AROUND HOME : The Maly Bed

NO, IT ONLY sounds pretentious. French furniture manufacturer Ligne Roset bills the Maly bed as “a 24-hour living station”--and the claim is entirely justified. In essence, the Maly bed is made up of an upholstered platform with a perimetrical rail running about the base. The back cushions can be moved around the circumference of the platform at will; reconfiguring the cushions is a snap, thanks to the zippered slipcovers (available in fabric and leather). A dentist’s-tray-like swivel table attaches to the head or foot of the unit for watching TV or for having breakfast in bed.

Hamburg, Germany-based Peter Maly designed the best-selling, eponymous bed in 1983, and other high-end European manufacturers have been looking over his shoulder ever since, as evidenced by B&B; Italia’s Sity series and Europa from Zanotta. For that matter, Peter Maly himself subsequently designed a settee-sized version of the bed known as Prao, introduced by Ligne Roset in 1985, that serves as a couch, chaise longue or day bed.

Just as the modular nature of the Maly bed makes a smart, contemporary architectural statement, its comfort beckons hours of relaxation. Maly’s flexibility, furthermore, makes it an ideal candidate for those living in cramped quarters. On the other hand, that same quality appeals even when space limitations are not a consideration. More than just allowing user interaction, Maly seems to invite it, leavening “serious” design with an element of fun.

But what else would one expect from a company that gives its pieces names like Zen, Flou-Flou, Plumy and Zoom?

The Maly bed is available in double, queen and king sizes. A queen-size Maly fitted out with three cushions, a tray and a standard fabric retails for $5,285 at Ligne Roset, 8840-A Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles 90048; telephone (213) 273-5425 for a free catalogue.