Flexible furniture
Why stick to just one configuration of seats in your living room?
IMAGINE if your sofa were as “buildable” as a Lego set and you could remodel it as and when you wished?
The sofas made by King Living are almost like that – not exactly buildable, perhaps, but certainly capable of being put together in many ways.
King Living is an award-winning Australian company whose history dates back to 1977 in Sydney, where owner and founder David King began making and selling furniture at Paddy’s Markets.
Today, the company has 18 showrooms (15 throughout Australia, one in Singapore, one in Auckland, New Zealand), including the latest store in Malaysia that opened late last year at the IPC Shopping Centre in Mutiara Damansara, Petaling Jaya.
The media was recently invited to visit the more than 500sq m showroom, where various ranges of sofas, armchairs and bed sets, with a smaller collection of dining and outdoor furniture, are displayed.
The family-owned business designs, manufactures and retails its own products, including doing its own research and development.
“Because we design everything ourselves, we know the specifications of everything we have in our stores,” says Paul Pudan, general manager of King Living in South-East Asia.
“From a customer’s standpoint, that gives great continuity because if a customer comes back, say, after 10 years and wants to add a chair to an existing set, or change to a new set of covers, we can do that.
“And that’s pretty unusual in the market,” Pudan points out during the walkabout.
The company also takes pride in offering a 25-year warranty for the engineered steel frames in its products.
With a solid frame, a long, threeseater sofa like the Neo can be supported with just four legs, presenting a sleek picture.
The brand’s patented Postureflex Seating System, similar to those used in luxury European cars, gives good support and durability, while the pocket springs system in the cushions provides firmness for long periods.
The furniture’s modularity is pretty impressive, as demonstrated by Pudan at the showroom. Arm rests, back rests and side tables are easily detached and reattached to convert your three-seater into a two-plus-one, for example, or your L-shaped couch transformed into two single beds.
This flexibility means that you can easily find a set that fits your living space, and later reconfigure it according to changing family needs or special occasions.
“This modularity is also possible due to the sturdiness of our steel frames,” adds Pudan.
“Our velcro-fitted covers are also completely removeable, making it easy to change from fabric to leather or vice-versa, as and when you want.”
Another plus point of these separate, moveable parts is that if you need to replace an armrest due to a stubborn stain or an accidental cut, you don’t have to reupholster the entire sofa.
With fairly reasonable prices (think value for money), the company enjoys word-of-mouth referrals.
“The great thing for us is, if our customers care enough to introduce the furniture to their family and friends, that kind of says that there are a few things we are doing right,” says Pudan.
For those who appreciate storage, many of the designs come with compartments to hold things like throw pillows, covers or toys. Easy-lift hydraulics let users access the furniture’s storage compartments with ease.
Manually adjustable legs on selected designs can also create an angled seat, which can take the pressure off lower limbs and result in a more comfortable sofa, particularly for prolonged periods of sitting.
The Strata range’s back panels can be pushed out to create more seat depth which can then be used as a low bench for guests.
Jasper is one of the brand’s classic designs featuring timber veneer shelves that can be fixed to the side or back.
Selected designs like the Felix Deluxe and King Cloud come with the company’s patented TouchGlide Technology with Gesture Control. This feature allows you to change the angle of the headrests, armrests and leg rests with a swipe of your hand; your favourite reclining positions can be stored as well.
Smart pockets in these models incorporate speakers and sleek LED lamps (with hidden cables) and removable side tables.
Their recliners come with a safety feature where if a pet, object or child gets underneath, the sensor will detect that and stop the footrest from folding in.
The King Cloud also comes with media consoles, storage space for sub-woofers, side speakers and vibrating seats.
Two- or three-seaters can be taken apart to become individual one seaters. But you do need to purchase that extra armrest.
The brand also carries a range of bed frames and triple-layered mattresses with different levels of firmness and support, each with completely removable zipped coverings. The designs come with both storage and non-storage functions.