Apache is functioning normally
Reviewer: MacKenzie Chung Fegan, contributor
Model tested: Article Nordby Sofa
The details: TK TK TK
Before delivery
What’s the story behind the brand?
Article, a Canadian DTC furniture company that’s been around since 2013, combines a straightforward online shopping experience with well-designed, modern pieces at reasonable prices. Along with very handsome sectionals and sleeper sofas, the brand’s stylishly designed furniture and home decor options include lounge chairs, full dining sets, bedroom furnishings, and more. And unlike traditional retailers, the Canadian brand’s offerings are only available to shop online, meaning no showrooms or storefronts to assess options in-person.
Price: How much does it cost? Are there payment plans available?
At $1499, the sofa bed is in league with comparable IKEA sleeper sofas, but the online images made it look slightly more upscale—and, crucially, sturdier, like it wouldn’t wreck a house guest’s back.
What are the upholstery or customization options? Did you choose any?
The Article Nordby sofa comes in three colorways, a denim blue and two shades of gray. (I opted for the lighter Pep Gray.)
What is the lead time for customization, manufacturing, and delivery?
Each version was available for delivery to my zip code within two weeks, and payment plans are available through Affirm.
Delivery + assembly
What was the delivery process like?
Article offers free front door delivery for orders over $999, but the company has white-glove service options as well. For $119, they will place your furniture in the room of your choice, and for $199, they’ll also handle assembly. I opted for in-room delivery since the pull-out sofa was going to the top floor of our narrow Brooklyn brownstone, and Article made the process incredibly easy. This was key since, at 205 pounds, the Nordby is quite heavy—both pieces of the sofa bed have a steel frame and solid wood legs.
What was the assembly process like? How long did it take and how many people?
Assembly was similarly breezy, with the instructions fitting on one side of an index card. It took zero tools and two people to screw on the legs and maneuver the sleeper into place.
Is the sleeper sofa suitable for particular decor styles? If so, which?
Design-wise the Nordby is fairly innocuous. It doesn’t make a statement, it doesn’t elicit curious comments from visitors, it doesn’t pull focus from the rest of the room. It would be well suited to a minimalist, modern, Scandi-style household.
Is it durable / practical in a modern home?
The performance fabric seems quite durable—less luxury home decor and more office furniture—and there are no sharp angles or pokey pieces. I was able to convert it from sofa to bed by myself.
After delivery
What are the dimensions (both regular and pullout)? How does it fit in your space when it’s not expanded versus when it is? Would it be better suited for a different type of home?
Closed, the sofa measures 33 inches tall by 87 inches wide by 35 inches deep, which feels a little ungenerous proportionally—particularly the seat depth (29.5 inches), since the back cushions are plump. When open, the mattress measures 54 inches by 72 inches. We actually prefer to keep it open—more on that below—so if you’re planning on doing the same, it might not be appropriate for a small room.
Source: architecturaldigest.com