Designed to imbue a sense of luxe minimalism into commercial and residential projects alike, sofa.com is thrilled to present a new AW23 collection to a trade audience. Comprising 3 seating ranges, new designs offer a hint of Scandi styling and a whole host of sleek, contemporary shaping.
Catering for a global network of interior designers working on a varied selection of specifications, sofa.com has built on its much-loved core collection and become a renowned interior design destination. A curated collection which takes inspiration from timeless shape and design, with each piece presenting unique elements which showcase one of Autumn's key furniture trends: sculptural minimalism.
24 new fabrics join the expansive offering of seating, ensuring all sofa and armchairs are specifically tailored to their final placement - not forgetting the option to upholster each and every sofa.com piece in COM, allowing for endless possibilities.
Boston is introduced as the urban hero of the collection, available as various sized sofa, chaise, armchair and footstool. The upholstered base facilitates a more generous seat depth, and dual-layered arm detailing balances the masculinity of the sofa, bringing a sense of enveloping comfort and a touch of modern sophistication - the purpose of the design; to combine relaxation with luxury.
Anders launches as an edited reimagination of Isaac, one of sofa.com's best selling designs, and epitomises laidback luxury. The shape boasts a plush base and back cushions filled with feathers for ultimate indulgence. Fullyremovable fabric covers, beautiful piping detail, plump padded arms and a simple silhouette - culminating in a tailored approach to minimalist design.
Borrowing inspiration from the 80's, geometric contrasts are created through the juxtaposition of Hockney's angular wooden detailing and the sweeping curves of the seat itself. A self-supporting shape with its bulbuous seat resting comfortably on the floor - intelligently designed and effortlessly sturdy, with enough squish to sink into.
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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As a team, sofa.com always find it interesting to look back at the successes of the year so far, delving into the data to look at what clients are seeking when it comes to luxury design.
Material of choice:
The past few years had seen an increase in sales of upholstered seating and bedroom furniture in colourful fabrics. However, 2023 so far sees a shift, as neutral tones overtake to reign supreme once again. Comprising the largest percentage of sales, two beautifully cool-toned beiges share the top spot – Pumice house basket weave, and Cashew viscose linen.
A palette which has always been well-suited to high-end hotel and residential design, this move to a more muted, modest scheme sits in line with a wider consumer trend seen this year – minimaluxe, or quiet minimalism. A focus on a few pared-back hues used together to create a streamlined aesthetic. Often you’ll notice that it is no longer colour that is used to showcase personality - the detail is all in the unique shapely elements of furniture, or the texture of the fabric selected.
Furniture Shape and design:
Sales of furniture with multifunctional features have increased year on year. The flexibility of modular furniture allows us to rearrange and reshuffle to accommodate extra guests, to adapt for entertaining purposes, or to allow increased space for stretching out and relaxing.
The top preforming sofa first debuted in 2009 and has continued to hold the top spot – and for good reason. The timeless shape, and ever-expanding offering of configurations allows Bluebell to sit equally as perfectly within contemporary specifications as traditional schemes. Another classic which has hurdled a few other contenders and is now situated at second place, is our Otto. Sleek lines, yet unbelievable comfort make this the ideal option for all settings.
Sofa.com have been lucky enough this summer to work on a number of hotel redesigns, and are pleased that the focus on creating bedroom furniture that is both designed to last yet has elements of key trends is popular within the hospitality sector as much as with residential shoppers. Sales of beds and mattresses in particular sit at 50% up on last year’s figures.
The sofa.com design and trade teams continue to work together ceaselessly to ensure new products are created in response to the needs of our customers, building on successes, adapting to meet any challenges and always bespoke.
About sofa.com
The bedroom is one of the most important spaces in any project, whether residential or hotelier.
Considering the design of the room and ensuring that each element works effortlessly to create somewhere that promotes rest and enjoyment is key. Working closely with our global clientele over the past year, we’ve seen a noticeable shift in how designers are approaching each project, with a focus on creating a space of sanctuary. Each stage of the design process is an opportunity to create a space that evokes calm via colours, materials, furniture and accessory choice resulting in the perfect room layout.
As the centrepiece to all bedroom specifications, bed choice is key, and comfort is king. Think about both bed frame and mattress choice, as a deep slumber will be pivotal to guests not only feeling refreshed but recommending their experience to friends and colleagues.
Although we’ve seen hints over the past year or so that interior designers are becoming more experimental with colour, a calming selection of beiges, earth tones and off-whites remain top choices across our upholstered bed range. Texture is used as a way to add interest without opting for colour, with tactile fabrics such as sumptuously soft velvets, or comforting boucle offering the perfect starting point to create a neutral décor scheme that does not lack in design detail or impact.
Collaborating with our clients over the years, we’ve taken on board feedback on the importance of all the small details and our flexibility to fulfil bespoke requests means each element is considered, from bed height to access to switches, sockets and lighting.
Additional furniture should complement the overarching goal to create calm. Whilst acting as a decorative item and adding visual interest to a room, a well-chosen occasional chair at the right time of day can be either a relaxing additional space to unwind, or somewhere to sit and work. We’ve noticed an increase in designers’ incorporating seating at the foot of the bed, whether in the form of a chaise longue or decorative bench, again combining practicality that is tailored to the desired aesthetic. Bedside tables too should balance form and function, acting as a space to store personal items, while supporting stylistic factors within the room.
Often considered more by residential designers, incorporating elements of biophilia through the use of natural materials, and colours inspired by the outside environment has a multitude of benefits in hotel specifications. First popularised in the 50s to boost productivity in office design, this is a trend that has crept into hotel planning to promote a peaceful atmosphere.
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Consistently expanding on its contemporary custom designed offering sofa.com is delighted to introduce the launch of the SS23 Collection to a trade audience.
Launched on February 7th, the new season collection at sofa.com is a celebration of bespoke, high-quality comfort and sleek, shapely style. The collection comprises two hero upholstered seating options, new dining and storage furniture, and expansions of best-selling ranges, with a focus on growing bedroom and dining categories as well as presenting range expansions for the residential areas. Catering for a range of design specifications across commercial and residential projects, the collection introduces two main trends, with elements of coastal charm and modern rustic weaved through new product design.
The overarching palette for Spring is one that calms and comforts. Relaxed shaping and minimalist detailing are present throughout. Thirteen additions to the already vast assortment of fabric options include new varieties of velvet, subtly patterned weaves, and trendy tweeds, with a myriad of seascape blues central to the selection. All pieces of the expansion are also available as COM to create bespoke options to allow designers breadth of choice.
Speaking on the collection, trade development manager Laura Tarratt comments:
"We have seen a slight uptick in coastal and rustic styling and predict these themes to be the trends for 2023. Our new SS23 collection perfectly caters for these re-emerging themes with relaxed and minimalist shaping present throughout the collection. This season seating is at the core and we wanted to ensure each sofa, dining seat or armchair would stand alone as a beautiful, functional residential piece but also work to create a statement within restaurants, bars, office meeting room or set the scene in a hotel lobby."
"The overarching palette for spring is one of light tones and natural materials that embody comfort. Beautifully represented with plush velvets and subtle patterned weaves, we are expecting coastal themes to emerge in hotelier commercial and residential projects. Complementing this neutral colour scheme is the presence of rustic textures and solid fabrics rather than patterns.
Modern rustic radiates a relaxing and comfortable feel, which fits in with people’s desire for cocooning furniture. Boasting over 75 fabrics and the option to upholster all pieces in COM, our in-house team can fulfil any project brief becoming a one-stop shop for our growing interior designer clientele base."
Cover image: Sofa.com Seattle accent chair in Oyster boucle £940 each and Alexandria side table in black £310
Autumn proved to be the season the interior design community returned to pre-pandemic normality – out and about at every opportunity, and Sofa.com team were so pleased to be involved in some of the key events that attracted crowds of design enthusiasts and industry professionals.
Kicking off the season, they hosted an insightful podcast recording in the newly refurbished Chelsea showroom. Led by the host of Interior Design Business, Susie Rumbold, who took centre stage to discuss all thing eco – looking into how products are made, and the life cycle of everyday items.
A captivated audience participated in a lively discussion between Alexandra Jurkiewicz, Creative Lead at Helen Green Design, Chloe Bullock, founder of Materialise Interiors, and David Chenery, founder and director of Object Space Place - three designers leading the way toward a greener future, considering best practice, material innovations, and non-negotiables.
Full conversation available here.
Providing a variety of furniture for a number of spaces at Cheshire’s beautiful Capesthorne Hall, comfortably seated both guests and speakers for a variety of panels and discussions. Sofa.com's highlight of the week was working once again with The Interior Design Business Podcast as they delved into the nation’s favourite interior design TV shows and how they benefit the industry – with insight from Verity Coleman from Rascal & Roses, Siobhan Murphy from Interior Curve and Peter Grech from The SpaceMaker Interiors.
Available to listen here.
Sofa.com were proud to be the official furniture provider for this year’s sell-out show, providing furniture for several main stages and communal areas. Partnering with the IHS provided the opportunity to showcase new and best-selling designs to an elite group of hoteliers, commercial specifiers and leading interior designers. Their seating provided the perfect platform for industry experts such as Hamish Kilburn, Gavin Couper, and Eljesa Saciri as they spoke on upcoming trends and industry innovation: link here.
The first edition of the event post pandemic proved a roaring success, with visitors enjoying business conversation, insightful discussions and unique networking opportunities.
Working with Linwood over many years, Sofa.com know how beautiful their fabrics look on their seating, so they jumped at the chance to upholster our best-selling Bluebell sofa in their new Maypole linen. Decorex offered the perfect opportunity to showcase the finished result which was a real showstopper. One of their key offerings for design clientele is COM provision and judging by the number of entrants in our giveaway, it was a much-coveted item.
Four days of bustle as visitors enjoyed a world of inspiration across all categories of design.
Sofa.com's trade team was on site at each event to speak with both new and prospective customers, recommending product and demonstrating their wealth of knowledge on furnishing both contemporary and traditional décor.
As we approach the end of another busy year, Sofa.com shares their favourite projects and reflects on their achievements from 2022...
For us, working collaboratively with various designers has been a real highlight - helping to bring their creative vision to life and seeing our products in a range of gorgeous spaces. The breadth of projects this year has been wonderful, from larger hospitality work, to commercial settings and a wealth of boutique hotels; this is where sofa.com product really comes to life, with bespoke elements and extensive fabric choice meaning no two projects look the same. Here's what they had to say!
We have compiled some of our favourites of the year, from the hills of Edinburgh to the coastal waters of Cornwall and everywhere in-between, featuring design specifications that we’re most proud of and are thrilled to see completed to such a high standard.
One of our most recent collaborative projects has just recently completed in time for the holidays. It was a joy to work with Unique Homestays on the renovation of The Hatch, a pared-back coastal property next to the glimmering seas in Cornwall. Finishing touches in the dining room convey the aesthetic of the property perfectly, but with a slight bias our favourite room has to be the Scandi-inspired living room, featuring our bestselling Isaac sofas.
Another key project with Unique Homestays was the completion of Little Inka, a cottage finished with trending combinations of black and brass. This modern farmhouse aesthetic is the perfect setting for our Chesterfield style Patrick loveseat in beautiful vintage leather.
Additional highlights include working with The National Trust Scotland, Alice Leigh design, and The Bath Arms to name a few.
It’s wonderful to look back and celebrate with our customers on the completion of their projects. Thank you to all for working with us, and we look forward to collaborating in the future. As we look towards 2023 and exciting projects on the horizon – we’ve are thrilled to be part of such a vibrant industry.
Cover image: Emma Gurner
Continuing to expand on its contemporary design offering, sofa.com is delighted to introduce its AW22 collection to a trade audience.
Comprising of four new designs across upholstered seating catering for a range of design specifications across commercial and residential projects. The collection includes the new hero range, Tiffany, a vintage-inspired armchair, Shelby, and two new stylish dining chairs, Lola and Piper all available in 75+ fabric options as well as COM to create bespoke options to allow designers breadth of choice.
Inspired by modern renaissance design - a trend which integrates contemporary shapes with classic detailing to bring together refreshing pieces with a sense of refinement, glamour and a touch of charm from the Art Deco era - each piece incorporates an element of pleated stitching which unites the new look across the collection.
Also including expansions upon two of sofa.com’s bestselling designs, the Larsen armchair and Teddy chaise join AW22. All-time favourites in the sofa range, these pieces offer a more traditional aesthetic to cater for a variety of residential projects.
The new colour palette for the season includes velvets in warming autumnal tones – vibrant oranges, forest greens and salmon pinks - alongside a range of weaves in pared-back neutrals and subtle blues and greens. These palettes will help create differing interior styles from modern luxe to a more organic, minimalist aesthetic.
“Seating is at the core of this collection and we wanted to ensure each sofa, dining seat or armchair would stand alone as a beautiful, functional residential piece but also work to create a statement within restaurants, bars, office meeting room or set the scene in a hotel lobby. The continued expansion of our dining collection has proven popular with sales increasing season upon season. We also wanted to ensure we weren’t compromising on comfort or style, and have focussed on ensuring optimal dimensions and fillings to create the ultimate design combination of ergonomically sound and elegant. Boasting over 75 fabrics and the option to upholster all pieces in COM, our in-house team can fulfil any project brief becoming a one-stop shop for our growing interior designer clientele base.”
Handmade-to-order in just 4-6 weeks – now available online and in store.
With the much-anticipated AW22 living and dining collection from Sofa.com that has launched on the 5th September, we have taken this opportunity to look back and share insight from the last 12 months. As we seek to identify trends spotted by our trade team, we can unveil the design and fabric preferences from their elite group of interior designer clientele.
The ever-popular collection of cotton matt and smart velvets has now been overtaken in sales volume by the brushed linen cottons - a collection made from 63% cotton and 37% linen offering a stylish and durable upholstery solution. The collection contains a mixture of neutrals and greys, blue and green fabrics with Taupe, Alabaster and Charcoal proving to be most popular.
Other recent launches have also captured the imagination with the Brushstroke fabric collection, already registering as our 8th bestselling line as the tactile nature of the fabric seems to be a requirement that many designers look for.
Our overall top sellers reflect a return to a pared back palette of neutrals. Overtaking the jewel toned velvets popular for the past few seasons are Pumice, Clay, Taupe, Alabaster and Armour.
Interestingly, the summer months have encouraged designers to opt for custom coverings with an increase in COM orders.
Upcoming fabric launches for AW22 include the Heathland Weaves collection as well as range extensions for Smart Velvets, Boucle, Vermeer Linen and Silky Jacquard Weaves. Available in a selection of neutrals, Heathland Weaves cater for a growing desire amongst designers to utilise greys and pared-back autumnal tones and fabric compositions that are as hard-w earing as they are stylish.
Delving deeper into the data the trade team have been able to identify the most popular pieces across the board. The modular Cohen has led the way for 2022, its contemporary styling and generous proportions proving popular across an array of design projects. Bluebell remains the perennial favourite, its timeless, classic design offers versatility for traditional and modern schemes.
Bestsellers in each category include the Izzy modular sofa, Alderney armchair, Thea bed, Arabella dining chairs, and Kingsley table.
Ever adapting to the needs of our designer clientele base, the sofa.com team are proud to be at the forefront of delivering the highest quality furniture, fulfilling each order to exacting specifications.
The trade team at sofa.com is on-hand to assist with any queries – please visit www.sofa.com/trade for more information.
Expanding on the brand’s new contemporary handwriting, sofa.com has launched three new statement seating designs as part of their latest collection. Each piece is handmade-to-order in just 4-6 weeks and can be upholstered in over 75 different fabrics to perfectly suit any residential or commercial project.
The range puts a spotlight on minimalist modern shapes and sleek lines ideal for contemporary interiors design projects.
Oswald and Chester join the range as the two hero designs for the season boasting clean lines and Scandi-inspired shapes, combining elements of contemporary style with the same trusted comfort the brand is so celebrated for. Curvilinear detailing and sleek tapered legs lend a feminine, avant-garde allure to Edie creating an elegant, fashion-forward shape.
With Chester available as armchair or various sized sofa, Oswald as the all-encompassing corner option, and Edie as the cocktail chair of choice, the brand is introducing modern marvels for varying lifestyles and for the ever-evolving interiors.
Each new design is available in different fabrics and colours - from durable cottons, to lavish velvets and luxurious leathers. This ensures each hand-crafted sofa.com upholstered design is bespoke based on your own requirements, whether specifying seating for a residential, hospitality or commercial property. With the entire range also available in COM, there is no compromise necessary to create the perfect custom design.
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