Artist Donald Judd’s austere, organic, ultra-simple furniture has been inspiration for lots of knockoffs, diys and straight-out ripoffs (many of them super pricey).  His iconic sofa, below, inspired the $6,000 Maple sofa, above, a collaboration of  Brooklyn-based industrial designer Farrah Sit and textile designer Rebecca Atwood.  Only Sit and Atwood may have made improvments on Judd’s design, from a practical comfort point-of-view.

Donald Judd
Donald Judd/galeriegretameert.com

They lowered the frame and made the back less tall and tilted it slightly so pillows could lean at an angle.

Hmmm. Looks pretty great. This is the first riff on Judd’s design that we’ve liked BECAUSE Sit and Atwood were honest about where the original idea came from AND made their own considered changes.

Just looking at their sofa from different angles shows you how it’s made, and it’s simple enough to DIY. You can use the published dimensions as a starting point: 79 inches long, 36 inches deep, and, with the pillows, 36 inches at its highest point.

 

Donald Judd Sofa 3

We’d opt for foam slipcovered cushions we can order from Dixie Foam.(we give them our own preshrunk fabric to use).

Donald Judd Sofa 4

via Remodelista

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4 replies on “Formula for a DIY Donald Judd-esque Sofa

  1. Yes Jim WHY NOT? Please send pix when you do (:

  2. I’ve been thrashing over creating an inexpensive, great sofa/day bed.
    And now I’ve seen it! Thank you!

  3. Yaye!!!!! Let us see what you come up with! (We want one!)

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