Review and Comparison Guide: Modern Classic's Petite and Grande Sofas
Inspired by: le Corbusier LC2 and LC3 Lounge Sofas
LC2 Petite
Club Sofa
| LC2 Petite Sofa | |
| Our Item No. | MC-2003 |
| Base Price | $ 2,840 |
| Overall Dimensions: | 71"w x 28.5"d x 27"h |
| Seat Height: | 18 inches |
| Weight: | 104 pounds |
LC3 Grande
Lounge sofa
| LC3 Grande Lounge sofa | |
| Our Item No. | MC-2023 |
| Base Price | $ 2,880 |
| Overall Dimensions: | 93"w x 28.5"d x 27"h |
| Seat Height: | 17.5 inches |
| Weight: | 106 pounds |
LC3 Grande Feather Relaxed
Lounge sofa
| LC3-Relaxed Lounge sofa | |
| Our Item No. | MC-2063 |
| Base Price | $ 3,340 |
| Overall Dimensions: | 93"w x 28.5"d x 27"h |
| Seat Height: | 17.5 inches |
| Weight: | 140 pounds |
We wrote this review and comparison guide to help you figure out who makes the best LC2 and LC3 sofa replicas. We have only highlighted 4 sellers of thsee iconic sofas, the primary contenders if you will, and while it seem slightly bias toward our versions, the points are valid and we hope support the notion that our versions of these sofas are the best value proposition on the market.
Side-By-Side Comparison: Modern Classics vs. the Competition
| Feature | Modern Classics | Design Within Reach | Bauhaus 2 Your House | Low-Market |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LC2 Style sofa | $ 2,840 | $ 10,900 | $ 3,011 | $ n/a |
| LC3 Style sofa | $ 2,880 | $ 12,925 | $ 3,845 | $ n/a |
| LC3-Relaxed Style sofa | $ 3,340 | $ 13,100 | $ n/a | $ n/a |
| Overall Dimensions | ||||
| Frame Details | ||||
| Foam Details | ||||
| Cushion Details | ||||
| Upholstery Materials | ||||
| Custom Options |
Choice #1:
Modern Classics Furniture
Our Corbusier LC2 and LC3 style sofas are offered in top grain Italian leather. Our frame is #304 Stainless Steel, polished to a mirror-like finish. For an extra charge, we offer powdercoating the frame in 8 standard colors. You may also provide your own upholstery materials for your specific project.
PROS:
- Price:
- The list prices for the Modern Classics brand, as shown above, are significantly lower than all other comparable brands, most notably the Cassina Brand. Furthermore, we do not charge for sales taxes and standard shipping is free to the contiguous US on orders over $5,000.
- Overall Dimensions:
- Our sofa dimensions are modeled from original 1929 engineering drawings, and are the closest to the designer's original intent of the model. In addition, on our two Grande Lounge sofa models (MC-2021 and MC-2061), we have increased the leg lengths by appoximately 2 inches to provide a higher seat height than the original. This is better for accessibility and comfort.
- Frame Details:
- Our Frames are hand formed using No. 304 grade stainless steel tubing hand-polished to a mirror-like finish. By using higher grade #304 stainless steel we achieve a more natural appearance metal feature than plated chrome as well as a more environmentally safe steel compared to “plated chrome”. Stainless steel is easy to maintain, inherently corrosive resistant and repairable by hand polishing offering a near life-time of trouble fee use. Besides the hand-polished look, we can make our frame with a standard selection of 6 powdercoated finishes.
- Foam Details:
- We use luxury grade HR (High Resilient) Multi-Density Foam in our cushion construction giving our customers a very comfortable sitting experience - as comfortable as the original. This foam is an environmentally and people safe material produced by a major world-recognized foam manufacturer. Our foam is rated by independent certified testing laboratories and tested for commercial safety grade fire and smoke standards for Europe and USA. Additionally, the foam is wrapped with Dacron polyester fiberfill for additional softness. On the Petite version, we also add a top layer of feathers to the seat cushion for extra and seat comfort.
- Cushion Details:
- Our cushions are upholstered with leather and depending on the sofa, has piping and seams in all the right places. Our cushions have leather on top, back and sides, with a small area under the seat cushion that are made of nylon, for breathability.
- Upholstery Materials:
- We offer 20 imported Italian leather colors as standard, with the option of providing your own leather or selecting from our wide range of color and texture selection of stock European leather colors for a minor surcharge.
- Custom Options
- We offer the extreme flexibility on this model for customizing, with modest upcharges. First, there is the upholstery material. You can provide your own fabric or leather. You can ask us to check with our leather supplier for a specific leather color. We can powder coat the frame using one of our standard colors, or your own selection.
CONS:
- Corner Frame Construction:
- One thing that distinquishes our frames are the way we make the frame corners. The Signature Model present rounded corners made of bent tubing. We construct our corners by cutting and welding the corners in more of a 90 degree angle, and then welding and polishing smooth.
Choice #2:
Design Within Reach
Design Within Reach (DWR) sells the original replica of these sofas as made by Cassina in Italy (a.ka., the "Signature" or "Cassina" model.) Cassina's LC2 and LC3 style lounge sofas are offered in top grain Italian leather in 6 colors, a chrome-plated steel frame, some alternate metal frame finishes and some fabrics. Each piece has an signature plaque of le Corbusier, which is their trademark. DWR prices do not include free Shipping and sales taxes with be added, since DWR has a store in virtually every state.
PROS:
- Overall Dimensions:
- These are the closest to the designer's original intent of the model.
- Frame Details:
- The Signature Model present rounded corners arw made of bent tubing. We construct our corners by cutting and welding the corners in more of a 90 degree angle, and then welding and polishing smooth. In addition, each DWR sofa has an signature plaque of le Corbusier, which is their trademark.
- Foam Details:
- Cassina uses High Resilient Multi-Density Foam in their cushion construction. They also wrap the foam in soft Dacron, giving it more of the overstuffedd look.
- Cushion Details:
- The Cassina cushions are upholstered with leather and depending on the sofa, has piping and seams in all the right places. Their cushions have leather on top, back and sides, with a small area under the seat cushion that are made of nylon, for breathability.
CONS:
- Price:
- The list prices for the Modern Classics brand, as shown above, are significantly lower than all other comparable brands, most notably the Cassina Brand.
- Seat Height Dimensions:
- The seat height on LC3 sofas that DWR sells, while considered correct for this model, at 14.5 inches, is still very low for USA standard. On our two Grande Lounge sofa models (MC-2021 and MC-2061), we have increased the leg lengths by appoximately 2 inches to provide a higher seat height than the original. This is better for accessibility and comfort.
- Frame Metal:
- The Cassina frames are hand formed of mild steel tubing then chrome plated or painted. Chrome plating is not known for it's environmental freindliness or safety. Chrome plating can be chipped and scratched whereas stainless steel is easy to maintain, inherently corrosive resistant and repairable by hand polishing offering a near life-time of trouble fee use.
- Feathers on Seat Cushion:
- On the LC2 version, Cassina does not add a top layer of feathers to the seat cushion for extra confort like the Modern Classics brand.
- Upholstery Materials:
- DWR only offers 6 Italian leather colors as standard.
- Custom Options
- DWR only offers modest amounts of flexibility on this model for customizing, with extreme cost upcharges. First, there is the upholstery material. You can provide your own fabric or leather. You can ask us to check with our leather supplier for a specific leather color. We can powder coat the frame using one of our standard colors, or your own selection.
Choice #3:
Bauhaus 2 Your House
Bauhaus 2 Your House ("B2H") only offers the Dacron wrapped LC2 and LC3 style lounge sofas are offered in one color of leather, black,. Their sofas use a chrome-plated steel frame.
PROS:
- Overall Dimensions:
- These are a close to the designer's original intent of the model.
- Upholstery Materials:
- B2H offers many fabric and leather choices for pre-order, with black being the only stock color.
CONS:
- Price:
- The list prices for the Modern Classics brand, as shown above, are significantly lower than all other comparable brands, including the models that B2H sells.
- Seat Height Dimensions:
- The seat height on LC3 sofas that B2H sells, while considered correct for this model, at 14.5 inches, is still very low for USA standard. On our two Grande Lounge sofa models (MC-2021 and MC-2061), we have increased the leg lengths by appoximately 2 inches to provide a higher seat height than the original. This is better for accessibility and comfort.
- Frame Metal:
- The frame on the models that B2H sells are hand formed of mild steel tubing then chrome-plated. Chrome plating is not known for it's environmental freindliness or safety. Chrome plating can be chipped and scratched whereas stainless steel is easy to maintain, inherently corrosive resistant and repairable by hand polishing offering a near life-time of trouble fee use.
- Upholstery Materials:
- B2H only offers 1 leather colors as standard.
- Cushion Details:
- B2H cushions are upholstered with leather but on the LC3 version, the piping on the seat cushion doesn't match the Signature Brand. .
- Foam Details:
- B2H's model might use High Resilient Multi-Density Foam in their cushion construction, since the sofas are imported from Italy. And they might wrap their foam with Dacron polyester fiberfill. On the LC2 version, B2H does not add a top layer of feathers to the seat cushion for extra confort like the Modern Classics brand.
- Custom Options
- B2H offers no customization options.
Choice #4:
Low-Market sofas
LC2 and LC3 style sofas can be found all over the Internet, and are notably becuase their prices are well below $600. The low market sofas are offered in one or two colors: black and white, and are note known for the use of soft foam, real leather, or correct dimensions. Their sofas use a chrome-plated steel frame.
PROS:
- Price:
- The list prices for the Modern Classics brand, as shown above, are significantly higher than all low market brands.
- Overall Dimensions:
- These are a close to the designer's original intent of the model.
CONS:
- Overall Dimensions:
- The overall dimensions on LC2 and LC3 style sofas in the low end of the market, while sometimes close on some measurements, are often different than the Signature Brand.
- Frame Metal:
- The frame on the sofas in the low end of the market are formed of mild steel tubing then chrome-plated. Chrome plating is not known for it's environmental freindliness or safety. Chrome plating can be chipped and scratched whereas stainless steel is easy to maintain, inherently corrosive resistant and repairable by hand polishing offering a near life-time of trouble fee use.
- Upholstery Materials:
- Usually not Italian leather, but bonded or PVC.
- Cushion Details:
- Cushions on sofas in the low end of the market are substandard, sometime not using leather on all exposed surfaces.
- Foam Details:
- The foam density on the sofas found at the low end of the market are hard as a concrete park bench. On the LC2 version, B2H does not add a top layer of feathers to the seat cushion for extra confort like the Modern Classics brand.
- Custom Options
- No customization options at this end of the market!
Product Description
One of the most influential of 20th century architects, Chareli-Edouard Jeanneret, who chose to be know as "Le Corbusier”, was also responsible for some of the Modern Movements best-known furniture. In collaboration with designer Charlotte Perriand and his architect cousin Pierre Jeanneret, he helped create machine age classics such as the LC2 Club sofa, the LC3 "grand confort” armchair, the Basculant Sling sofa and the chaise lounge sofa. Free from any form of decoration, these tubular steel designs embody relaxed and timeless elegance.
We make our own versions of the Le Corbusier style Lounge sofas. These are made at own factory, and you will not find a finer version of this seating collection anywhere else. We use high gauge tubular stainless steel on each frame. The frame is polished to a mirror-like finish with mitered frame corners ground to a soft radius. The feet have adjustable height glides. The webbing is 2" polyester woven elastic with hooks to hold it the frames. Besides the polished frame, we also offer 6 colors of metallic powder coated finishes, or choose your own!
We use top-grain, aniline-dyed leather on all visible cushion surfaces. Inside each cushion is high density, HR (High Resilient), Multi-Density polyurethane foam surrounded by Dacron batting. On the LC2 seat cushion, there is a layer of goose down/feathers on the seat top. On the LC3, the seat cushion has an extra layer of Dacron fiberfill. The LC3-relaxed uses both foam and goose down/feathers on the side and seat cushions for the most comfortable of the Cassina style sofa.
LEATHER CHOICES
Modern Classics Furniture offers two levels of Top-Grain Italian Leathers. Each of the these groupings feature:
- Top-grain Italian leather from Grade A hides
- Semi aniline-dyed (standard) and 100% aniline-dyed (premium)
- Made in Italy and imported to our factory
- Have a UV and Moisture Guard built into the dye
- Are not split hides or bonded leather
We are happy to mail you a physical piece of leather so you can hold it in your hands.
Below are the leather colors we offer for this product. Our Standard Leathers (denoted with the prefix L1) are top-grain, aniline-dyed, and then color corrected with a slight embossing to create a more uniform grain pattern. Our Premium leathers (denoted with the prefix L2) are also top-grain, aniline-dyed but have a soft feel to them and much of the hides natural grain patterns are retained. All our leathers are considered equally durable and are ideal for home or commercial use. To read more about leather, read our A Guide to Understanding Upholstery Leather: A Primer.
Click on any of these images for an enlarged view.
Standard Leathers (Top Grain - Textured)
Other Metal Frame Color Choices
Besides the standard #304 Polished Stainless Steel frames shown above, we do our own in-house powdercoating over the stainless steel frame. We offer 8 standard colors and there is a $150 to $200 extra charge for the custom frame finishing.
Click on any of these swatches to see an enlarged view.
