Husband and wife James Whitta and Alexandra Owen have been working together in some form for years.
They met in New Zealand, where she was running an independent fashion label and he had a furniture brand. They moved to Australia and both worked for Country Road Group, before a stint in Sweden designing for IKEA. Now they’re back Down Under working more closely than ever as head designers at Koala.
There’s a lot to consider when designing a sofa, but for Whitta and Owen, the most important factor is striking that elusive balance between form and function.
“At the top of the market, you have these very high-end pieces that are more designed to look at than to sit in, and then in the mass market you have what are probably comfortable sofas, but very boring,” he says. “Trying to hit both of those notes well is very hard, but juggling that dynamic is really fun.”
Koala’s sofas, priced between $1100 and $4500 depending on size, model and material, are the result of this balance. With 11 unique designs, each piece is crafted to last a lifetime (there’s a five-year warranty on furniture) and adapt to customers’ evolving needs.
In need of a new sofa? Here are a few of our favourite things about the Koala range.
Plush and welcoming
The pair’s designs are intentionally curvaceous and cushy, steering clear of harsh angles. They believe that softer, more inviting shapes create a warm, welcoming atmosphere ideal for domestic settings. “Part of our design and development process is making it for real life – for families, for kids,” says Owen.
Their commitment to real-life functionality extends beyond work. Their own living room serves as a mini R&D facility, where they test products to ensure they suit their space and lifestyle. “It needs to pass the Netflix test,” adds Whitta. “When you’re [binge-watching], you can spend a lot of time on the couch, so that’s actually one of the tests we do.”
Adaptable to different needs
The modular nature of Koala sofas allows for flexibility, enabling pieces to be reconfigured to suit different environments. If you suddenly decide an L-shaped couch is just what your living room needs or that you really need a chaise in your life, you can make it happen without the need for a completely new purchase.
“Moving into a new home often prompts you to buy a new sofa because it doesn’t suit the new space, but with modular, you can adjust it to suit,” Whitta says.
Customisable to your style
Koala sofas offer removable, washable covers in different colours and textures, making it easy to keep your couch fresh and clean even with daily use. “You can keep stains off it, keep it looking good for longer, and then ultimately replace those covers without having to buy a whole new sofa,” says Whitta.
This also allows for an affordable, accessible update to your interiors. “You can completely change your entire room, your entire experience with just a fabric switch,” says Owen.
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