EMILY - The modular sofa

EMILY, mid-century modular sofa design for Stressless by Joly Design in 2019.

Emily sofa

With EMILY, Joly Design pays tribute to the icons of mid-century design by reinterpreting their codes with precision. The sofa asserts a low, horizontal silhouette, supported by an exposed chrome tubular frame. This base lightens the overall form and at the same time anchors the piece in Ekornes’ formal heritage, where bent tubing becomes a true design element.

Bold lines, grounded volumes

EMILY plays on contrast: full volumes resting on a minimalist base. The generous seat appears to float above fine, almost imperceptible legs. As a result, this tension gives the piece its identity. Joly Design treats every seam and stitch with intention. Rather than being ornamental, every detail contributes to the structural clarity of the composition.

Clear comfort, integrated movement

EMILY is a modular design adapts to different interior layouts. Straight modules, corners, and chaises combine freely while maintaining a continuous silhouette. Moreover, each seat can incorporate a motorized recline mechanism and an adjustable headrest. Thanks to this engineering, the sense of comfort is not an add-on—it is embedded into the proportions and posture, ensuring visual logic and coherence throughout.

Honest materials, precise finishes

The curved tubular frame — an Ekornes specialty — supports a leather or fabric cover assembled with exacting care. Joly Design selects materials for their structure, tension, and ability to express form without unnecessary excess. Consequently, the gesture remains clean, legible, and deliberate.

Configurations and variations

This modular sofa design comes in several fixed formats and modular compositions. In every case, Joly Design preserves the original intent: a low profile, a strong structure, and a stable balance between shape, function, and comfort.

See Stressless’website.