Has anyone else noticed the recent barrage of English roll-arm sofas in the design sphere? The New York Times latest edition of T Magazine was a veritable eulogy. Somehow it feels wrong to apply the "trend" tag to an enduring classic like the English roll-arm sofa. Come-back doesn't quite fit either, because there's no evidence it ever went
out of style. But whatever you want to call this resurgence, I like it. The shape is ultra-traditional-- but, amazingly, it's a perfect fit in interiors as diverse as Downtown Abbey and a modern Brooklyn brownstone.
The Inspiration:
How to Get the Look:
The gold standard of English roll-arm sofas remains the George Sherlock-- with a price tag to match it's prestige:
How to Get the Look (without taking out a second mortgage):
The good news is there are a slew of affordable alternatives for almost every budget. I've rounded up a few of my favorites at a range of different price points, in order of decreasing cost for the basic model. (Wider and/or deeper models and upholstery options may entail an upcharge.)
1. Williams-Sonoma Home - Pierce Sofa, $2,950 (variety of upholstery options)
2. Athropologie - Winnifred Sette, $2,898 (Pink Bougainvillea or Leather)
3. Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams - London Sofa, $2,295 (as shown)
4. Restoration Hardware - English Roll Arm Sofa, $2,195 (variety of upholstery options)
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| Source: RestorationHardware.com |
5. Sofa.com - The Bluebell, $1,660 (variety of amazing upholstery options including custom fabric)
6. Pottery Barn - Carlisle Apartment Sofa, $1,499 (variety of upholstery options)
7. Home Decorators Collection - Markham Sofa, $999 (variety of upholstery options)
Accessorizing the Look:
Personally, I'm a big fan of the traditional turned wood legs. (See Anthropologie, Pottery Barn, Sofa.com and Mitchell Gold models above for variations.) If the model that fits your budget doesn't have said legs, do not despair!
Tablelegs.com is an amazing resource. And changing the feet is the easiest way to makeover a sofa. (Note: Feet come unfinished. While you'll need to stain and sand them, on the plus side you can select the finish.)
Adding casters is a great idea if you're (like my mother and I) a perennial furniture re-arranger with a partner who disapproves of perennial furniture re-arrangement. With casters, you can move the furniture yourself. Spousal disapproval be damned! If you'd like to include casters, keep the height of the casters in mind when you select a new pair of feet.
Here are a few styles I could picture on an English roll-arm :
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| Bell |
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| Coronet |
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| Country |
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| Large Newport |
Came very fast, wish it would of came with it's own air pump. Pump I purchased from dept store does not match up the greatest and so it was hard to fill, actually more comfortable to sleep on the sit on. For the price I paid all is good.
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