We are expert craftsmen, who seal our furniture with a lifetime guarantee.

OUR STORY

Our first New York factory opened its doors in 1982, where painted footprints on the sidewalk were used to guide the curious passerby into our shop. The curious became clients, and their experience of quality, craftsmanship and design expertise was quickly shared with the greater New York area. Classic Sofa expanded from Brooklyn to Manhattan, establishing a flagship showroom at 22^nd Street and Fifth Avenue, eventually growing to four in Ridgewood, NJ, Manhasset, LI and Greenwich, CT. 

Despite the success of the early years, Classic Sofa was hit by the reality of the 2008 recession, and like many fine retailers during this time, closed our brick-and-mortar locations while maintaining production through our factory, then in Mt. Vernon, NY. Despite the downturn of the economy, we never deviated from our commitment to the highest quality materials in our pure down cushioning, or our hardwood frames guaranteed for life, and continued to embody old-world manufacturing methods when others were forced to cut corners.

BLAKE ANDING

President

Blake Anding, owner and lead designer of Classic Sofa, seamlessly intertwines engineering expertise with his passion for furniture design. With his unique background of engineering and economics degrees from Vanderbilt University, he brings a fresh perspective to the industry, marrying precision and creativity in each piece. Blake’s commitment to merging functionality and aesthetics defines the essence of Classic Sofa, where innovation meets timeless elegance.

With his family heritage rooted in Yorkshire, England, Blake Anding draws inspiration from this hard working and down to earth part of the world. He has fostered a deep appreciation for traditional English design. Influenced by the legacy of iconic furniture makers like Hepplewhite and Chippendale, Blake’s work at Classic Sofa reflects a profound respect for the craftsmanship and timeless elegance synonymous with the great British furniture tradition.

Blake Anding takes a personalized approach, engaging with every client to understand their distinct preferences and aspirations. Leveraging his expertise in fabric selection and applying insights from his engineering background to the production process, Blake guarantees clients a bespoke masterpiece. The result is not just furniture but a lasting piece of art designed to transcend generations, reflecting both craftsmanship and individual style.

ASHLEY ANDREWS

Design Consultant

As an English and multi-talented artist, Ashley is a seasoned Broadway and West End performer and choreographer. He has graced iconic stages all over the world working with some of the best people in this field while earning acclaim for their artistry.

Beyond the stage, Ashley channels his creative energy into the world of design. As our Design Consultant, he brings a unique perspective to every project, seamlessly blending the elegance of dance with the principles of function and aesthetic design. His keen eye for detail and flair for creativity make him an invaluable asset in the world of bespoke furniture.

In addition to his design consultancy role, Ashley wears another hat as the store manager for Classic Sofa located in the New York Design Center at 200 Lexington Avenue. Under his leadership, the store has become a haven for those seeking high quality, timeless elegance and personalized comfort. Ashley infuses each piece with a touch of choreographic finesse, ensuring that every sofa tells a story of sophistication and style.

Visit the Classic Sofa instagram page to explore many of Ashley’s projects, where the worlds of dance and design converge to create furniture that transcends the ordinary while embodying the spirit of classic elegance and quality.

“Classic never goes out of style”

Stanley Clerossier

Master Upholsterer

Hailing from Haiti, Stanley started work at Classic Sofa more than 30 years ago at our 22nd St. factory. He learned the upholstery industry from his big brother and other family members that were masters of the trade. When Classic Sofa was revamped at the Mount Vernon factory, Stanley was the single upholsterer who cut, sewed and upholstered each new sofa or reupholstery. 10 years later, he is the head of our upholstery department managing the cushion proportioning and how complex fabric repeats will be laid out from the cushions to the body of the sofa. We have the ultimate respect for Stanley as he has been with the team from the beginning and his passion for perfection ensures that each piece is a one of a kind piece of art.

Paul Brown

Co-Lead, Woodshop

Emigrating from Jamaica in the late 1980’s, Paul is also one of the original craftsman that worked at our 22nd street factory. He also learned the carpentry trade from family members in Jamaica and honed his skills working in our frame shop. His positive energy and strong work ethic sets the bar of what we look for in our employees. He always comes to work with a smile and doesn’t back down from a design challenge until it has been mastered. Being our master carpenter, he also draws the line on what can and can not be accomplished to ensure the structural integrity of pieces so we can continue to offer a lifetime guarantee on our frames.

Stanley Chow

Co-Lead, Woodshop

Originally from Guyana, Stanley has so many stories to be told it is like he has lived many lifetimes. Back home he worked in gold mining, manned fishing boats, was an electrician and of course was a master carpenter. Once he emigrated to the states he focused his creative and hard work ethic on carpentry. Working in tandem with Paul for over 30 years these two masters can accomplish anything they set their mind to. They have trained apprentices to handle the more simpler designs but his expertise shines when Blake maps out a unique curved pieces on a template that needs to be made to the exact scale. Stanley’s natural talent in working with his hands is second to none, as is his contagious smile and laugh.

Pepito

If this picture doesn’t say it all then I don’t know what does. Pepito, originally from Ecuador, has a heart of gold. He heads up our delivery team and also works to prepare pieces for upholstery as well as quality control once the pieces are finished. He is the first one in the factory and the last to leave. The consistency of his positive attitude and also being the ultimate jokester in the factory keeps smiles on everyone’s faces. Don’t let his size fool you, he is one of the strongest people I’ve ever met. Most importantly, Pepito embodies the ethos of Classic Sofa — putting love and care into each creation.