In 2012, Blake Anding saved Classic Sofa from financial ruin. Founded in 1982, the venerable furniture company was being mismanaged and on the verge of bankruptcy. A former financial advisor, Anding paid off the debt and reimagined the business on the fundamentals of marrying beauty, functionality, and old-world craftsmanship.
“It is important to understand how the body is going to fit a piece ergonomically and have anthropometric designs to truly tailor to the body,” Anding says of the craft. “We take time to get to know the client. I always ask, ‘How is it going to be used? How are you going to be comfortable?’” He adds, “There is no problem we don’t have a solution for.”
Classic Sofa provides woodwork and upholstery to both residential and commercial clients that not only includes furniture, but also framing and cushioning, all with exquisite fabrics. “Our ethos is in old-world manufacturing, handmade by master artisans to create unique pieces of art. We try to embody the philosophy of Hepplewhite and Chippendale’s never-ending pursuit of classical, timeless perfection through a dynamic, modern lens,” Anding explains.
With lead times of just three to four weeks, Classic Sofa promises to deliver pieces that will last a lifetime. “Making a difference in people’s lives is more rewarding than any job I’ve had,” he admits. “I receive emails, pictures, and videos of our pieces being lived in and used.” Anding cares deeply about relationships with everyone in the process, from clients to designers and artisans. “They are all my family,” he beams. “I love these guys.”
Classic Sofa works with all the top interior designers, like Carrier and Company, Richard Keith Langham, and Sara Bengur, to name just a few. No job is too big to tackle, like a modern and decidedly unconventional 20-by-20-by-20 foot, seven-piece, U-shaped couch with zero breaks, which underwent three sitting tests and a retailoring of the arms before it was built and installed in an apartment by 12 craftsmen. “We are giving creative clients and designers a tool that they never had before,” Anding concludes proudly. “What we offer is no bullshit. Designers want what they want, when they want it. We get things done.”
