Sectional sofas back & worth considering (1970)
The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) March 20, 1970
Guess what’s coming back to the living room? Nobody has ventured an explanation of “why,” but the return of sectional sofas is worth considering.
That style of seating has not been offstage long enough to be forgotten by the under-25s. What gives new versions prominence is the furnishing potential for all interiors, big and small.
CAN BE SPACE-SAVER
Paradoxical as it may seem, two or three units in a single grouping can turn out to be a space-saver. Such an arrangement also results in a more congenial setting for conversation.
In the final analysis, too, less furniture is needed to complete a decor built around the multiple sofa scheme. One large cocktail table and one flexible lamp (as illustrated here) are the only other essentials.
Possibly the architectural trend to combined living rooms and dining areas has restored interest in sectional seating.
Where no walls exist to separate one part of an interior from another, sofas assume the role of dividers.
Notice how the principle works in the photograph (above). The dining room is clearly defined as if by an invisible wall. Straight sofas fall naturally into right-angle placement.
However, there are curved and angled designs that form entertaining circles. Obviously, in those situations, the cocktail table is round, often with a Lazy Susan top.
DECOR NOT LIMITED
Sofa styles are contemporary, but that doesn’t limit total decor. Mood is established via print or solid-color upholstery fabrics, elegant velvets or homespun textures, not to bypass vinyls with the look of leather. Then other elements — table, lighting, accessories — are chosen accordingly.
Newest sectionals have come a long way from the ’40s, when they were sometimes better in theory than in style or use. More comfort and flexibility are in their favor now. We’re thinking of designs whereby single units multiply into seating systems — as many or as few needed.
Kipp Stewart has developed such a system for Directional Industries. Two basic pieces, arm-less or corner versions, combine as loveseats, longboy so-fas or climb around the walls of a room.
OTTOMAN MASTER UNIT
In the case of a group by Selig, an ottoman is the master unit. Sides flare upward to produce armrests, so that by adding a back cushion a chair is born. Put another and another side by side, and you have sofas.
The same company presents variations on that theme in a German import that looks like an old Pullman car seat. It can lead an independent existence, or in duplicate and triplicate go on to bigger seating assignments.
The idea is fine for family rooms as well as living rooms, especially around a fireplace. Some we’ve seen are receptive to what are frequently called “conversation pits.”
Enormous round puffy leather couch in buckskin color
Vintage vinyl or naugahyde blue sofa around an inside fireplace table
Vintage sofas: The Furthermore II
Button-tufted styling in Herculon olefin pile. Wedge unite allows you to design your own conversation pit.
Vintage sofas from the ’70s: Surround yourself… with the soft life
THIS IS ‘PLATEAU’ The new approach to the way you relax. It’s forever re-arrangeable, on any level, on the spur of your own moment.
Surround yourself with deep, soft, comfortable velvet. Even cabinets, platforms and bookcases are upholstered in full velvet. It’s right now…in every Roche Bobois store.
MORE: 70 beautiful vintage canopy beds from the 1970s
Beautiful Morocco-style sofas on three sides of a cozy nook
Two vintage sofas in neutral tones with armrest storage
A grown-up sectional sofa: The Playpen is not for everyone
It’s for people who lead their lives their own way — in style and comfort. People who are glad they’re grown-up.
Superbly constructed for extra softness with cushion-within-a-cushion seats and plump, wedge-shaped backs, this Selig original takes up no more space than a standard sofa, table and pair of chairs.
Designed for easy living, the Playpen can be arranged and rearranged to suit any mood. The armless chairs, corner sections and ottomans with casters recombine beautifully to create sofas, loveseats, sectional, or individual seating.
Separately, or together, the ten pieces look as good as they feel. And will stay good looking because they’re treated with SCOTCHGARD Velvet Protector, which means that watery and oily stains can be blotted away. Deep stains can be spot cleaned easily, leaving the fabric smooth and fresh looking.
Covered in plush 100% cotton velvet, the Playpen comes in thirteen lucky colors. Look for it at fine stores near you.
MORE: Vintage lava lamps: They were ‘like wild – way out!’ (1960s & 1970s)
Off-white linen-effect L-shaped sectional sofa
MORE: See 100+ short retro window curtains & cafe curtains that were essential ’70s home decor
Vintage couch with five angles and funky retro pattern
Three-sided conversation pit-style couch from the ’70s
Conversation square in magenta and red
A dark, rich room that invites ease and pleasure, an environment that transcends tradition reveals this bright concept: decorating with light.
Lamps. strategically placed in the dark, play on kinetic light sculptures: terracotta-lacquered tables connect magenta-covered banquettes to form an accommodating square.
On tabletops. chunky collections of crystal shapes gleam like stalagmites in a cavern. By interior designer Barbara D’Arcy, at Bloomingdale’s.
Mobilia Lounge sofa from Roche Bobois
You can do anything with this great modular seating system. Infinitely re-arrangeable anytime for quiet living… or a full-scale ball. Come indulge your fantasy your own way.
MORE: 112+ beautiful vintage ’70s table setting ideas
Two vintage sofas, plus a transparent plastic chair
Modern minimalist modular sofa blocks
MORE: Vintage beanbags & bean bag chairs: The retro ’70s casual seating fad
Geometric modular sofa (1978)
“Larsen’s World,” a fresh collection of geometries… combines with seating forms of the Flair-Hibriten Division of Bernhardt Furniture.
Also: Furniture-to-go, Rattan sectionals in tropic cotton print, Knock-down in corded cotton velvet & chintz-covered cushions and dark rattan
MORE: Hide-a-Bed sofas from the ’50s, ’60s & ’70s
Modern metal sofa frames with black & white cushions
MORE: Vintage ’70s toadstool ottomans & gull-wing chairs, in wet-look vinyl & plush
A break with tradition: Half-circle sofa seating (1975)
Large semi-circular seating unit — these more cohesive shapes visually expand space better than an arrangement of different chairs and sofas.
Semi-circle plush beige settee
Black & white checkerboard pattern wallpaper & vintage sofas
Moroccan-style living room
Green sofa along the walls, with both green and white pillows, and white leather poufs
Traditional brown leather vintage sofas with deep buttons
Green velour sofas
Couches and pillows are placed on a thick green shag carpet
Bohemian-style room with pillowed sofas and patterned wallpaper
MORE: The ‘I Dream of Jeannie’ bottle: TV magic with props, sets & special effects
Vintage curved ’70s sofa
The sofa fabric matches the curtains and the wallpaper on the ceiling.
Creamy beige L-shaped sofa with red pillows and accents
6 different retro-style sofa modules
Hexagons in terracotta basketweave, Loose cushion add-ons in graph-paper plaid, Canvas modules with attached backs, Linear put-together in quilted canvas, Washable furniture in strip-off cotton, and Big scale seating with zig-zag stripes.
Bright yellow sofas and ottomans in a log cabin
Plush orange modular vintage sofa set
MORE: See old-fashioned La-Z-Boy recliners, easy chairs, swivel rockers and more from the ’70s
A bright living room furniture setup with lots of colors
Modular furniture with plush cotton velvet pile upholstery
Inflatable sofas & a bird wall graphic
Retro wicker weave graphic upholstery in blue & red
Cozy shaped seating on these yellow retro loveseats
MORE: A ’70s designer dream house: The American Home of 1974
One Response
I have a question about the photo of the red patterned sofas with the matching red patterned sofa table? Who was the designer/maker?