STUDY goes Davenport

Study needs a new sofa. Currently we lounge upon a French mid-century teak version, clad in cream canvas purchased at Toomey Gallery (shown above left, in a past apartment). Though this sofa is very STUDY, it was originally intended for the sun room of a past life, and was never destined for every day use. Its loose cushions tend to rapidly shift over an extended period of TV watching, and the color and fabric are rather unforgiving. Martha Stewart only allows the consumption of red wine in one room at her Bedford farm. Study, though impressed, cannot condone this practice in a 1000 square foot apartment, as we would be confining guests to enjoy their shiraz while bent over the bathtub. And, considering the routines of the apartment's inhabitants (two six-foot-plus gentlemen with dirty shoes, and their five pound Beaglier puppy) , the new couch needs to be less dainty all around.

Ideally, Study would suggest purchasing an actual vintage Dunbar sofa (above) designed by Edward Wormley, then potentially reupholstering it in a wonderful grey tweed. Considering the current economic climate, however, we are unable to follow our own sage advice. This investment could potentially exceed the 10K mark, if done via a dealer.
That said, the new sofa needs to be:
Not white
Under $2000
Under 80"
And so, without further ado, here are our options thus far:
The André sofa from Room and Board, $1699:
Gorgeous mid-century detailing, lovely texture and fabric color, but sort of detest the chunky clunky legs. Would like to see something more Wormley-esque. Oh, and it comes in a smaller size.
The Petrie Sofa from Crate and Barrel, $1499:Great overall shape. A little sloppily finished. A tailored piece should be more tailored. Adorable feet and love the name.
The Azure sofa from Crate and Barrel, $1699:
Love the glamorous lines and the tufting, but is it too feminine? Also the leg is too contemporary and pedestrian looking. This shape would fit in with so many different styles, but definitely has a more formal vibe than the other options.
And finally, Study may just have to sit tight until the perfect vintage piece finds us. Investing in an actual mid-century sofa with a sturdy, well-made frame, then reupholstering it in a fantastic cloth will almost certainly result in a higher quality piece. It may not be a Wormley design, but this can be done within our budget with some intense scouting and a great deal of patience, two things that are in rather short supply at the moment.
Thoughts? Concerns? Comments? Are we missing something fantastic? Please let us know.

Popular Posts