Reviewer: Rachel Davies, associate digital features editor
Model tested: Vitra Polder Sofa
The details: The sofa is produced by Vitra, a top-tier Swiss furniture company that produces works by some of the most iconic designers, including Charles and Ray Eames, Isamu Noguchi, and Verner Panton. Dutch designer Hella Jongerius designed the Polder in 2005, which is a fitting example of Jongerius’s celebrated understanding of color and texture. The sofa is inspired by the subdivided flatlands of the Netherlands, called polders, which from above appear as different sized and shaped blocks of color. Much like the polders, the beauty of the sofa is in its asymmetrical, unexpected shape.
Ordering process
Price: How much does it cost? Are there payment plans available?
A new Polder will run prospective buyers $11,300, though second-hand options are available through outlets like 1stDibs and Chairish. There are no payment plans available.
What are the upholstery or customization options? Did you choose any?
There are four different fabric mix options available. The different textile options each represent a different color family/family of tones, since there are a lot of different colored elements in the piece. The two back cushions are different tones, as are the two seat cushions, the base of the sofa, and the side armrest cushion—a total of six colors. The options are The Antarctic Blues, The Earth Reds, The Pebble Greys, and The Sea Greens.
What is the lead time for customization, manufacturing, and delivery?
Delivery time is 10–12 weeks.
Couch delivery + assembly
What was the delivery process like?
The delivery was white-glove. I was contacted beforehand to set up a time for delivery. Three delivery men brought it in and it was in one box. There was a little hiccup with assembling it since the delivery people were a bit confused about where the farthest edge piece should go (it can be used as an ottoman or attached to the side), but they figured it out and it only took about 20 minutes all in all.
What was the assembly process like? How long did it take and how many people?
The two delivery people assembled the sofa, but it came attached, except for one piece, so it only took about 20 minutes.
After installation
What are the dimensions? How does it fit in your space? Would it be better suited for a different type of home?
The sofa is 102 ¼ inches long x 32 ¼ inches tall x 38 ¼ deep. It’s currently inside a workspace but I think it would work well in my home as well, though it’s likely too long for a super-small living room.
Sit Test: Is it comfortable? Does it feel well made? Does the couch have a tendency to sag?
I’m someone who loves a semi-firm sofa. I don’t want to feel like I’m sitting on a hard surface, but I do like to feel supported by my sofa, not like I’m going to disappear into it. With that in mind, this couch is VERY COMFORTABLE to me and feels very well made. Its tautness makes me think it wouldn’t sag or that it would take a very long time to get to the point where it was misshapen at all. I also love that there are two different back seat height sections because it welcomes different ways of resting on the couch.
