Seating in the Round: An Old Idea That’s Still Fresh Today
When we hear the words “sofa” or “couch,” most of us immediately picture a long, straight piece of upholstered furniture with several cushions. There are lots of variables, to be sure: square or rounded arms, straight back or camel back, exposed legs or skirted … you get the idea. When all is said and done, however, it’s usually still a long, straight piece of upholstered furniture.
Let me suggest a paradigm shift: Instead of thinking of sofas only as linear, consider them as something that might be round.
The past can provide inspiration of all kinds of things in interior design, and this certainly holds true for the sofa. In fact, in the 19th century, the French were particularly creative in coming up with unique upholstered seating ideas. A boudeuse was a back-to-back sofa, a tête-à-tête was a sofa consisting of two connecting chairs that faced each other for intimate conversations, and an indiscret was a circular sofa divided into three sections that shared a single tall back at the center.
The indiscret was originally designed for naughty purposes: to accommodate the indiscreet gossips that populated the salons of 19th-century French society. So the shape of the furniture was specifically designed to encourage a particular behavior.
Today this antique piece adds surprise and romance to this pretty, traditional-style living room. And it looks like it would still provide a fun venue for the whispering of indiscretions.
Once you understand the history of this piece of furniture, you can see how placing it in the anteroom of a bedroom is kind of sexy! It’s certainly very appropriate and elegant here, taking center stage under a chic chandelier. But the historical reference adds a whimsical wink.
In the grand salon of the spectacular New York show house above, a modern incarnation of the indiscret adds just the perfect touch. The contemporary slant of this very traditional sofa blends beautifully with the contemporary mirrors hung over the rococo gilt consoles.
Continue… Seating in the Round: An Old Idea That’s Still Fresh Today
Seating in the Round: An Old Idea That’s Still Fresh Today
