Manufacturing

Every piece of furniture we make goes through the same four-stage process it always has — solid hardwood frames, high-grade foams and fillings, carefully selected leather, and traditional hand upholstery. No production lines. Each piece is made from start to finish by one craftsperson in our Lancashire workshop.

Craftsperson building the arm of a Chesterfield sofa frame by hand in the Lancashire workshop
1 The Frame

A solid hardwood foundation, built to last decades

Every Chesterfield begins with the frame. We use solid seasoned hardwood throughout — kiln-dried for stability and strength. Each frame is assembled by hand in the traditional way, using glue, screws, and wooden dowels to create joints that will hold firm through decades of daily use.

This is not a cost we cut. A well-made frame is what allows a Chesterfield to be re-upholstered, repaired, and enjoyed across generations. It is the reason our furniture comes with a 5-year structural frame guarantee.

Our occasional and office chair range frames are stained and hand-polished to your choice of finish — mahogany, yew, light oak, medium oak, dark oak, or natural.

Solid hardwood Hand assembled 5-year guarantee

2 Foams & Fillings

High-grade foams and fibres, fire-safe and built for comfort

Once the frame is complete, the interior is built up using a carefully chosen combination of foams and fibre fillings. The grade and density of foam varies by design — firmer for seat bases, softer for cushions and back panels — ensuring each piece feels right for the way it is used.

All cushions are hand-stuffed individually. We do not use pre-filled cushion inserts from a production line. Every pad is shaped and fitted to the specific piece being made.

All materials comply fully with UK and European fire and safety regulations, including BS 5852, giving you complete peace of mind on safety without any compromise on comfort or quality.

Compliant with UK & EU fire safety regulations — BS 5852

Deep-buttoning being applied by hand to a Chesterfield sofa backrest in the Lancashire workshop
3 The Leather

Genuine leather, chosen for character and durability

Leather is a natural material — no two hides are the same. The grain, the tone, and the way it ages are all unique to the animal it came from. This is what makes genuine leather furniture worth owning, and it is what separates it from any imitation.

We offer over 50 colours and finishes across four leather ranges — Traditional Antique, Full Grain Windsor, Superior Old English, and Premium Vintage. Each range has its own character, from the clean uniform finish of Windsor to the heavily distressed texture of our Premium Vintage leather.

All leather carries natural markings. Our superior natural-finish ranges show these markings openly across the piece — this is not a fault, it is evidence of authenticity. Not sure which leather to choose? Order up to 6 free samples to compare colours and textures at home before you order.

50+ colours 4 leather ranges Free samples available

Finished handmade Chesterfield sofa in the Chesterfields Direct workshop, Blackburn Lancashire
4 Upholstery

Hand-upholstered from start to finish by one craftsperson

With the frame built and materials prepared, the upholsterer begins. This is the stage that defines a Chesterfield — the deep-buttoning, the leather pulling, the hand-studding — and it is the stage that cannot be rushed or automated.

We do not manufacture on a production line. Each piece is made from start to finish by one person, with the greatest attention to detail at every stage.

Deep-buttoning is one of the most technically demanding skills in upholstery. Our craftspeople have up to 40 years of experience and apply this technique by hand to every piece we make. After upholstering, each piece is individually hand-studded and — where applicable — the antiquing finish is applied to achieve the distinctive two-tone effect that has defined the classic English Chesterfield for centuries.

One craftsperson per piece Up to 40 years experience Hand-studded finish

Ready to order your Chesterfield?

Handmade to order in Lancashire — over 50 leather colours — bespoke sizes available