The visionary behind King Living: Meet Founder David King
David King is driven by a simple mission: to create furniture that enriches lives and living spaces and endures through generations. As the founder of King Living, an Australian design pioneer, David has spent his career blending innovation, quality, and functionality into every design his company creates.
In 1977, King Living was born. Still led by David King today, the family-owned and run brand has grown to serve customers worldwide, with showrooms across Australia, New Zealand, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Singapore and Malaysia, and manufacturing hubs in Australia, China, and Thailand.
Here we delve into the story of David King, the visionary behind the iconic Australian furniture brand loved worldwide.
The Award Sofa, designed in the 70s and today reimagined as the 1977 Sofa.
From market stalls to a global brand
Growing up, David saw his mother, Gwen, regularly transform their home’s interiors, an experience that ignited his creative spark. Together, they handcrafted simple foam furniture in their family home, selling it atlocal Paddy’s Market. This was the start of a journey that would shape the King Living ethos: purposeful design, grounded in practical needs.
“I was eager to create something innovative and unique,” David reflects.“When my mother and I first discussed furniture made from foam, I didn’t know it would be a life-changing moment for us.”
Captured in the King Living Design Studio.
Rethinking how furniture is made
As demand soared, David’s vision took shape. He established a combined showroom and factory in Sydney, adopting a direct-to-consumer approach that would define the King Living customer-centric model.
David’s curiosity is endless. He has an instinct to question the status quo, to refine, to do better. In those early years, seeing piles of broken, short-lived furniture on Sydney’s streets, he saw a clear problem—and set out to solve it.
“I wanted to make furniture that wouldn’t end up in landfill a few years later,”he says.“Furniture you could really live with, without fear of it wearing out. And keep it for generations.”
David would scour second-hand stores to understand why furniture was abandoned. He noticed sagging frames, torn fabrics, and broken arms, the type that prompted grandparents to warn, “Don’t sit on the sofa arms!”But David thought differently. “Why not? Sofa arms should be built to support us.”
This insight led to the 1979 launch of the first King Living sofa with a steel frame and Postureflex® Seating System, incorporating a suspension system inspired by luxury European cars.
The King Steel Frame is designed to last a lifetime.
The beginnings of the King Difference
The King Living Steel Frame, to this day is backed by a 25-year warranty, became the foundation of the King Difference, the guiding principles of the brand ensuring that King Living furniture will outlast and outperform ordinary furniture.
“We’re not content to just create ordinary furniture. We use steel frames, modular components, and removable covers, all underpinned by leading technology within a sustainability-focused framework.”
David’s commitment to durability is evident in every design choice, from the steel frames to modular components and removable covers. He believes simplicity is timeless, that form and function should coexist harmoniously.
His dedication extends beyond production. The dedicated King-Care® team provides aftercare services, ensuring each design continues to serve its owners through fabric treatments, recovering, and refurbishment.
Through a vertically integrated approach, King Living controls every step of the design and manufacturing process, ensuring sustainable practices and superior quality.
After five decades, David King’s journey is far from over. “From the beginning, I was determined to revolutionise the furniture industry. I still feel the same today. We’re building a legacy. A brand designed to last 100 years.”
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