We were thrilled, then, to learn of the launch of Schplendid, the new sofa brand from Rohan Blacker, founder of our favourite purveyors of beautiful but reasonably priced lighting Pooky, and, before that, sofa.com – a pedigree that suggests he knows a thing or two about what makes homeware both swoon-inducing and yet still within the bounds of financial possibility.
A quick caveat: these aren’t bargain-bin buys. The emphasis is on well-made pieces designed to last, produced using natural materials and ethical manufacturing. But the aim, Blacker says, is to strip away unnecessary mark-ups – fewer showrooms, less marketing gloss – so that the price reflects the quality of the pieces, rather than all the other fripperies.
If the name Maker & Son whisks you wistfully back to those aforementioned Instagram saves, you’ll understand the reference point. The Conran design dynasty-founded brand has built a cult following thanks to its famously sink-in sofas and those irresistible videos of people quite literally diving into them. Happily, Schplendid occupies a similar comfort-first territory, but – hallelujah! – at more accessible price points. The directly comparable Vesper range, for instance, starts at around £2,000 – still an investment, yes, but considerably less so than many comparable high-end designs.
Sustainability is also central to Blacker’s operation. Schplendid sofas are made from natural and recyclable materials – think wool, coconut fibre, timber frames and plant-based foams – while plastics and synthetic fillers are notably absent. In a country where more than a million sofas are discarded every year, the emphasis here is on longevity rather than quick-turnover furniture – in fact, Schplendid sofas even come with lifetime guarantees.
Comfort is, of course, king. Blacker describes the goal as taking sofas seriously without taking the brand itself too seriously (our kind of prioritising) – putting the onus on design integrity, durable materials and the kind of comfort that encourages nestling in and staying put for whole afternoons whiled away with a good book.
We especially love that, after years dominated by cool neutrals and pared-back minimalism, warmer palettes, softer silhouettes and tactile materials are coming back into favour. Earthy tones, rounded forms and furniture that feels inviting rather than coolly architectural all play into that shift – and Schplendid’s aesthetic chimes beautifully with that comforting sensibility.
All hail, then, this new arrival on the sofa scene which we think is, as its name suggests, very splendid indeed – and amen to comfort, style, ethical making and fair prices.
