Arthur Elrod Sofas

American, 1924-1974

Although Arthur Elrod’s interiors were well documented in his day by newspapers and design periodicals, after publication, the articles and pictures mostly sat hidden away in archives. Not until the Palm Springs mid-century modernism renaissance began, at the end of the 1990s, did interest in the decorator reignite.

How did this incredibly influential talent fall into obscurity? Elrod’s client roster could hardly have been more impressive. It included just about every Hollywood A-lister of the era: Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, Mary and Jack Benny, Frank and Lucille Capra, Hoagy Carmichael, Claudette Colbert, and more. He was the interior designer of choice for all of Palm Springs’ founding families — the Bennetts, Hickses, McManuses and Nichols — and the darling of every captain of industry who kept a vacation home in the fabled desert resort, including the cofounders of Capitol Records and Hyatt Hotels and an heir to the Carnation Evaporated Milk Company fortune.

Born in 1924, South Carolina native Elrod studied textiles at Clemson Agricultural College (now Clemson University), then interior design at Chouinard Art Institute, in Los Angeles. He arrived in Palm Springs in 1947 and worked as junior staff decorator in the home furnishings department of the newly opened Bullock’s department store.

Elrod’s early career was fueled by the postwar building boom and by a growing awareness in the desert community of modernism, sparked by the work of Rudolph Schindler, Albert Frey, Richard Neutra and Frank Lloyd Wright. Elrod’s interiors of this period display a mostly French Provincial aesthetic with some sleeker modern furnishings mixed in.

Despite abundant commissions and favorable publicity, Elrod decamped to San Francisco in 1952 for a two-year stint at prominent home design and carpet store W. J. Sloane. During that time, General Electric engaged him to design an exhibition for the San Francisco Museum of Art to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the invention of Edison’s incandescent bulb. Elrod installed a “penthouse apartment” with terrace in the museum’s galleries that garnered him considerable attention and also marked a turn in his style. Almost all the furnishings were contemporary pieces, by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings.

At W. J. Sloane, Elrod met Hal Broderick — who would be his life partner until the 1960s and his business partner until the designer’s death, in 1974 — and Barbara Wills, an assistant manager in the store’s modern furniture department. The three established Arthur Elrod Ltd. and relocated back to Palm Springs in 1954. The firm was instantly successful, and over the years took on more and more designers to meet demand.

Elrod’s was the first firm to bring national lines like Baker and Widdicomb to the desert, and he also pioneered the use of indoor-outdoor fabrics, covered a fireplace wall with green vinyl and made Naugahyde chic. He floated credenzas on wall panels and under-lit sofas and beds with recessed kickbacks so that they appeared to levitate. Elrod literally created the mid-century Palm Springs interiors aesthetic we take for granted today.

Find vintage Arthur Elrod furniture on 1stDibs.

Creator: Arthur Elrod

Mid-Century Sofa by Arthur Elrod

By Arthur Elrod

Located in Pasadena, CA

Elegant and glamorous sofa designed by Arthur Elrod for the Cody House in Palm Springs, circa 1960s. Re-imagined in a chic metallic gray linen. A pair o...

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Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Arthur Elrod Sofas

Materials

Fabric

Mid-Century Sofa by Arthur Elrod

$13,500

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1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Arthur Elrod Sofas

Materials

Chrome

Mid-Century Wood Sofa by Thayer Coggin

$4,500

H 30 in W 84 in D 33 in

Mid Century Bamboo Sofa

Located in Pasadena, TX

A Mid-Century Modern "Pretzel" sofa reminiscent of the designs of Paul Frankl. A bent bamboo frame with floral print upholstery.

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1940s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Arthur Elrod Sofas

Materials

Fabric, Bamboo

Mid Century Bamboo Sofa

$2,400 Sale Price

36% Off

H 31 in W 72.5 in D 35 in

Mid-Century Modern Sofa

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Eye-catching patterned seats and backs are complemented by a rich wooden frame in this vintage Mid-Century Modern sofa. Perfect for adding a u...

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Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Arthur Elrod Sofas

Materials

Wood

Mid-Century Modern Sofa

$1,600

H 32 in W 69 in D 28.5 in

Mid-Century Sofa

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Combining curving forms with bright upholstery and chrome legs, this vintage sofa in the style of Vladimir Kagan is a bold statement pie...

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Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Arthur Elrod Sofas

Materials

Metal

Mid-Century Sofa

$4,600

H 34 in W 95 in D 48 in

Mid-Century 6 Sofa

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Long mid-century sofa in original blue upholstery. Sculpted walnut frame with bottom runner support. The cushioned arms rest over the wood frame. Please confirm location NY or NJ

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Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Arthur Elrod Sofas

Materials

Fabric, Walnut

Mid-Century 6 Sofa

$4,200

H 30.5 in W 82 in D 31 in

Mid-Century Tufted Sofa

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Long mid-century modern sofa in black vinyl with walnut trim. Three removable cushions sit on the back, while the seat cushion is tufted in a grid pattern. The walnut front embellish...

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Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Arthur Elrod Sofas

Materials

Faux Leather, Walnut

Mid-Century Tufted Sofa

$3,000

H 28 in W 86 in D 26 in

Mid Century Sofa by Poul Kjærholm

By Poul Kjærholm

Located in Allerum, SE

Exceptional and rare 20th century three-part wall mounted sofa in brushed chrome plated steel, canvas and original patinated Niger leather upholstery...

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20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Arthur Elrod Sofas

Materials

Steel

Mid Century Sofa by Poul Kjærholm

$124,000

H 27.56 in W 90.56 in D 30.32 in

Mid-Century ‘Gondola’ Sofa by Adrian Pearsall

By Adrian Pearsall, Craft Associates

Located in Raleigh, NC

Mid-century ‘Gondola’ sofa by Adrian Pearsall for Craft Associates, circa 1960s. Iconic mid-century design with walnut accents. Long profile sofa sitting atop sculpted walnut legs. ...

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1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Arthur Elrod Sofas

Materials

Fabric, Velvet, Foam, Wood, Walnut

Mid-Century ‘Gondola’ Sofa by Adrian Pearsall

$12,000

H 29.5 in W 101.5 in D 34 in

Mid-Century Curved Sofa

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Long Mid-Century Modern sofa with rounded back, in a Vladimir Kagan style. Please confirm location.

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Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Arthur Elrod Sofas

Materials

Fabric

Mid-Century Curved Sofa

$2,500

H 30.5 in W 93 in D 45 in

Mid-Century Large Sofa

Located in North Hollywood, CA

Wonderful Mid-Century three seats sofa from the 1960s. This sofa is in excellent condition. It has been restored, (refinished and reupholstered). The fabric it is absolutely clean an...

Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Arthur Elrod Sofas

Materials

Fabric, Wood, Walnut

Mid-Century Large Sofa

$5,580

H 31 in W 131 in D 33 in

Hollywood Regency Mid Century Brocade Sofa by Baumritter

By Viko Baumritter

Located in Lutz, FL

Vintage 1960’s pink, gold, and green striped brocade style upholstered sofa. Bohemian lover’s dream sofa with the mix of colors and the stripes. Perfect to add to a maximalist’s pale...

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Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Arthur Elrod Sofas

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Hollywood Regency Mid Century Brocade Sofa by Baumritter

$2,800

H 29 in W 92 in D 33 in

Mid-Century Bambino Sofa by Howard Keith

By Howard Keith

Located in London, England

Mid-Century Bambino Sofa by Howard Keith, produced by HK Furniture. Solid beech frame, newly upholstered in boucle and re-finished show wood. Circa 1950. H 97cm x W 130cm x D 80cm Pl...

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1950s British Mid-Century Modern Vintage Arthur Elrod Sofas

Materials

Beech

Mid-Century Bambino Sofa by Howard Keith

$4,441

H 38.19 in W 51.19 in D 31.5 in

Arthur Elrod sofas for sale on 1stDibs.

Arthur Elrod sofas are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of fabric and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Arthur Elrod sofas, although black editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original sofas by Arthur Elrod were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the mid-20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider sofas by Widdicomb Furniture Co., Edward Wormley, and Dunbar. Prices for Arthur Elrod sofas can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $13,500 and can go as high as $13,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $13,500.