King Living founder talks modular, innovative furniture designs built to last
One of Australia’s biggest furniture brands has laid down roots in Canada
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King Living was conceptualized in the 1970’s by David King and his mother Gwen, who began selling hand-shaped foam furniture in Paddy’s Market in Sydney, Australia. Since then, it has grown to become one of Australia’s most successful furniture brands and is globally recognized for design excellence.
King Living expanded into North America after opening its Vancouver showroom in 2019. Its signature steel frames backed by a 25-year warranty provide the foundation for innovative designs that are customizable, modular and long-lasting.
We spoke with King about his start in Sydney, global expansion and what drives him to continue to evolve the brand.
Interview with King Living’s founder David King
Q: Who are you?
A: I’m David King, the founder of King Living. I’ve always been driven by one mission: to create furniture that enriches people’s lives, adapts to their lifestyles, and endures through generations. I started out in Sydney, crafting furniture with my mother in our family home. Today, I’m proud to lead a global design brand that continues to innovate, evolve and challenge what furniture can be.
Q: What made you start a furniture brand?
A: It began in the 1970s, with my mother Gwen and I shaping foam furniture by hand and selling it at Sydney’s Paddy’s Market. That early experience taught me the power of thoughtful design grounded in practical needs. But what really propelled me was walking the streets of Sydney and seeing broken, discarded furniture everywhere. I thought, we can do better. Why should furniture fall apart in just a few years?
That turned into a vision. I wanted to create furniture that would last a lifetime, adapt to changing needs, and feel just as good in 30 years as it did on day one. That’s how King Living was born.
Q: What are some of your favourite designs?
A: The 1977 Sofa is close to my heart. It is based on the Award Sofa, one of our earliest designs, and we’ve since reimagined it for a new generation. I also love designs that truly capture the full extent of our innovation and customization, like our Jasper and Delta Sofas. Both of these designs integrate technology, storage and endless modularity.
Q: Why King Living over other furniture manufacturers?
A: We don’t make ordinary furniture. We build designs that last, evolve and enhance the way people live. Our steel frame is backed by a 25-year warranty, and everything from the removable covers to the modular flexibility is designed with longevity and sustainability in mind.
Because we control every stage from design to manufacturing to aftercare, we can guarantee quality at every step. And we integrate technology into our furniture in ways no one else does. That combination of craftsmanship, innovation and customer care is like no furniture designer on the market.
Q: What is King Living doing to support the sustainability movement?
A: Sustainability isn’t a corporate strategy for us, it’s our origin story. Long before the term became a global focus, it was already embedded in the way we worked. As a family-run business, waste minimization has always been second nature. It wasn’t about ticking boxes; it was about pride in what we created and the belief that everything should have lasting value.
I didn’t want to make throwaway furniture. I wanted to make furniture that people could live with for decades. That philosophy is still at the core of King Living today. We’ve built sustainability into the very DNA of our designs, from our signature steel frame and removable covers to our modular sofas that transform with you across a lifetime of living.
In Australia, we have customers who purchased their sofas in the 70s or 80s and brought them back to us to recover. Some have had their sofas recovered multiple times through our King-Care refurbishment service.
We’re also looking to continually improve across the board: reducing packaging waste, exploring ways to use production offcuts, and developing new transport-efficient furniture ranges to reduce
Q: What other brands do you love and why?
A: I admire brands that are true to themselves and those that combine vision with discipline. Apple is a good example. The simplicity, the elegance, the seamless integration of form and function — it’s something we also aim for at King Living. I also appreciate Tesla for the way it’s revolutionized its industry by challenging conventions.
I believe great brands don’t chase trends. They anticipate needs, solve problems and create better experiences. That’s the standard I hold King Living, too.
Q: How do you see the future of furniture design evolving?
A: We’re moving into an age where furniture must do more than just look good; it needs to respond to us. I see a future where AI and smart technology will make furniture more intuitive and personalized. Imagine your sofa adjusting to how you sit or the lighting in your room shifting with your mood, all seamlessly integrated.
But I also believe that timeless craftsmanship will always have a place. The future is about combining the best of both: innovation that adapts to us, and materials that stand the test of time.
Q: What’s next for King Living?
A: We’re building to be a 100-year brand. That means expanding globally, continuing to push the boundaries of what furniture can do and championing sustainable, flexible living.
We are opening our largest-ever showroom in Balgowlah, on Sydney’s Northern Beaches in August, our fourth Canadian location in Montreal is coming soon, as is our third Showroom in the U.S., located in Portland, Ore.
Our purpose remains the same: to craft furniture that enriches lives today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.
Check out all of King Living’s offerings here.
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