Description
Background Info and Provenance
(This Lounge Sofa for $1650 back in 2015. The listing price is for the SOFA ONLY! If I got the exact same sofa today I’d price it at more.)
A VINTAGE day/night sofa. (This listing is for the sofa that converts into a night bed- chairs are in a SEPARATE listing.) This is a highly sought-after design and I’ve seen nothing like this design new in the shops. This is because the exposed timber frame coupled with the mechanism that folds it down effortlessly into a bed is too expensive to produce anymore (the price tag would be about $3500-$5000 these days).
This sofa has a stunning aerodynamic flow with sweeping arms. There’s the refined essence of Danish furniture in the design but also a classic, bold flavour giving it a unique slant. I’ve never seen this exact design before. It may have been done by one of the custom-made outfits in Melbourne in the 1960’s but some English makers also come to mind. I’ve seen similar designs done by the highly-regarded Parker Knoll brand that came out of England. This could be Parker Knoll but I really don’t know. What’s for sure is that you won’t be seeing this in anyone else’s lounge room.
The quality of this sofa is exceptional. Beautifully-made, great angles and well finished. It’s solid and strong after at least 40 years of use. As far as comfort goes, this sofa ticks that box too- great angles and generous proportions with the right amount of springiness and support. Many Australian designs of this era have a straight seat (parallel to the floor) which makes them not as comfortable as this seat with its slightly angled back.
This day/night sofa is durable, a solid investment, looks stunning and is comfortable. On top of this the mechanism that allows it to fold back into a bed makes it really practical and further increases it’s value. I can’t think of anything more I’d want in furniture. But this has yet another tick. These covers zip off easily and can be washed in the washing machine- the whole suite is easy to keep looking good. (Just return the covers to the cushions when they’re still damp to prevent shrinkage.) This is a simple a sewing job if re-upholstery is needed in the future- just simple slip covers- nothing complicated- re-upholstery at any time would be cheap and easy making this a smart life-long investment.
Trends come and go but when an item built in the 1960’s/70’s attracts attention in 2015 and still has that wow factor it has come to supersede trends. The advantage in investing in vintage furniture is simple. When a sofa looks like this after about 45 years of use you’re guaranteed of the quality with regards to both durability and design. There are very few better ways to invest in your home and reduce your carbon footprint.
(This description was written in 2015. Any values given are applicable to 2015 and may have changed since then.)
