients visually and interactively.
One of our proudest moments this year was completing and delivering one of our largest single configurations to date for renowned artist Paul Kenton. Designed specifically for his studio space, this bespoke three-sided installation brought together a variety of elements—vinyl storage, integrated planters, and a mix of open and closed shelving—into one cohesive, functional, and visually striking design.
This was a truly substantial configuration that showcased the full potential of our modular system, combining practicality with aesthetic impact. Seeing it installed in Paul’s creative workspace was a real testament to how Shelved can deliver on large-scale, highly tailored projects without compromising on our core principles of quality, adaptability, and British manufacturing.
We were also thrilled to collaborate with Zara and Giuliano of @thefoxesmaltings, whose stunning home was featured on Grand Designs. Bringing their vision to life was an absolute joy—from the first design discussions to the final installation, every step was infused with creativity and attention to detail. Their project was a perfect showcase of how Shelved can seamlessly blend into a bold, architecturally ambitious interior, adding both functionality and a refined, custom aesthetic. Being part of a home with such a captivating story, and seeing it celebrated on a national stage, was incredibly rewarding for our whole team.
Feature & Media Walls: Customers are embracing bespoke media installations combining open shelving with concealed storage—often blending materials like oak, anthracite, and brass pins for a balanced and stylish look.
Room Dividers: Modular units are increasingly used as statement room dividers, adding both function and artistry to open-plan spaces.
Material Mixing & Minimalism: Contrasting white minimalist frameworks with warm wood accents, peeking brass hardware—there’s a strong lean towards subtle minimalism and texture contrast.
Demand for Flexible, Eco-Conscious Design: As lifestyles continue to shift—working from home, changing spaces, sustainability focus—designers and clients will seek furniture that’s adaptable, durable, and eco-friendly.
Tech-Integrated Planning: Visual tools like 3D configurators and AR will become more standard in client engagement and project development.
Customisation as Standard: “One-size-fits-all” is fading; there’s a growing expectation for furniture tailored to personal style, storage, and spatial needs.
Shelved is well-positioned in each of these trends.
We’re currently developing two brand-new ranges that will take everything people love about Shelved to the next level. These collections will still embody the core principles that define us: exceptional quality, British manufacturing, modular configurability, and adaptable design - but will push those values further than ever before.
Both ranges will offer greater dimensional control and expanded customisation options, giving designers and clients even more freedom to create perfectly tailored solutions for their space. By enhancing the precision and flexibility of our designs, we’re making it possible to achieve a truly bespoke feel while maintaining the ease, durability, and timeless aesthetic that Shelved is known for.
As an SBID Accredited Industry Partner, Shelved gains recognition within the interior design community as a trusted, innovative and quality-led collaborator. It aligns Shelved with the professional values of SBID—design excellence, ethical practice, and peer-networking—reinforcing the brand as a credible, design-focused furniture partner. Plus, it enhances visibility among interior designers looking for adaptable, stylish, and sustainable storage solutions.
About Shelved
Shelved specialises in modular storage and shelving solutions that blend style and function for modern interiors. With our innovative online product configurator, customers can design their own unique shelving system tailored to their needs and space. Every Shelved product is made in Britain using high-quality materials, ensuring durability and timeless appeal. From home offices to living rooms and commercial spaces, our flexible systems adapt to any environment. Discover the freedom to customise your storage with Shelved—where thoughtful design meets British craftsmanship, and every detail is created with you in mind. Transform your space with shelving made for you.
Duresta, the iconic British furniture brand known for handcrafted luxury, timeless comfort, and expressive design, is delighted to announce an exclusive in-store workshop event for interior designers at its elegant Islington showroom, taking place during London Design Week and beyond.
This engaging and inspiring mid-morning event offers design professionals a unique opportunity to connect, discover, and indulge in the world of Duresta.
Sessions: - Tuesday 30th September, 10:30am - 12pm - Wednesday 1st October, 10:30am - 12pm
SBID Members earn 2 x CPD points (per session) for attending!
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