Instant living room
Furniture start-up Greycork is attempting to beat Ikea at its own game with living room furnishings that rival those of the Swedish manufacturer in terms of style, accessibility and affordability.
The Greycork living room consists of a sofa and chaise, a coffee table, a side table and a bookshelf. It ships packed flat in boxes directly from the factory in Massachusetts. Greycork designers say the entire living room can be assembled in 20 minutes, without tools. If purchased by Sept. 18, the living room ensemble is priced through Indiegogo at a reduced $1,000. Pieces can also be purchased separately.
Inspired by the designs of George Nakashima and Charles and Ray Eames, the design team has crafted clean-lined modern furnishings made of solid ash that are meant to be easy to assemble as well as disassemble when it comes time to move.
Judging from Greycork’s quick crowdfunding — it has raised more than $130,000 to help get the collection off the ground — consumers like the living-room-in-a-box idea. And while we await feedback on the furnishings, it seems safe to presume that another room collection — perhaps a bedroom or dining room — is on the horizon.
The sofa and chaise will begin shipping Dec. 15, with the coffee table, side table and bookshelf scheduled to ship Jan. 31. Shipping is free to U.S. addresses. Greycork preorders are not refundable. www.greycork.com