Birkrigg
Birkrigg
The modern design of this sofa embodies maximum comfort, with its plump cushions and deep inviting seats. Handcrafted in the Yorkshire Dales from natural, breathable materials.
Starting at
£2,599
- No polyurethane foam
- Fire retardant-free fillings
- Frames guaranteed for life
- Lifetime reupholstery service
- Bespoke sizes, shapes and details
Talk to the Slow team
Call 07923 447672 or email info@slowsofa.co.uk
The Birkrigg
A sofa named after the fields we farmed — built from the ingredients you’ll recognise
- Frame
- Kiln-dried beech hardwood from sustainably managed European forests, traceable to source. Poplar plywood where curves require it. Bonded using natural soy and water-based glues.
- Suspension
- Steel serpentine springs, tied together by hand and fixed into solid beech with steel clips. Engineered to last as long as the frame.
- Fillings
- OEKO-TEX® certified Cocolok® (coconut fibre & natural latex) and OEKO-TEX® certified rubberised horsehair. Cocolok provides structure, while horsehair adds natural spring. We can swap the horsehair for additional Cocolok® — for vegan customers, or anyone who’d rather avoid it.
- Comfort layer
- GOTS-certified organic cotton and wool wrapped around the entire frame.
- Seat cushions
- GOLS-certified graphite-infused natural latex core, wrapped in European feather and down. Reversible. Top cushions are removable and can be dry cleaned. Wool-filled cushions available on request.
- Top fabric
- Your choice of natural linen, cotton, wool, cotton velvet and linen-cotton blends. Some are woven just a short distance from our workshop.
- Legs
- Solid oak, turned by a local maker just down the road.
Beech frame
Horsehair
Natural latex
Feathers
Needled wool
- Step 1
The frame
Built by our specialist framemakers from sustainably sourced beech — heavier and stronger than softwood. Cut, jointed and screwed by hand, with years of cabinet-making experience behind every joint. Where curves and stress points demand it, we use poplar plywood bonded with a soy-based adhesive, taking advantage of its stability to prevent twisting and make the frame even more robust over time. Built to be reupholstered, not replaced. Tight staircase? We can also build frames that assemble in your room.
- Step 2
Suspension
We take time installing and tensioning our steel serpentine springs, tying them together by hand to create even, supportive tension across the entire seat. Fixed securely into our solid beech frames, this system works wonderfully with our natural latex, feather-wrapped cushions.
- Step 3
Natural structure
OEKO-TEX® certified Cocolok and rubberised horsehair, layered over the frame. Horsehair softens the touch, while Cocolok provides structure and airflow. Wrapped in GOTS-certified organic cotton and wool. No polyurethane foam. No fire-retardant chemicals.
- Step 4
The cushions
This is where we invest in the finest material. GOLS-certified natural latex sits at the core — chosen for a resilience and bounce-back that foam, feather or Cocolok simply can’t match. No puckering, no sagging, no cushions that lose their shape after a year. Wrapped in European feather and down, and held in hand-sewn organic wool interliners. Back cushions are filled with feather, with wool filling available if you’d prefer. Seat cushions are reversible, with removable covers for dry cleaning.
- Step 5
Upholstery
One person makes your sofa. First cut to final stitch. No production line. Symmetrical pleats, matched pattern repeats, perfectly tensioned seams. The details a master upholsterer has spent years refining. Over half our fabrics come from British mills, many woven within forty miles. Custom length, deeper seat, unlisted fabric. Just ask.
- Step 6
How we power it
Our workshop runs on solar power. We were the first business in the North of England to export excess electricity from our solar panels back into the local grid. We employ locally and train the next generation of makers.
- Step 7
Finishing & delivery
Inspected, labelled and wrapped by hand, then delivered into the room of your choice.
- Step 8
For life
Cushion refills, new covers, full reupholstery. And if you ever part ways, we’ll help find it a new home. Nothing we make ends up in landfill.
- Foam
- No polyurethane foam. No memory foam. No “bio” foam. A University of Central Lancashire study found flame retardants can make up as much as a fifth of a sofa — around two kilograms. Ours is made from things you can name.
- Fire retardants
- No fire-retardant finishes on any of our fillings. Instead, we use naturally fire-resistant wool as a barrier, alongside a large collection of natural fabrics for the top cover that need no added FR treatment.
- Forever chemicals
- No foam off-gassing. No PFAS. No formaldehyde in our adhesives. Just the natural materials we use to make your sofa.
- Shortcuts
- The easiest way to make sofas cheaper is to make lots of the same thing. Standard sizes, limited fabrics, large production runs — made before anyone has ordered them and stored in warehouses ready to ship.
We make the opposite way. Every sofa starts with a person, a room and an order. We make it in the size, shape and fabric they actually want, so we’re not producing furniture in the hope that someone eventually buys it.
It isn’t the fastest way to make a sofa. But it means making what’s needed, rather than making more.
- Plastic
- No synthetic wadding, no polyester fibre fill.
- A short life
- Sustainability is as much about longevity as it is materials. A sofa that lasts three years and ends up in landfill isn’t sustainable, whatever it’s made from. Ours are built to be reupholstered, repaired and lived with for decades.
Our story
Father and son, building sofas the right way.
Simon spent forty years making furniture by hand. Greig grew up watching him. Years later Greig bought a high-street sofa — it collapsed inside a year. He looked into why, and found polyurethane foam and furniture built to be binned. Then it clicked: his dad had been doing it right the whole time. The answer wasn’t new. It just needed sharing.
Visit the workshopDimensions & fit
How it sits
A deep, soft seat: a natural latex core holds you up, wrapped in feather and down that softens as you sink in. Deep enough to sit up properly or curl up for the evening.
Will it fit?
Tight stairs or a narrow door? Drop us a message before you order. We can build your sofa specially to get into your home.
How it sits
A deep, soft seat: a natural latex core holds you up, wrapped in feather and down that softens as you sink in. Deep enough to sit up properly or curl up for the evening.
Will it fit?
Tight stairs or a narrow door? Drop us a message before you order. We can build your sofa specially to get into your home.
How it sits
A deep, soft seat: a natural latex core holds you up, wrapped in feather and down that softens as you sink in. Deep enough to sit up properly or curl up for the evening.
Will it fit?
Tight stairs or a narrow door? Drop us a message before you order. We can build your sofa specially to get into your home.
How it sits
A deep, soft seat: a natural latex core holds you up, wrapped in feather and down that softens as you sink in. Deep enough to sit up properly or curl up for the evening.
Will it fit?
Tight stairs or a narrow door? Drop us a message before you order. We can build your sofa specially to get into your home.
Need a different size?
No two homes are the same, so your sofa doesn't have to be either. Because every Slow sofa is handcrafted to order, we can adjust the dimensions to create something that feels just right for your space.
Customise your BirkriggBuilt by Slow
Sent in by happy customers.
Birkrigg
Navy Wool
Birkrigg corner
Oatmeal Linen
Birkrigg corner
Natural Linen
Birkrigg
Pale Grey Weave
Choosing your fabric
Every fabric, carefully selected.
We select every fabric for locality, quality and durability. If you have something else in mind, just drop us a message — we’re always happy to source.
Natural fabrics
Linen, cotton, British wool and linen-cotton blends. Full-grain leather is available too — just ask.
Fabrics without added fire retardants
Choose from a range of fabrics made without fire-retardant chemicals or stain-resistant finishes, and without PFAS. They meet UK fire safety with a naturally fire-resistant wool barrier instead. Ask us and we’ll point you to them.
Woven to last
We work with British mills wherever we can. Every fabric is rated for domestic use on the Martindale abrasion test — built for real life, not a showroom.
Delivery
Built to order
We start the day you order. Nothing sits in a warehouse — yours is built from scratch, for you.
10–12 weeks
A slower way to build a sofa, and a better one. Nothing leaves the workshop until it's right.
Into your room, assembled
Delivered and placed where you want it. We plan access in advance and take your old sofa away if you like.
Questions
Demystifying sofa buying.
Every SLOW sofa is made using natural materials, carefully chosen for comfort, longevity and repairability.
Inside, you’ll find sustainably sourced solid beech, natural latex, rubberised horsehair and coconut fibre, British wool and organic cotton. Cushions are filled with feather, British wool or plant-based alternatives, depending on your preference.
What you won’t find is polyurethane foam hidden beneath the fabric. We believe what’s inside your sofa matters just as much as what’s on the outside.
And because every sofa is handmade in our North Yorkshire workshop, we know exactly what goes into each one.
Natural is easy to claim. We believe it should be backed up. That’s why, wherever possible, we choose independently certified materials, so you can feel confident about what goes into your sofa.
- GOLS-certified natural latex — The natural latex in our cushions is certified to the Global Organic Latex Standard.
- GOTS-certified wool and cotton — The organic wool and cotton used throughout our sofas are certified to the Global Organic Textile Standard.
- OEKO-TEX® certified horsehair and coconut fibre — Our rubberised horsehair and coconut fibre are independently tested for harmful substances.
- Soy-based glue — Where adhesives are needed in our frames, we use soy-based glue rather than conventional petrochemical alternatives.
- Sustainably sourced timber — Our solid beech and poplar plywood come from responsibly managed forests, supplied by our local timber yard.
Because making better furniture starts with knowing exactly what goes into it.
Our natural fillings are free from added chemical fire retardants. Instead, we use a naturally fire-resistant wool barrier to meet UK furniture fire safety regulations.
We also offer a wide range of fabrics completely free from added fire-retardant treatments, including Natural Weave, House Linen, Soft Linen, Vintage Linen, House Wool, Wool & Flax, Wool Bouclé and Cotton Velvet.
Some fabrics in our wider collection may contain additional treatments, but we’re always transparent about what’s in them.
If you’d prefer a sofa without added chemical fire retardants, we’re happy to help you choose the right fabric.
Absolutely.
Choose from our carefully curated collection of natural fabrics, or supply your own if you have something particular in mind.
We’re always happy to help you find the right fabric and advise on its suitability before we begin making your sofa. If you’re supplying your own, a small cutting charge applies.
Not sure where to start? Order up to six free fabric samples, delivered to your door within 3–5 days.
Absolutely.
Every SLOW sofa is handmade to order, so you’re never limited to standard sizes.
From adjusting the width, depth and seat height to changing the arms or overall proportions, we can tailor your sofa to suit you and your home.
We also make corner sofas, chaise configurations, extra-long sofas, window seats and completely bespoke pieces.
Whether you’re working around an awkward space or simply have something particular in mind, we’d love to help bring it to life.
Very.
We believe comfort comes from better materials, not more foam.
Instead of conventional polyurethane foam, we use natural latex, layered with wool, coconut fibre and carefully chosen natural fillings.
The result is a sofa that feels soft and welcoming, while offering the support you need. Natural latex is also incredibly resilient, helping your cushions maintain their comfort and shape for years to come.
Because a sofa should feel just as good in ten years as it does on day one.
Our intention is simple: this should be the last sofa you need to buy.
Every frame carries a lifetime guarantee, and because our sofas are built traditionally, they can be repaired, reupholstered and refreshed rather than replaced.
We also offer cushion refilling, full reupholstery and restoration services, meaning your sofa can evolve with your home rather than ending up in landfill.
It’s furniture that’s designed to improve with age, not wear out.
Yes.
All seat and back cushions can be removed, making them easy to rotate, plump and care for.
We don’t currently offer fully removable loose covers, as our upholstery is traditionally fitted for a cleaner appearance and longer-lasting finish. However, we can make protective arm covers if required, and because we offer a lifetime reupholstery service, your sofa can always be refreshed in the future.
Every sofa is handmade to order in our North Yorkshire workshop.
Our typical lead time is around 10–12 weeks, although we’ll always confirm the current lead time when you place your order.
If your home renovation is taking longer than expected, we’re happy to store your completed sofa until you’re ready for delivery at no additional cost.
Delivery is carried out by our own team or trusted specialist furniture couriers, ensuring your sofa arrives safely and is carefully positioned in your home.
That’s exactly what we’re here for.
Unlike most modern sofas, every SLOW sofa is designed to be repaired rather than replaced.
Whether it’s replacing seat fillings, reupholstering the entire sofa, repairing accidental damage or simply giving a much-loved piece a fresh new fabric years from now, our workshop can carry out the work.
We believe good furniture shouldn’t become waste simply because it shows signs of life.
A SLOW sofa isn’t designed to meet a price point. It’s designed to last a lifetime.
Every sofa is handmade in our North Yorkshire workshop by skilled craftspeople, using solid timber frames, natural latex, British wool and carefully sourced materials. No shortcuts, no mass production, just honest materials and thoughtful craftsmanship.
Every frame comes with a lifetime guarantee, and our sofas are designed to be repaired, reupholstered and enjoyed for generations.
We believe buying better means buying less. And while a SLOW sofa may cost more today, it’s made to be with you for the long run.
Less replacing. More living.
