The only certainties in life may be death and taxes, but add to that the need for a perfect white sofa. Here are ten that fit the bill.
Above: Ghost 4-seat Sofa by Italian designer Paola Navone for Gervasoni, 86 inches long; £5,025 at Canning & Sheridan. See the Ghost sofa in situ in House Call: Arent & Pyke in Australia.
Above: The Geoffrey from Montauk Sofa is 95 inches long; $3,800.
Above: The simple Tailor Bench Seat Sofa in Patton White by Lee Industries is $3,235 at Bliss Home & Design.
Above: Restoration Hardware's Belgian Classic Roll Arm Sofa is $3,625 for the 7-foot version with a linen slipcover.
Above: The Metro Slip-Covered Sofa is $1,399 at Room and Board.
Above: Karlstad Sofa in Blekinge White; $399 at Ikea.
Above: A Two-Seater Sofa from George Smith costs about $9,500, depending on fabric—but stay tuned for the company's annual sales.
Above: John Derian Cove Sofa by Cisco Brothers, makers of organic furniture, upholstered in Libeco linen; starts at $3,975 at Lekker Home.
Above: The investment piece: the perfectly proportioned, French-manufactured Renversant Canape Sofa; $6,800 before fabric (requires about 15 yards) for the 79-inch model. Also available in 87-inch size from Interieurs; contact Interieurs directly for ordering information.
Above: The Charlotte Slipcovered Sofa is made in the US and available through Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams; inquire about pricing.
Above: Sofa perfection from Italian furniture maker De Padova Studio: Vico Magistretti's reinterpretation (and slimming down) of the classic English saddle-arm sofa. For information on the Raffles Sofa, go to Suite NY.
Looking for more options—and hoping to find a sofa that lasts a lifetime? Consider the Ultimate Architect-Designed Sofa. And for sofa proportion advice, don't miss Michelle's hugely popular Gardenista post: Sofas: How Low Can You Go?
N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on March 25, 2009 as part of our Colorful Accents issue.