Directional Furniture, a name synonymous with vintage mid-century modern design, was founded after American designer Paul McCobb created the high-end Directional Modern line of sofas, distributed by the New York-based Modernage Company. The brand’s pieces were characterized by a sleek, minimalist aesthetic that prioritized elegant functionality, often crafted from fine materials like brass and walnut. In 1949, McCobb partnered with New York furniture salesman B.G. Mesberg to establish the Directional Furniture Company. In 1964, designer Paul Evans took the reins, bringing a bold, provocative style shaped by his early training as a silversmith.

Other notable designers included Vladimir Kagan, who created biomorphic sofas and swivel chairs, Milo Baughman, whose tables and dressers drew from Scandinavian modernism, and Jack Lenor Larsen, who brought dynamic, patterned fabrics to sofas, adding a distinct textile dimension to the collection.