How We Build a Chesterfield

Every piece that leaves our floor is made by hand, from raw timber to the final stud. Here is how we build them, step by step, right here in our UK workshop.

The Frame

It starts with the skeleton. We cut, glue, dowel, and screw every frame from solid seasoned beech hardwood. We don't use chipboard or flimsy softwoods, and we reinforce every corner joint. A Chesterfield is only as good as the frame underneath it, and ours are built to last a lifetime.

The Foundation

Rather than traditional metal springs that can sag, squeak, or poke through over time, we use a heavy-duty, high-tensile webbed base. Hand-stretched and interlaced across the frame, it creates a taut, uniform support that distributes weight evenly and holds its shape year after year.

The Padding & Filling

Over the webbed foundation, we build up layers of resilient, high-density foam and hand-applied wadding. This gives the sofa its signature profile — supportive enough to sit on for hours, but structured enough to never look tired or sunken.

The Hand-Pleating and Deep Buttoning

This is where the craft really shows. The deep diamond pattern on the back and arms isn’t stamped by a machine. An upholsterer works across each hide by hand, pleating the leather individually and pulling each button deep into the frame with heavy-gauge twine. It takes patience, strength, and decades of muscle memory to get the tension consistent across every fold.

The Tailoring & Hand Studding

Once the body is buttoned, we fit and tension the seat cushions, tailor the scroll arms, and finish the borders. We then apply the individual decorative studs by hand along the facings — tapped in one by one, rather than using cheap strip-studding on a reel.

The Final Inspection

Before anything gets wrapped for delivery, the maker checks the entire piece. Every fold, stitch, stud, and corner is inspected under the workshop lights. If it isn't perfect, it doesn't leave the workshop.