Name: Richard Fanale
Title: Director
Company: AJAR furniture & design
Year established: 2012
What lounge do you have at home and what is the story behind it?
I have the JAMES sofa by Casadesus. Actually, I have two sofas facing each other and a large ottoman that sits in the centre of the two. This allows you to lounge around or have many friends and family comfortably sitting opposite each other. The large ottoman has a variety of uses. Creating more seating, a place to put your feet up. It can also be used as a base to place a tray of food and beverages on. Creating a very versatile arrangement. I am also a big fan of having a sofa with individual cushions to allow alternative depth and extra comfort.
Which two lounging/seating products from your range are most important and why?
I would say the Shelby Designed by G. Vegni & G. Gualtierotti for Casadesus, and Mus sofa designed by Francesc Rife for Koo Living. Two very different sofas. They are both modular sofas, which allow you to create any size or configuration to suit any space or application. Either residential or commercial use.
The Shelby has a fine base, creating a floating look with individual seating areas. The seat cushion is made from a polyurethane foam, covered with a protective case with a mixture of white duck feathers, down and a polyester fibre, creating a durable, incredibly comfortable, versatile sofa.
MUS Sofa is a sofa like no other. Its organic shapes and extended base allows for plants or magazine racks to be included. The Spanish love to have fun with design, which is evident in this sofa. With this collection you have a choice of a soft seat for residential or slightly firmer for commercial use. Both have covers that can be removable for dry-cleaning when upholstering in fabric. Leather upholstery are non removable.
Which lounging product from another brand/company do you admire and why?
I love the Cestone sofa designed by Antonio Citterio for Flexform. Such a sexy masculine framed sofa with a softness on the inside. Beautifully detailed. Love the play with materials using leather panels, bright chrome frame and feather down cushions.
Where is lounging/seating going in the future? What directions in technology, manufacture, material and form have you identified?
People are coming to realise that a beautiful looking sofa isn’t always comfortable. Versatility, comfort and durability is important. Along with options of removable covers to provide the option to replace or simply dry clean we need be. Steel structured base for a high end sofa is a must to withstand the test of time. Leather sofas have long gone out of fashion. Clients preferring a durable, hard wearing textured fabric. Greys and neutral colours are without a doubt still in fashion. Bringing any colour or graphic fabrics in with cushions.
AJAR
ajar.com.au