Handmade in Istanbul

Traditional Arabic Star Jalsah in Cream and Gold

Framed art often hangs close over the seating in a traditional Arabic jalsah, so this cream-and-gold design keeps its backrests plain and only 16 in (40 cm) tall, leaving the wall to the frames. Backrests are 4 in (10 cm) thick, and on a 16 in (40 cm) seat the whole back reaches about 31.5 in (80 cm) from the floor.

Arabic Majlis · L & U

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Item details

Category: Arabic Majlis
Layouts: L-shaped, U-shaped, Full room, Made to your walls
Cushion thickness: 4 in (10 cm), 8 in (20 cm), 12 in (30 cm), 16 in (40 cm)
Style: Royal gold
Fabric: First-quality Turkish fabric
Made in: Istanbul, Türkiye

What's in the set

The full piece list with sizes is below.

Shipping & customs

US & Canada: Delivery to the US and Canada is by tracked express courier — ask us for the current transit estimate.
United Kingdom: UK delivery is by tracked express courier — ask us for the current transit estimate.
Europe: Delivery across Europe is by tracked express courier — ask us for the current estimate for your country.
The Gulf: Delivery to the Gulf is by tracked express courier — ask us for the current estimate for your country.
Australia & NZ: Delivery to Australia and New Zealand is by tracked express courier — ask us for the current estimate.
Customs: US: Import duties for US deliveries are set by US Customs — ask us how they apply to your order before you pay.
Customs: Canada: Import taxes for Canadian deliveries are set by Canadian customs — ask us how they apply to your order.
Customs: UK: UK import VAT applies to furniture shipped from abroad — ask us how it's handled for your order before you pay.
Customs: elsewhere: Import taxes depend on your country's rules — ask us how they apply to your order before you pay.
Payment: Payment is made through a secure payment link once you approve your quote — ask us which methods are available in your country.
Paying over time: Ask us whether pay-over-time options are available in your country.

Cushions are pressed, rolled and vacuum-sealed for shipping and spring back to full size once you open them; they can't be re-compressed at home.

Your set ships in several boxes, typically two or three for an L-shape and more for larger layouts, and they may arrive on different days.

Every box gets its own tracking number, emailed as soon as your order ships.

Each shipment travels with a commercial invoice that lists the goods, their value, weight and materials.

Care

Covers unzip and can be machine-washed on a gentle 86°F (30°C) cycle with a mild detergent; avoid heat, which can shrink them.

How high will you sit?

The 4 in (10 cm) and 8 in (20 cm) sets are the everyday choices; 12 in (30 cm) and 16 in (40 cm) cushions are usually made to order.

Thickness guide

Cushion thickness	Height from the floor	How it is built	Sits like
4 in (10 cm)	10 of 40 cm	The standard cushion	Classic floor-style seating
8 in (20 cm)	20 of 40 cm	One solid block, or two stacked 4 in cushions	The usual low seat, close to the floor
12 in (30 cm)	30 of 40 cm	Can be stacked: 8 in plus 4 in	Easier to get up from than a low seat
16 in (40 cm)	40 of 40 cm	Can be stacked: two 8 in layers	About the seat height of a regular sofa

Stacked cushions are separate pieces, not sewn together, so a top layer can come off and serve as an extra floor mattress for guests.

Questions buyers ask

Can I have a firmer or taller backrest instead of the standard soft back pillows?

Backrests can be made firmer than the standard soft back pillows. A firm sponge backrest replaces loose pillows for a more upright feel, and wooden-backrest models build the back into the frame; ask us before planning a taller back.

From the atelier

Can I get firm block or flat backrests instead of the puffy pillow-style backs?

Backrests can be made as firm upholstered blocks instead of loose pillows. On some designs the pillow-style back is part of the pattern, so choosing a model that already has block backrests works better.

From the atelier

What's inside the cushion?

The seat foam is firm to medium-firm; softer or firmer filling can be requested.

Seat foamSeats use high-density polyurethane foam — ask us for the exact density for your build.
Cushion thickness4 in (10 cm), 8 in (20 cm), 12 in (30 cm), 16 in (40 cm)
BuildChoose all-foam modules or a wooden-frame build; softer or firmer filling is available on request.
MaterialsUpholstery chosen per order: Turkish velvet, chenille or a linen-look weave; the upholstery uses first-quality Turkish fabric.
On arrivalOpen the vacuum bags within about a week of delivery and give the cushions about a day to recover their full shape before use.

What does a quote cover?

A custom majlis quote covers seat cushions, backrests, two styles of armrest and matching pillows, all with covers and filling; tables, rugs and curtains are separate add-ons.

Seat module75 × 29.5 in (190 × 75 cm)
Corner module39 × 39 in (100 × 100 cm)
Backrest16 × 4 in (40 × 10 cm)
Armrest bolster19.5 × 8 × 8 in (50 × 20 × 20 cm)

How is your order made?

Production time depends on your layout and the season — ask us for the current schedule.

Step 1Layout planCustom orders start with a layout plan for your approval.
Step 2Your approvalBefore production we confirm the model, every measurement, the seat height and the fabric code with you.
Step 3Handmade in IstanbulCut, sewn and finished to order in our Istanbul atelier.
Step 4Photos before deliveryCustom orders are photographed and filmed for your approval before they ship.

Questions about this design

What goes into the Star Jalsah, piece by piece?

Component	Count	Size
Seat	Equal lengths per wall	Up to 75 in (190 cm), 29.5 in (75 cm) deep
Plain backrest	Two per seat	16 in (40 cm) high, 4 in (10 cm) deep
Corner seat	Each inside corner	39 × 39 in (100 × 100 cm) when raised
Armrest	Each open end	19.5 × 8 × 8 in (50 × 20 × 20 cm) bolster, low seats

Cream seats and gold details make up the whole of the seating; the black glass tables, chandelier and framed art in the photos are styling, quoted only if you ask. Classic designs like this one are cut by the same module rules as the wider majlis range.

How high should the backrests sit under wall art?

Measure from the floor to the bottom of the lowest frame. On a 16 in (40 cm) seat the backrest top lands near 31.5 in (80 cm), on a 12 in (30 cm) seat near 27.5 in (70 cm), so a frame hung at 39 in (100 cm) clears either with room to spare.

My choice here is the standard 16 in (40 cm) backrest rather than a taller one. A tall back competes with the frames, and a plain cover lets the gold in the art carry the room.

How deep and how high are the seats?

Seats are about 29.5 in (75 cm) deep, the usual depth for a custom majlis. A narrow room can take about 19.5 in (50 cm)–23.5 in (60 cm), and a deeper seat of up to about 33.5 in (85 cm) is possible on request.

Seat height	Top of backrest	Note
4 in (10 cm)	About 19.5 in (50 cm)	Traditional floor line
8 in (20 cm)	About 23.5 in (60 cm)	Low and relaxed
12 in (30 cm)	About 27.5 in (70 cm)	Easier to stand from
16 in (40 cm)	About 31.5 in (80 cm)	Sofa height

Choose a wooden base and the seat stays at 14.5 in (37 cm) to 16 in (40 cm); that build is not made lower. Seats use high-density polyurethane foam — ask us for the exact density for your build.

Velvet, chenille or a linen-look weave: which suits a classic room?

Turkish velvet gives cream the softest sheen, chenille adds a little texture, and linen-look weaves read flatter. All three are indoor fabrics, each in the full range of solid shades, and the gold can give way to silver-gray or black accents.

More gold-trimmed classics are gathered under royal majlis designs, and what a majlis is and how it is used covers the room itself. Ask us about fabric swatches and a foam sample before you order.

What should you settle before asking for a quote?

Run the tape along each wall at floor level, then note how high the lowest frame hangs.
Pick one seat height for the whole room from the table of heights.
Photograph every wall with its frames in place.

Our guide to floor sofa thickness and majlis seat height explains the next choice in more depth. Custom orders start with a layout plan for your approval.

Send your walls
We draw the layout
You approve, then we cut

Why are the backrests on the Star Jalsah plain rather than patterned?

Plain backrests keep the wall above them calm, so framed art or mirrors stay the focus. A patterned back can still be ordered on most designs, but then simpler frames suit the room better.

How many backrests does one Star Jalsah wall carry?

Every seat carries a pair of backrests, each covering half of it, so a 150 in (380 cm) wall split into two 75 in (190 cm) seats carries four. Shorter pieces at corners or doors get their own pair, cut to match.

Can a Star Jalsah run sit under a low window?

It can, as long as the wall below the sill gives the backrests something to lean on. Where one side has no wall at all, that run gets a wooden base with its own back, or with metal back supports on request.