By
Jeremy Rellosa,
editor of the Strategist print section, including “The Look Book.”
He was previously a writer at the Strategist covering fitness and outdoor gear.
When tinkering with his most recent project, Will Cooper, founder of clothing and home-goods design studio William White (and its corresponding store, William White Emporium at 325 Canal Street), had fitting furniture in tight spaces top of mind. “New York spaces are tough. You have to cut a sofa in half; you have to get it in an elevator,” Cooper says. His smart and playful solution is the Duvet System (from $4,500), a three-piece modular chair that can be stacked and aligned in different configurations. Combine multiple for a sort of modern Mah Jong sofa. Created in partnership with Valley Studio, a custom drapery and furniture company, each Duvet chair — named for its down-filled cushions — is handmade to order. The cushions have a foam insert surrounded by down for rigidity, meaning you can use both sides. “It’s like you’re flipping a mattress,” Cooper says. Perhaps the most discreet feature is the removable canvas-wrapped panel that slots into the back of the chair like a spine. It serves as a headboard — or, when removed, as a flat surface where you can place your teacup, a book, or a candle while you lounge.
