Better Late Than Never – The Sofia Line Sofa
February 18th, 2009 by Bob
For the first eight years that I was a furniture maker, I made other people’s ideas and copied designs that were given to me to make. Around 1994 I made the coffee table with a natural edge wooden top for a dear client, may she rest in piece. She wanted something original and something that I had designed. It was my first real attempt to find my own voice. About a year later, I made a glass top version of the coffee table, it’s pictured below.
In my mind’s eye I could see an entire house full of furniture in this design. This was the beginning of the “Sofia Line.” One of the pieces that I envisioned back then was a sofa. I was certain that I would make it at some point but I never imagined that it would be 15 years before I finally got around to building it.
The sofa has its roots in Mission/Arts and Crafts but I’ve added my own interpretation and some subtle changes. The underside rails of the arms and the legs are arched and curved respectively. Instead of corbles to hold up the side and back arms, my piece has contrasting wood members meant to evoke the underside of a Asian temple roof. The upholstery in this piece is leather.
As I write this I am awaiting the seat and cushions to the Sofia Line Love Seat that I have just completed. It is made of walnut, quartersawn bubinga, curly bubinga and wenge. As soon as the upholstery arrives and I take some photos, I’ll post the latest edition to the family here.
