Are you a picky person? “I consider myself picky. My superpower is that I can see something and know immediately if it’s for me or not.”
The perfect couch: Custom daybed couch from Total Design Company
What is the most important element of a plus-size-friendly couch? “Versatility. The thought of some of the trending couches—like the Cloud sofa—is cool in theory. In practice, you sink in and you can’t get up. I think a design where some people can sit with their legs on the floor and others can recline is where it’s at.”
Alyse Whitney—a food writer (you may be familiar with her Cosmopolitan column “Doing the Least with Alyse”), editor, and TV host with a cookbook called Big Dip Energy on the way—has been curating her maximalist space in LA for years. There are “moments” everywhere you look, from the Boursin (yes, the cheese brand) neon sign hanging out in the fireplace to her collection of realistic teapots. It’s a game of I Spy in the best way possible. So how do you search for a couch that fits such a spontaneous space? “I saw an apartment tour of a woman’s home that had three living rooms. I was like, ‘Wow so this is LA,’” she recalls. “One couch in particular caught my eye—it was a double chaise queen-size daybed.”
After conducting some research, Alyse came across Total Design Company, a custom furniture business that could help her create a couch that would house her many friends and family during parties and overnight stays. “I sent a picture from the apartment tour and was like, ‘Hey, I really like this, can you create something for me?’ It has these big amazing cushions on the back that you can really dig into. I’ve had the couch now for almost three years and I’ve had people of all sizes packed onto it—it hasn’t once felt like it’s going to cave in.”
The versatility is what has given this couch a reputation among her friends, who often fill her space for parties and impromptu hangouts. “Regardless of what size you are, this couch is beloved, and it’s the most comfortable thing I think I’ve ever sat on,” she says. “I literally will only go to movies with reclining seat theaters, because why would I leave my comfortable couch?” The couch also fulfills a bit of a life mantra for Alyse, who prioritizes making sure everyone in her space feels as comfortable as possible: “Furniture, especially couches, should encourage people to stay relaxed, be comfortable, and really enjoy their time,” she adds. “This is my heirloom—someone special in my life will get this couch.”
Amanda Richards, writer
Design personality in a few words: “Pleasant. I have such a hodgepodge of pieces and objects, and my approach to styling the apartment really varies with my mood. The one thing that it all has in common is that I find it all very pleasant to look at, and others seem to think so too!”