The floating sofa: meet Stanley

Why it looks like it's floating

Most sofas stand on four legs you can see. Stanley sits on a single solid oak plinth, and that plinth is set well back from the front, the back and the sides. From the room, your eye reads the body of the sofa, then a band of shadow, then the floor. The base disappears and the sofa seems to hover a few centimetres above the ground.

It is a simple idea that needs careful making: the oak has to be strong enough to carry the whole sofa from its centre, and the upholstery has to be tailored with clean, square corners so the floating line stays crisp. That is why Stanley's frame, like every SUPERBA frame, comes with a lifetime guarantee.

Named after a director

Stanley takes its name from the film director Stanley Kubrick, whose frames are famous for their symmetry, their clean lines and a calm that is never quite ordinary. We wanted a sofa that does the same in a room: strict, quiet geometry, and one detail that makes you look twice.

It is for intentional interiors. Not for frills.

Loungey, deep and soft

Stanley is one of our Sink-in Comfort sofas. The loose back cushions and the bolsters against the arms are filled with ethically sourced feathers. The seat cushions are dense foam wrapped in feathers, all encased in a down-proof cover. The arms and back are a firm blend of foam and fibre, and the frame sits on flexible elastic webbing. Sit down and you sink in, then the foam holds you.

With a 70 cm seat depth and a 45 cm seat height, it is made for curling up, not perching. Read more in our sofa comfort guide.

Shop Stanley Large Sofa →

Build your Stanley

Pick a cover and a colour, then your pieces. Everything is drawn to scale, with the price as you go.

Stanley Large Sofa, 2 cushions in Momo Camel: 243 × 106 × 87 cm, £2,800. See it on the product page.

Every size

The Large Sofa comes with two long seat cushions for an unbroken, modern line, or three for a classic look. Stanley's Small Sofa is one of our modern small sofas that still feels generous, and in Momo or Felix it is one of our leather small sofas; the Large belongs with our large sofas. Pair either with the Armchair, a modern leather chair in its leather covers and one of our leather armchairs when you choose a leather cover.

Leather, linen or velvet

Stanley comes in seven of our standard covers.

• Italian leather. Of all our leather sofas, Stanley shows the hide best, because nothing interrupts its clean lines. Momo, a top grain leather with a gentle sheen; Marfa, semi-aniline; Dante, full aniline; and Felix, full aniline with an embossed nubuck finish that is tough enough for family life. If you are looking for luxury leather sofas or premium leather sofas with a design that stands out, a luxury Italian leather sofa on a floating oak base is hard to beat. See all our Italian leather sofas.
• Linen. Mosquito, a soft linen blend that creases less than pure linen. One of our modern linen sofas, and a natural pick if you want a neutral sofa that lets the floating base do the talking.
• Velvet. Fresco, a matt short-pile velvet that changes with the light. In Saint Tropez, the dusty rose in our film, Stanley becomes a pink velvet sofa with a grown-up edge. See our velvet sofas.
• Woven. Roni, a textured two-tone basketweave.

Popular choices include a camel leather sofa in Momo, an olive leather sofa in Felix, a charcoal leather sofa in Marfa, and an aqua sofa in Dante. A pale cream sofa on the dark oak base makes the floating effect even stronger. Order free swatches to see every colour in your own light.

Living with Stanley

• Give it a clear floor. The floating line reads best on bare boards or a rug that stops short of the base.
• Mind the light. Natural leathers and velvets can fade in strong direct sun. Draw a blind on bright summer afternoons.
• Plump the cushions. Feather cushions love a daily plump to keep their shape.
• Care. Dust the oak base with a soft dry cloth. For covers, follow our sofa care guide.

Questions people ask