Marshmallow Modernism
Plush profiles
When modernist George Nelson designed his Marshmallow Sofa in 1956, he inspired a new way of thinking about shape and proportion. By the 1970s, designers like Michel Ducaroy and Pierre Paulin had begun to “stuff” the idea, giving rise to bulbous silhouettes that defined a new kind of comfort. Today, the aesthetic bubbles up across collections from ELLISON STUDIOS., Willo Perron, Johnston Marklee, and other contemporaries who transform indulgent softness into forward-thinking form.
Soft spot
Pumpkin Swivel Chair
French designer Pierre Paulin’s Pumpkin Swivel Chair is upholstered nearly entirely by hand, with channel tufting defining its soft, enveloping silhouette.
Muse Sofa
Muse Sofa from ELLISON STUDIOS. translates 1970s design elements – like exaggerated proportions and sensuous curves – through a modern lens.
TOGO® Fireside Chair
Michel Ducaroy’s TOGO Collection has been an icon of experimental design for over 50 years – with its distinctive slouchy form bolstered by generous horizontal quilting.
Quilton Sofa
Detailed quilting adds softness and volume to the sculpted form of HAY’s Quilton Sofa, described by designers Doshi Levien as a “quilted landscape sofa system.”
Biboni Sofa
Designed by architects Johnston Marklee for Knoll®, the Biboni Sofa’s puffy double curve creates a welcoming embrace and elegantly scalloped silhouette.
Perron Pillo Sofa
Made in Italy, designer Willo Perron’s Pillo Sofa strikes a playful tone with modular components that look like stacks of impossibly plush pillows.
Float Sofa
Inspired by ’70s-era conversation pits, ELLISON STUDIOS.’ Float Sofa transforms pillowy channel tufting into deep-seated comfort.
Premium fabrics and leathers
Kids, pets, parties? Keep your soft spot for authentic modern design – discover upholsteries made to handle real life.
Sofa or sculpture?
Pillo(w) talk
Balancing character and comfort, the Perron Pillo Sofa seemingly defies logic with inviting pillows that conceal a durable steel frame. “Everything I do has a bit of humor in it,” notes designer Willo Perron. “I wanted the sofa to evoke surprise and emotion.”
Seeing double
The Biboni Sofa translates support into sculpture with expressive form. “The design of the double curve was key to embracing the body without being overly bespoke,” says Sharon Johnston, who designed the sofa with her partner, Mark Lee.
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