The Modern Materialist : sofa

You Know What? F@*k The Futaba!

Alex Zalben — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:32:00 GMT

Last week I told you about the Futaba, a combination between a sofa, and coffee table. I lamented the fact that it didn't fold into a bed, as well, and luckily, someone came to my rescue:

The Calypso Chair, designed by Brandon Allen, has tons of storage space, can fold into a coffee table, a bed, and a sofa. Also, I don't think it exists in the real world, yet; but take that, futaba!

[Via The Design Blog]

What The F@*k Is a Futaba???

Alex Zalben — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 19:33:00 GMT

The easy answer is, what you see above is a Futaba, but that doesn't really answer your question. Also, language, people. But here's the explanation, and why you should care:

The Futaba, a play on "Futon," is a coffee table that converts into a sofa, designed by Brooklyn's own Akemi Tanaka. Perfect for small apartments. Now, if it could also sweep back into a bed, we'd have the perfect date accesory: eat on the table, flip it out into a sofa for a movie, then into a bed for... Well, you know. When your date leaves, and you need to cry yourself to sleep? Yeah.

[$4750, Bobby Berk Home]

[Via Furniture Store Blog]

Scarlett Johansson Inspires Your Next Sofa

Steph Auteri — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:25:00 GMT

What does Scarlett Johansson inspire in you? (Aside from that tingly feeling...down there...)

For furniture designers Pal + Smith, the curve of Scarlett's waist inspired the Muse Sofa:

Eh...it's okay, but there seems to be a lot more to be inspired by in the Pal + Smith collection:

[Via Apartment Therapy]

Custom Sofas

Shaun Seneviratne — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:28:00 GMT

[photo via]

When moving into a new apartment, there are a few options for your seating situation:

Buy a brand new sofa. This will cost a shit-ton of dough.
Dumpster diving. Beware of bed bugs.
Thrift store/ garage sale. You could probably find something good, but transportation will be annoying.

Or you can go to Home Reserve and order a custom made sofa:

You can customize everything from the style of the sofa (Avenue, Monroe, Laney, etc.) to the fabrics (Cricket Orange, Corso Granite, Miles Citrus, etc.). It's reasonably priced too, starting at $300 (loveseats, chairs, sectionals all start at different price points).

The catch? You need to assemble it yourself.

They claim that it's easy and comes out very sturdy. . . but so does Ikea, and we all know that isn't really true for the most part.

[Prices Vary, Home Reserve]

Sitting Back To Back

Steph Auteri — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 23:04:00 GMT

[Photo via]

Things I Enjoy Indulging In Back-to-Back:

double features
dinner & dessert
a boogie-down Jackson 5 song followed by a Ben Folds ballad
episodes of House and So You Think You Can Dance
this sofa:

Okay. So you're not technically seated back to back, but that's definitely a lot of seat backs for one sofa. Designed by Nigel Coates for Fratelli Boffi, it costs £7,955.

[Via Book of Joe]

Chaise Lounge Is One Hot Tamale: 2

Steph Auteri — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:15:00 GMT

Just yesterday, I posted about a burgundy chaise lounge with a lot of personality. (A lot.) How to build a room around such a strong piece of furniture? After the jump, some pink accent pieces, and some darker pieces of furniture to offset the overwhelming brightness:

The chandelier is $2,199 from Neiman Marcus.
The drapes are $34.90, also from Neiman Marcus.
Neiman Marcus has also provided us with a coffee table ($1,829) and end table ($1,279). (It's a pity I can't actually afford anything from Neiman Marcus.
My favorite accent here is something I've posted about in the past...this ingenious chandelier wall light. How perfect is that!?

Chaise Lounge Is One Hot Tamale

Steph Auteri — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 18:24:00 GMT

Apartment Therapy is asking readers whether this pink chaise lounge is hot or not. I think there's no question. This lounge obviously has a first-class ticket on the hot tamale train. The only question left? How do you decorate a room around such a distinctive piece of furniture?

I'm taking suggestions in the comments, and will add a few of my own tomorrow.

[$1,300, Laurel Crown Furniture]

This Sofa Will Have You Climbing The Wall

Alex Zalben — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:06:00 GMT

No, not from aggravation. Because it looks like this:

[Parcours Saint Germain]

[Via Freshome]

Double Take: Long and Shapely

Steph Auteri — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 14:09:00 GMT

I found something long, soft, and shapely for you to snuggle up to:

[Nea Studio]

[Via Product Dose]

A Gorgeous Present For You

Alex Zalben — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:30:00 GMT

My love. Please. Look inside this case, as I have a absolutely stunning present for you, my bella. I have spent many hours thinking of this present, and I know it is something you truly love. So open it, my principessa, and see what is inside:

Ah, you see? I trick you! It is you! You are inside! You are a thing you truly love, you see, and a thing I have thought about for hoours. For this is no jewlery case, but in fact, a sofa.

To be honest, given that in this scenario, we were talking in person and you had to open it up, you should have realized this, based on the size of the thing. My bella.

[Mocinelli Design]

[Via The Design Blog]

Party At My Place: The Perfect Sectional For Your Next Orgy

Steph Auteri — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:30:00 GMT

This is what my sectional looks like from up above. The only differences? The color (mine is the color of oatmeal) and the fact that mine was purchased at Bob's Discount Furniture while this one was designed by the awesome Ligne Roset.

If you have more money than I do, the possibilities are even greater:

The sofa feels exceptionally spacious, even with just the first two pieces. If you had all four, well...well, you could have an orgy!

Or something.

[Via eUpgrader]

Sofa: Perfect for Round-Robin Games of Patty-Cake

Steph Auteri — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 19:00:00 GMT

[$16,200, PlushPod]

This sofa could also be used for seances. Or family meetings. Or extreme footsie.

Or perhaps even long, drawn-out bouts of awkwardness, where you try not to look at each other but just can't help yourself.

Seriously, though, how perfect would this be for small, intimate gatherings!? Whether you're into pinot and gouda, or longnecks and a rousing game of Asshole, the hot pink guarantees an upbeat ambience for the entire evening.

Multitasking: Sofa/Bed?

Steph Auteri — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 17:00:00 GMT

[$4,800, PlushPod]

Okay. This is almost as cool as that time my almost-husband and I went to IKEA and we found this bed with an armrest in the middle and I suggested that we buy it for our new condo because it would be nice to be able to put a barrier down between us when he wanted to "get with me" and I was tired and, heck, I don't like sharing a bed anyways, and then he yelled at me and said we would never purchase such a bed. Ever. (He was against the bunkbeds, too.)

This just reminds me of that because it's totally another piece of multitasking furniture!

This particular sofa has a wood portal for stashing the clutter, in addition to a cushion slice that can be up for lounging or down for regular old sitting.

I think it looks like a spaceship.

A Sofa Fit For a Queen (Or For That Spoiled Little Princess You Always Knew You Were)

Steph Auteri — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 14:30:00 GMT

[$1,949, High Fashion Home]

It's so difficult to find a couch that is both smooshy and in keeping with your stunning design sensibilities. And I have no idea if the couch above is smooshy. But it's definitely attractive. With its button-tufted, roll-armed, Old English look, you could probably convince passing strangers that you're wealthy just by having it in your living room. Or sitting room. Or library. Or whatever it is you stinking rich people call it nowadays. This particular style is also available in a deep mahogany hue.