Our homes now mean more to us than ever before. At some point in the last two years, we have all reached the same fervent realisation: sprucing up our abode has become increasingly important as it is the one sanctuary we can turn to for comfort, safety and respite.
Whether you’re entertaining guests in the living room, diving deep into work in that newly-minted study or sinking into your favourite couch for a movie marathon, each space in your home has a distinct but essential function. Apart from elements like natural lighting, a calming palette, and a clean and organised space, good design stimulates creativity and elevates the mood. While the definition of good design may vary between individuals, one can hardly go wrong with simplicity and timelessness—qualities that Australian brand King Living prides itself on.
Heritage-backed sustainable design
The brand’s humble beginnings trace back to 1977 when founder David King and his mother sold original foam furniture with hand-sewn covers at a market in Sydney. Through direct interactions with customers, they discerned that homeowners wanted comfort, depth, softness and durability when it came to their ideal furnishings. 45 years later, King Living still possesses a keen understanding of their customer base, with evolutions in the brand’s designs stemming from people’s complex and evolving needs. Today, King Living enjoys a stellar reputation for reliably delivering handcrafted quality, timeless Australian design and unparalleled comfort.
At the very core of the brand’s ethos is modularity. As a concept, modularity lends itself perfectly to furniture that lasts a lifetime, since it affords homeowners the flexibility to reconfigure and adjust their pieces to suit changing lifestyle needs—or simply to rejuvenate their space.
A modular sofa lives in your home much longer, while accommodating a host of life changes. Instead of throwing it out to buy a bigger piece when you add more members to your family, you can simply expand the version you already have. This planned longevity is supported by a number of different trademark features. Backed by a 25-year guarantee, King Living sofas are built on steel frames manufactured from the same precision-engineered steel suspension system used in European luxury cars. On top of that, reupholstery is easily replaced should you need a refresh.
This comes hand in hand with the brand’s sustainable ethos, stemming from a belief that modern living should not come at the expense of the environment. By designing furniture that stands the test of time both aesthetically and functionally, King Living lets sustainability drive innovation.
A focus on quality, starting at the top
While King Living remains a family brand, at the head today is CEO Anna Carrabs, who was enlisted by founder David King with the mission of bringing the brand’s enduring legacy well into the future. In her seven years at the helm, Carrabs has racked up an impressive list of developments for King Living—starting with catapulting the brand to a global platform in 2017. “I’m incredibly proud that we now have showrooms around the globe, including our most recent opening in London,” Carrabs says. Boasting a strong presence in seven countries including New Zealand, Singapore, Canada and the UK, Carrabs is also planning for an expansion for King Living into the United States.
Business acumen aside, what makes Carrabs a uniquely suitable leader to front the brand lies in the way she thinks about the role our abodes play in our lives. “The ideal home is your sanctuary from the world. It’s not about the fanciest finishes or the most expensive pieces; it’s all about comfort and living well,” shares Carrabs. “I love to relax in my family home where my children have grown up—it is full of memories.”
“Australian life is all about being at one with nature. We are surrounded by natural beauty and unique landscapes”
Carrabs’s connection with her own space is one most of us can relate to. “For many, home is a place where precious memories are made with families and friends. At King Living, we try to facilitate that with quality pieces that bring simplicity to our customers’ lives. Simplicity may look easy, but it is challenging to achieve.”
For Carrabs, the Australian heritage behind King Living is also a key factor that continues to inform the brand’s story. “Australian life is all about being at one with nature. We are surrounded by natural beauty and unique landscapes. Great furniture sits easily in these diverse spaces, bringing comfort to our lives—which is fundamental to King Living,” she notes thoughtfully.
Revolving its ethos around purposefully enriching the lives of its users, King Living creates furniture pieces that complement mindful lifestyles rather than make strong design statements for the sake of art. Here, find our selection of King Living pieces for restorative home activities—each one designed to seamlessly shape-shift and grow with you.
1 / 5
Fleur Sofa: Relish in quiet day activities at home
Like every King Living product, the Fleur Sofa stemmed from a problem: One of the team’s in-house designers’ elderly parents could not find a sofa that offered high back comfort in an elegant design. As such, the Fleur Sofa was born, enabling users to shift between high and low back seating with a single movement thanks to folding backrests. Sporting gentle curves and a sculptural form, Fleur has become an Australian design icon that recalls the meditative beauty of natural landscapes, and is ideal for reading a book or catching up on your favourite podcast.
2 / 5
Zaza Sofa: Where two or more can come together
Engaging in deep conversation is a way of letting go of any negativity and building meaningful relationships with our loved ones. Designed in collaboration with Australian designer Charles Wilson, the Zaza Sofa features cocoon-like seats with adjustable arms that can effortlessly be folded down to transform it into a daybed—ideal for lounging, cuddling and hanging out. The sleigh legs, arms, backs and cushions, too, can be changed easily, ensuring that it can be passed on to generations as a family heirloom rather than being sent to the landfill once a single component has worn out.
3 / 5
Vertio Wall System: Surround yourself with the things you love
“The ideal home is a true reflection of the people who live there,” notes Carrabs. Belongings with sentimental value, be it travel memorabilia, books, records or art, remind us of who we are. The Vertio Wall System allows us to display them all elegantly, with a mid-century modern look reminiscent of the set design in Mad Men or Tom Ford’s A Single Man. Be it for spacious or compact rooms, the system can be installed in various configurations from a single unit to an entire shelving wall, creating that enviable bookshelf to admire from near or far. It can also be used as a room divider without closing up spaces—ideal for separating living and study areas for some work-life balance.
4 / 5
King Cloud V Sofa: No better way to escape from reality
Take Netflix up a notch with the King Cloud V Sofa—essentially Gold Class at home. The recline is so precise that the user gets to control the footrest, headrest, and seat using TouchGlide® technology to find the perfect position to binge-watch their favourite series. Once they’ve gotten comfortable, the intuitive fixture allows them to save their seating preference so they can seamlessly settle in the same way next time.
The experience can also be elevated by integrating a range of useful add-ons. While an optional Sonos compatible speaker bracket can offer high-quality surround sound, a smart arm encloses an inconspicuous storage space to stow away unsightly remote controls, alongside time-saving smart accessories like a charging table on the side.
5 / 5
Jasper Bed: Your best night lies ahead
A good night’s rest significantly enhances our well-being, and the Jasper Bed was made with the ideal night’s sleep in mind. Defined by clean lines and a soothing palette, it features a soft bedhead with customisable components. Each individual can set up their ideal sleeping space through a range of useful accessories, such as smart lighting for a spot of bedtime reading and swivel tables for quick access to night time essentials. The bed is easily elevated to access generous storage space, which also makes the bed-making process completely fuss-free—a subtle addition that creates a clean and clutter-free environment and makes day-to-day living better.
“Designs like Jasper have been bestsellers in Australia for decades, but when we introduce them overseas, our customers respond as if they are brand-new designs,” says Carrabs. An old item remaining remarkable today is testament to King Living’s commitment to constant innovation, as well as the brand’s philosophy of timeless design.
Find out more about King Living at kingliving.com
