The road from idea to reality is rarely linear. Initial thoughts are discarded, problems are resolved, and minute details can turn out to be the focal point of a final design, as the journey of our new Eliza sofa proves.
Initial spark
Auction houses are a great source for design inspiration. While researching period sofas, Neptune design director Fred Horlock spotted an antique design that required further investigation. The distinct features nodded to the Edwardian period, with an elegant sloping frame in pale oak, single-cushion seat, and minimalist proportions. The exposed frame embraced a 360° approach to design, allowing the sofa to be placed in the centre of a room – a traditional layout of the period. The design meetings that followed were offshoots from this original concept. But how to reimagine a vintage style for twenty-first century living? Focus was put on harnessing the pared back aesthetic and creating deeper proportions for comfort, while retaining the traditional shape and exposed woodwork to highlight craftsmanship. The result? A sofa made to be admired from all angles.
Testing the waters
After finalising the shape of Eliza, designers in our Wiltshire studio came together to produce digital drawings and miniature prototypes. This stage in the journey sparked discussions around the precision of leg angles, the height of the back, and the level of cushioning for the seat. It meant many iterations of the design, especially for the legs. How decorative would they be? Would they be reminiscent of traditional carved legs or be more streamlined? Eventually, the team decided on a more modern, sleek silhouette which would suit any style and period of home.
There was a moment of hot debate over seat cushions too. All our designs are upholstered by hand using the same reliable methods that have allowed antique sofas to survive for centuries. We use serpentine springs to ensure balanced support exactly where it’s needed. Seat cushions are then filled with feather-wrapped foam for the optimum balance of comfort and resistance. But how many seat cushions to use? The final look of one long seat cushion (juxtaposed to two back cushions) was agreed upon as it provides even comfort, with the cushion filling spread out across the whole frame, so no one sinks in the middle. It also mirrors those historic references that had first caught Fred’s eye. Using pliable balsa wood, our in-house designers then created miniature sofa models. From legs and frame to cushions and exposed details, each piece was carefully constructed so the team had a real-life visual to work with and evaluate from all angles. A miniature sofa, fit for a dolls’ house, if you will.
The final product
Seeing the sofa materialise in three dimensions allowed the team to make final evaluations. A blend of modern engineering, innovation and traditional craft influences all our design processes. We’re never just behind a computer screen – the craft element at every stage of the design is what makes each product special. And the result? Eliza’s exposed oak rail frame and elegantly turned oak legs seamlessly combine comfort with considered details for a sofa that’s designed to be at home in any space, while using kiln-dried tulipwood for the internal frame guarantees strength for years to come. Not one to be tucked away, the final piece is tribute to our pride in craft and design. Each piece of Neptune furniture is built with the sustainable philosophy that it’s destined to become a much-loved antique of the future, and Eliza is no exception.
Explore the Eliza Sofa