Ercol sofa - anyone have one?

[jessicama]

I'm thinking of buying a vintage Ercol sofa - the day bed sort with the wooden sides... but I'm worried about how comfortable it is!

I've sat on one with its original cushions and it felt fine, a little firm.

But am I kidding myself because I like the design?! Anyone got one who can offer some insight?

I've got a lounge chair!
I'd buy it anyway as I am an Ercol fanatic!

My parents used to have one. It was the most uncomfortable sofa in the world. Ever.

It was the Windsor style. I hated it.

Hmm I think the Windsor ones are just wooden underneath - can you remmeber @BareBelliedSneetch ? The one I'm looking at has webbing... which I'd hope would be better

@GrimDamnFanjoGrimDamnFanjo - is the chair comfy? My heart says buy it, but I'm worried about DP's reaction if it turns out to be less comfy than our current old sofa!

It had webbing. It was even more uncomfortable just before they got the webbing repaired, and it was all saggy!

I've got an Ercol sofa, but it's one of the new designs, and very comfortable. I recently treated myself to a nest of the pebble tables, which I love.

I have a Windsor sofa and armchair. They're webbing underneath with new cushions. I love them but the seat pads do slip and need putting back in place frequently, and as I'm short I always need a cushion at my back.
We also have a modern squashy sofa for slouching on as vintage ercol isn't slouching at all

I have the studio couch:
www.ercol.com/en-gb/collections/originals/studio-couch/

It's not as comfortable as an upholstered sofa but it's not uncomfortable.

Cons:
The seat is quite narrow so not great for curling up and there is no room for extra cushions behind your back.
The back cushions can slip.
The seating position is quite upright but you could always get a matching footstool...
There are no soft arms for leaning on.
It's a bit creaky.
The webbing will stretch and it will sag eventually.

Pros:
It's a lot cheaper to replace the webbing than buy a new sofa. Ditto new seat cushions
It's a very comfortable sofa bed.
It's very comfortable as a day bed if you have good cushions that you can put against the arms (we have 2 big, firm cushions on either side) to use as a back rest. You can just about get people slouching on it head to toe.
It's beautiful.

If you are buying secondhand, I would check the quality of the seat cushions if they have been replaced. It might be better to try and find a frame and get it reupholstered yourself rather than buying refurbished one. Some of the places that sell refurbished Ercol use cheap foam for the cushions that will start to sag in no time.

Thanks everyone - really helpful (even if it's not all what I want to hear!)

@runoutofnamechanges - do you use yours as your main sofa? Or have another comfy one like @JohnLapsleyParlabane too!

We only have a small house so the real fear is getting rid of our old comfy thing and regretting it!

I love the look of mine!

But I am having a problem and maybe some of you wonder women who have one can help me. (Sorry for the hijack, OP!!)

My sofa came from the Ercol factory shop with a set of cushions in a rather horrible orange. So I sent them off to be reupholstered in grey. However, as soon as they came back I thought that perhaps the foam on them wasn't the same foam as the stuff I had sent away. It squishes down really easily and the sofa isn't that comfortable to sit on as a result. I can feel the hard wooden front under my knees.

I did ring the upholsterer to discuss this and left a polite inquiring message. I haven't been able to get through since. I did see him in a pub, and he bolted. This fills me with more suspicion!

I would be so grateful if someone who has original Ercol cushions could tell me how thick the foam is for them?

@jessicama It's in my study but I use it as much as my main sofa IFYSWIM but I don't usually share it! I will lounge on it all evening with a book and a glass of wine. DS spent almost an entire month glued to it when he was revising every hour of the day for exams. It's not too uncomfortable just not as comfortable as the sitting room sofa.

When I've used it as extra seating for parties though, it's not great to sit upright on and facing forwards - it feels more like sitting on a low dining chair or a train seat than a sofa because of the angle of the back. It's probably very good for your posture and back though! It would be fine with a footstool.

Right - we've decided to go for it - and risk being uncomfortable!

But we do want to get some new cushions and covers. Can anyone recommend somewhere? We keep coming back to Safefoam - anyone had any experience of the quality of them?

TIA!

There's a few companies out there. Try joining some Errol or mcm groups on Facebook.

update

have found the Ercol badge now. I haven't identified what model it is yet. Will be for sale on the South Coast.

If you are buying second hand, you could also look at companies like G-plan. If anyone can suggest other brands, please do.

thanks, all

I found a facebook group called Ercol furniture fanatics who identified it for me, and am sorted now.

ERCOL 203 CHAIR CUSHION RE-VAMP ?????

I AM DELIBERATING OVER PLAIN OR PATTERNED VELVET FOR THIS CHAIR.
I WANT TO MAKE IT LOOK ON TREND - REALLY APPRECIATE ANY IDEAS
LOOKING AT THESE 2 FABRICS AS PATTERNED CHOICE & A PLAIN
THANKS IN ADVANCE TRACY