Settling on a sofa

Finding a new sofa is up there with other big life decisions, like deciding to marry someone or choosing a child’s name. You’re going to be together for a long time, so you can’t rush the selection process.

And of course sofa selection isn’t all about you. There’s also the need to consider the needs (and dimensions) of other family members, as well putting on a great make-yourself-comfortable show for visitors. Whether you’re replacing an old favourite that’s past its best-before date or shopping to equip a new property, it’s smart to take your sofa selection experience seriously. For her sofas, Paula Ryan puts her trust in David Shaw pieces, which are sold through a network of resellers around the country. She owns The Boss and a Delta. “The Boss is classic design at its best. To achieve the extended length of the 3.0 seater option only, it’s cleverly made in just two pieces. With feather-stuffed seat and scatter cushions, this settee is divinely deep and easy to curl up in. The feather cushions mould to your body, so this sofa is like a comforting hug. The Delta, on the other hand, has more of a crisp, contemporary edge. The seat cushions are layered high density foam and the back cushions are memory foam. It’s also wonderfully comfortable, but has a totally different personality to The Boss”, says Paula. The David Shaw brand exists at the quality end of the furniture spectrum. Their sofas are designed and made in New Zealand, using the best materials and fabrics. Most sofa designs can be customised – you get to choose the size, fabric and finishing touches. By the time you’ve finished with the personalising, the sofa is unique – completely yours, in every way. From Paula’s experience, and what we’ve heard from others, once you’ve had a David Shaw sofa there’s no going back.