Hampton Barringer Luzak is a Jackson Hole, Wyoming, entrepreneur who delivers media and advertising solutions. With a passion for interior design, Hampton B. (Barringer) Luzak has a particular interest in historic residences of the Southeast. One common element of such interiors is the sofa, which dates back to the 17th century.
Also known as known as a settee, the sofa is an upholstered seat that may also have upholstered back and arms. The oldest known examples of settees were constructed in Europe. These were double chairs that had cushions and sides that let down so that they could be converted into beds. Those that were relatively narrow and provided for closer sitting took on the name “loveseats” or “courting settees.” Today’s loveseat is a specific type of short sofa that allows people to sit side-by-side.
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the term sofa (which is more common today in the US) came from the dais a Grand Vizier or Ottoman Turkish ruler sat on. It was not quite upright and had soft upholstery, providing connotations of lounging and reclining rather than simply sitting. Today, both types of seating (the traditional sofa and the settee) can be termed sofa, so the distinction does not strongly apply to contemporary furniture.