Design
The Top Modern Traditional Sofas I’m Fantasizing About (Some Floral Sofas I’m Dying Over)
Ten years ago, there were very few “cool” modern traditional sofas on the market (thus my obsession with the most beautiful 30k BBDW sofa that will never be mine). English roll arms are a classic (of which I love), as is a slope arm – classic and timeless. While fantasizing about our living room, I started shopping anew for the perfect modern traditional sofa. Read this post to see where the room is headed – our blue and pink Barb sofas were marketing samples that were never intended for the room, as they are more modern, but I love them. But having two more modern traditional sofas would be ideal, so while binging Elle with Elliot, I’ve been shopping online to see who is designing the best.
Real Quick. I’m looking for two sofas: A more statement modern traditional sofa to work with a more traditional English roll arm. One of them needs to be at least 96″; the other could be 80-90″. Ideally one is a pattern, but combining two sofas and a rug requires some flexibility so I’m still playing around. So let’s start with the more “statement” and likely splurgy modern traditional sofa.
Here are the modern traditional sofas I found:
This beauty from Sixpenny checks all the boxes – streamlined enough to feel “modern” but with that slightly rolled arm to give it a nod to traditional. Then put that large-scale pleated skirt for the ultimate trad flex. Sixpenny also has fantastic fabrics in such pretty colors and even a new floral pattern, see below.
This is their render, but you can see the actual floral below. This sofa also comes in the most gorgeous warm burgundy linen that I’m seriously debating. I just think they nailed the proportions. What I don’t know for sure is the is the level of comfort since it’s a tighter seat (not a separate cushion), but I’ve had a chair and sofa by them, and they were a 12/10 on comfort, so I feel pretty confident that Sixpenny wouldn’t make a sofa that is stiff or bouncy.
This sofa, designed by Ginny McDonald (EHD alum! Hi Ginny :)) for her third collection with Lulu Collection, stopped me in my tracks. OMG Ginny, you nailed it. That curved back would look so incredible floating in my living room, with the hutch behind it (maybe in the wine linen colorway, but blue if it were facing the fireplace). It’s so fluid and soft without being overstuffed. Again, with the smaller scale rolled arm feels more modern, and the larger scale pleat. I’m dying to know how cushy the seat is. It comes as wide as 96″, which is what I’d want to face the fireplace, but the shorter one could also work. If anyone has sat on this, please attest. I don’t need both sofas to be 10/10 on comfort, but I just want to make sure they aren’t super stiff, which a tight seat can be.
Now this one, the Rosamund from Joon Loloi, is a VERY strong contender for my living room. I have it in no less than 15 different design boards with other modern traditional sofas and rugs. I can’t seem to get away from it. I’ve ordered all the fabric samples, and they are all stunning in person. Joon Loloi is a new sleeper brand that is making what seems to be high-quality and gorgeous furniture at a reasonable price point (read: not super affordable, but well-priced, considering the cost of quality furniture making these days). But check out the same sofa in the most incredible floral pattern:
This pattern JUST came out a few days ago, and I almost lost my breath when I saw it. It also comes in other patterns. I think I love this one even more:
I just got the samples in the mail, and I loved them so much. Now I’m desperate to mix this with a solid English roll arm (see below) and make it all work.
So those are the more statement modern traditional sofas that are pulling at me. Below are the English roll arms that I’m also really excited to pair with one of the above.
Oh, and in case you aren’t following my life super closely, I’m very wary about sofas with low, loose backs because my dogs ruined the look of our last modern traditional sofas. They like to climb on top of the highest point in the sofa, sit on them, and squish them down to the point that you can’t really reshape them. We had the Fabienne sofa from Lulu and Georgia, which was so comfortable and beautiful, the perfect “modern traditional” silhouette, but with one long low feather back loose cushion, they indented it so badly that trying to re-style them daily was a massive pain point. Now if the cushions are tall enough, the dogs don’t do this – Oscar will every now and again put his paws over the back of our Barb cushions to look over them, but they don’t actually sit on top of them because the cushions are more boxy and structured and taller.
So these are all tight-backed sofas for a reason (I was tempted by this Anthro Selma François Tapestry sofa and even this Anthro ruffle Bowen sofa, but both have loose back cushions so I’m not taking the risk).
Modern Traditional Sofas: English Roll Arm
Now before you get too bored because the below are rather simple and classic, remember that styling and context are key here. These timeless beauties get cool when surrounded by more contemporary and interesting things (pillows, furniture, art, etc). Also, the proportions and colorways are more modern than a beige linen (nothing wrong with that, btw, but I like colored sofas).
I love this powder blue lady, the Willoughby from Anthropologie, and its real draw?? She’s LONG, weighing in at 118!” That length would look fantastic in our living room. I ordered a sample of the fabric, which I’m so excited to see if it looks good with the Joon Loloi floral beauty above. I’m curious how bright and saturated it is. I don’t want anything too muted, but I want the tones to still be quiet, so we’ll see.
This pretty lady is Heidi Callier’s design with Lulu and Georgia. So simple, classic, with slightly lower arms that make it less 80s traditional and more modern. Great feet with front casters (which are just decorative). I’m tempted by this. In fact, if one wanted two different modern traditional sofas in the same fabric, you could get Ginny’s Lulu sofa and Heidi’s Lulu sofa both in this light blue Crypton linen and call it a day with a patterned Persian rug (that’s actually not a bad idea for me, lol, now that I say it).
This English roll arm from Rejuvenation is another just hyper classic, high quality, last forever tight back in a great color. I ordered fabric samples to compare with all the above, and it comes up to 96″, which is my minimum length for the sofa facing the fireplace. It’s more expensive, but Rejuvenation’s furniture is really high quality (think family heirloom), so if it’s right, it’s worth it.
This was my first pick, actually, the Carlisle Tightback Sofa by Pottery Barn (and the most affordable). I love the proportions – lower rolled arms, single seat bench, tight back with a slight indentation in the middle. Checks so many boxes. I ordered a bunch of fabric samples and absolutely loved this chambray linen (and others). BUT (and it’s a big but) their “grande” is still only 90″!!!! Now, I could use it as the smaller sofa which I just might. But if Pottery Barn is listening I have two requests: 1. Make the Carlisle in at least 96″ long, and 2. please put at least a version of the Carlisle at a store in Portland so we can sit on it (right now they are online only so I doubt at any store, actually). I think it’s such a strong design, at an incredible price point, and you have brick and mortar, so let us sit on them 🙂
I’m tempted to show you some of my messy mood boards, but they are so messy (think A Beautiful Mind, but like, way less on the “beautiful”). I have now ordered 8 custom rug samples from dealers overseas on Etsy. I’m giving up on finding my dream 12×15 traditional vintage rug in a not crazy high price point in a color palette that works for me. More on that later, but if you’ve ever wondered if these custom rug dealers on Etsy are worth it, the ones where you have to pay $100 for every sample before you order the actual rug, I’ll be your guinea pig 🙂 I’m so curious (not cheap, by the way, but maybe you get exactly what you want and far more affordable than vintage if you want a large size like I do). More to come on all things modern traditional sofas and more folks 🙂
Opening Image Credits: Decorated by Emily Henderson (me!) | Photo by Kaitlin Green
OMG that Rosamund ruffled sofa! You must have that. I perhaps must as well. So gorgeous! That last pattern is so beautiful. I’m getting excited about your living room!
I have the anthro Willoughby two cushion (in amethyst slub velvet) and really like it – it is deep and very comfy. But, I find the cushions really hard to manage – they never stay even with each other and I have a tendency to sit in the middle, and so they are lower in the middle and I am unsure how to move the stuffing around to even them out. Maybe this is easy to fix (I should google it), but if I were to get another anthro sofa, I would likely go with one with just one wide cushion.