⁄Profile⁄ King Living founder David King on how thoughtful furniture design meets long-term sustainability. PHOTOS BY JASON E. KAPLAN Living Smartly King Living is known for its modular sofas and engineered comfort. What drives your innovation process? Innovation has always been central to King Living. It begins with curiosity and a constant desire to improve how people live. Because we design and manufacture everything ourselves, we have complete freedom to innovate. Modularity is at the heart of what we do. It represents freedom. The furniture evolves with its owner and adapts to changing homes and lifestyles. From the steel frame to the tailored removable covers, every element is built to perform beautifully and endure for decades. That combination of thoughtful design, advanced engineering and craftsmanship is what truly defines innovation at King Living. How do you approach the intersection of design and technology, particularly in furniture that adapts to how people live today? We view technology as something that should enhance comfort, not distract from it. The goal is seamless integration. Our designs incorporate intelligent systems that work quietly in the background, from adjustable headrests and hidden storage to smart accessories with charging and lighting. What makes our approach different is that our smart accessories are not built into the furniture permanently. They are designed to attach and detach easily, giving customers the freedom to add, remove or upgrade features as their needs change. It is the opposite of built-in obsolescence. This flexibility ensures that our furniture remains made for the way people truly live today and in the future. What does “living smartly” mean to you in the context of furniture design? To live smartly is to live simply and purposefully. It means creating furniture that adapts to your lifestyle and improves your everyday experience. Smart living is not about complexity or trends. It is about flexibility, longevity and comfort that feels effortless. At King Living, we design furniture that moves with you, evolves with your space and simplifies your life. When design, technology and craftsmanship work together, that is when living smartly truly begins. Can you share any insights about King Living’s approach to longevity and designing furniture that lasts generations rather than seasons? Longevity has always been part of our story. When I first started making furniture in Sydney in the 1970s, I saw broken pieces left on the street and thought there had to be a better way. I wanted to create furniture that people could live with for a lifetime, not just a few years. Our steel frame became the foundation for that vision. It is engineered for life and backed by a 25-year warranty. Every piece is built with renewal in mind. Covers can be replaced, modules rearranged and components refurbished through our King Care service. Because we oversee everything from design to aftercare, we can ensure our products continue to perform beautifully for “To live smartly is to live simply and purposefully. It means creating furniture that adapts to your lifestyle and improves your everyday experience. Smart living is not about complexity or trends. It is about flexibility, longevity and comfort that feels effortless. ” DAVID KING WITH THE RECENT OPENING of its new Northwest Portland showroom, Australian furniture retailer King Living brings its signature modular design and engineered comfort to the Pacific Northwest. Founded in Sydney in 1977, the family-owned company began when David King and his mother, Gwen, started making simple foam chairs by hand and selling them at local markets — an experience that taught King the power of thoughtful design rooted in real, everyday needs. “Walking the streets of Sydney, I often saw broken, discarded furniture,” King says. “It felt wasteful. I wanted to create something better. Furniture that could evolve, be repaired and last for generations.” Here King shares how that early philosophy continues to shape the brand’s approach to innovation, flexibility and “living smartly” today. 10
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