The Loaf Weekender sofa is an inoffensive, stable buy; it has high arms, the solid oak legs have a weathered finish that will age nicely, and the feather-wrapped foam cushions are are a delight. Handmade in Derbyshire, it comes with a 10-year guarantee and is a wise buy, with 161 fabric covers to choose from. We like it in everything from simple blue-sherbet wool to a vintage floral print, a French stripe or a feminine blush pink.
There’s much to recommend the deliciously homely sofas that have resulted from a collaboration between lifestyle brand Joules and DFS. The Burnham is both nautical and floral – named after Burnham Market in North Norfolk (better known by some as Chelsea-on-sea), it’s the obvious purchase for a coastal home. In the range there’s also a heritage tweed ‘Ilkley’ sofa, and a bold yellow chesterfield-esque sofa grandly named the ‘Windsor’. Meanwhile, the ‘Cambridge’ is the most versatile, and wouldn’t look out of place in most homes.
Designed exclusively by The Conran Shop, the Lennox 2-Seater boasts understated chic. It’s one of the most approachably priced sofas available at The Conran Shop, and although we fell for it in slate velvet (100% cotton velvet crafted in England), it’s available in 42 different colours paired with 6 fabric options. The stained beech wood legs lend it sophisitcation. It has a fairly deep seat, and is soft, but still provides a supportive back. Those of you who like this style and might looking to splash out a little more might also want to consider the Clarence 2-seater sofa (£4,495), which has been a bestseller at The Conran Shop for a few years now.