apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Comfort is subjective - What I like is not going to be what the next person likes.

I'm sure that there are plenty of furniture makers in the LA area (Pacific Design Center?) where you can find a sofa like this to try out before you order - probably for far less $$$ too.

I invested in a Chesterfield about 10 years ago -- another brand but equally expensive. I find it very comfortable. My husband thinks it is one of the most uncomfortable sofas in existence. In my opinion, the big pro for the Chesterfield is the look. Having had it for so long, I can also speak to the cons -- dust accumulates in the buttonholes, and it is very expensive to reupholster.

There are plenty of awesome vintage chesterfields here in the US. That said, I'm chesterfield-obsessive, we have 2 in our living room.

And vintage Chesterfields cost a TON to get reupholstered well, AND they eat up a LOT of upholstery material...

Mitchell Gold has a modified Chesterfiled in their collection.

But there IS something cool about getting a Chesterfield "direct from the source."

Regarding "Are they comfortable?" to me, that question is alwys like "Are those shoes comfortable?"

Any tight-back upright sofa is going to be different than a down-filled sloucher... but that does not mean the more formal look precludes comfort.

i have two black leather chesterfield chaise lounges in my living room and find it very comfortable. i have even slept on it when the boyfriend is sick in bed! i inherited the pieces but believe they were purchased at neiman marcus. have you gone to furniture stores in your area to see if you like the chesterfields or modified chesterfields in those stores? the feel is very different from a slouchy sofa, but there are benefits too (like not having to contstantly fix the cushions!)

Just a thought... it looks remarkable similar and costs less then a car (well a new car, with four doors, maybe i should have said an SUV)...

http://www.ralphlaurenhome.com/rlhome/products/furniture/item.asp?item_id=5790&haid=7&t=1

Honestly, unless you are buying this purely for decorative reasons (in which case you don't care how comfortable it is), you are insane to spend "car" money on a sofa you haven't sat on.

Get on a plane, fly to England, and sit on the sofa. It will cost you far less to fly and test it out than to buy it, ship it, and find you have made a horrible, extremely costly, "took months to get delivered" mistake.

Purchasing a high quality domestically available "look alike" that you can test out easily is probably the far smarter choice.

I have to say, the RL sofa looks less elegant and inferior in its construction to Chesterfields original divinely constructed sofa. It truly is exquisite. That being said, I just bought a new car, and believe me, I would never pay that much for a sofa if the angels themselves did the stitching. I test drove about 10 cars (the one i bought i drove 3 separate times) before I settled. spending that kind of money in this failing economy, I'd definitely sit on my sofa. Heck I'd sleep on it first!

My BF told me this golden rule - when you hire someone to fix your cable you can have two of the following but never all three: fast, good, cheap

and I think it applies here:
you can have two of the following: comfort, style, price. its up to you which you prefer.

if i could afford an Original Chesterfield I'd get one. But do you really NEED it?

ps- try this one...

http://www.horchow.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=cprod44930033&ecid=HCCIGoogleFeed&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=H3G6K

To paraphrase Tina Turner, "What's NEED got to do with it?"

We have a couch that looks like this in the residents' room in the hospital, although I believe it's a love seat model rather than a full length couch. It's been there forever, so it's quite sturdy, and it seems that quite a few residents sleep there on their overnight calls. With the help of some cozy blankets, it could be quite comfortable. But then again, these are residents who are really overworked so they probably could fall asleep on a bed of nails...

Onemoreformybaby makes an interesting point that really sums up where interiors trends will probably be headed immediately. In the face of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, glistening chandeliers, glossy, lacquered, glamorous, conspicuous "more is more" style is going to be out. As in embarrassingly tacky.

Six months ago, living a life that mimicked or implied a fat bonus check from Lehman Brothers was a badge of honor. Now it is a badge of shame. And for those who like to do "glam" on a West Elm budget, who are you kidding. With an estimated 1 in 10 americans expected to be unemployed this time next year, do you really want an apartment styled to look like a butler should be serving your tea?

I would suspect you will find that even the deep pocketed will start swaddling their homes in humbler (if no less pricey) fabrics and furniture and more subdued colors. It goes without saying that those of us with even less resources will be doing the same, if we can afford to redecorate at all.

The days of Kelly Wearstler glam came to a screeching halt right about the last week of september.

RichardinLA, I've always thought the "glistening chandeliers, glossy, lacquered, glamorous, conspicuous "more is more" style" has been out since the late 90s. I think the popularity of this site is representative of the mid-century aesthetic of designing for maximum use, comfort, and style. As per trending towards muted colors, I think it's fairly shallow to think that depressed people call for depressing colors. In the opposite end, people are gonna want vibrant colors, spaces that will make them happy. Depressed times require for poor people to be more resourceful. "If we can afford to redecorate at all" will become the noxious mantra of the uninspired and unshakeably defeated in a time of crisis.

True, in a future where 10% of Americans will be unemployed, luxury is vulgar. But if you're lucky to be one of the 90%, why should you force yourself to feel like the 10%? Don't be so self-effacing as to pretend poverty. It's thoroughly unbecoming.

Hello,
This is the original poster. There seems to be some suggestion that I'm somehow being extravagant in considering this purchase. My husband and I have been married for 10 years and have never owned a sofa. The car I'm referring to was a $3500 used Accord. We saved up the cash to buy the one sofa we will ever own, which will surely outlive our car (and us). My point: luxury is quite available to anyone willing to pass up the lifetime accumulation of 5 West Elm-style couches for 1 great one, even for a couple of teachers like ourselves. What is embarrassing or flashy about waiting a decade for the right one?

Somedude -

This has nothing to do with feigning poverty. It has more to do with not assaulting those who are struggling with critical, potentially life devastating financial crisis with a sense of insurmountable inequity. We really shouldn't pack our Louis Vuitton suitcases to visit a friend filing bankruptcy. We really shouldn't prattle on about a $400 haircut while we are visiting a friend going through chemo. And we really shouldn't go on about how perfect our marriage is to someone embroiled in a nasty divorce. It's not about "feigning" anything. It's about a basic level of empathy and decency.

I may be alone in this, but I actually find that when the chips are down and times are really really bad, people treat each other with a fair degree of empathy and respect. There will always be a few who will want to carry on with the party as if nothing is amiss. But most, even those who can escape the brunt of what is to come, will reflect a degree of respect for the struggles of others in the choices they make. I was simply pointing out that the sentiments of Oneformybaby's comment will, in all likelihood, be reflected in a whole host of ways, and certainly in the way we decorate our homes in the coming years. (And how you managed to miss out on the Wearstler inspired "hollywood glam" movement that has been raging for the past six years at every level of the interiors industry is beyond me!)

Ginger28, my comments were not meant to be directed at you or your choice of sofa. I was merely pointing out that Oneformybaby's comment about "need" is a sentiment we are liable to be hearing more and more in the coming months. It was not intended to question your priorities.

Richard--
So your friend would rather see you clutching garbage bags? I've seen former stars at the Ralphs in baby blue mink left over from the plush times. Your pals will be glad of the support, no matter what your luggage looks like.

I lost a dear, dear friend to lung cancer--when she was losing her hair, she delighted in hearing tales from Licari.

Wow! This thread has really gone off the rails. It's ridiculous that commenters made Ginger feel obligated to testify to her financial responsibility. She didn't ask us whether we think she can afford it. She didn't ask us whether it offends our delicate sensibilities to know she might soon have a Chesterfield in her home. She asked those who have parked themselves on similar sofas whether we've found them comfortable.

Ginger-- for what it's worth, I parked myself on a sofa very much like this at a university library many years ago and felt it wasn't a cozy, long-term study spot. But I should confess that I prefer my study sofas squishy. I would definitely take the time to try out a few Chesterfields from area furniture retailers to get a sense of how firm, tufted sofas feel to you. Good luck!

Hi there poster, I wanted to directly answer your question. I am looking into chesterfields also and I have recently started talking with Distinctive Chesterfields myself. While they have been amazingly nice, and they sent me a beautiful full color vellum catalog, I haven't gone through with the order yet. Because I've been finding really great ones at the same price on 1stdibs.com at shops in LA and SF, which would save on shipping. Also, if you call or go look at them, these shops are usually willing to listen to a lower offer (20% off) because that's what they give to trade people anyway, and this economy is so shitty, they are more open than usual to offers.

Also, I read everything else, and I don't think you are being overly extravagant with this purchase. We recently switched up our living room, and realized a great couch is sooooo essential to the relaxation and socialization component of our home. If at least just for cuddling. Anyway, it's leather, so it's going to last a long long time. Some people spend the same sum on designer bags... it's all relative.

How about a link to us since you're discussing our chesterfield sofas :)
Distinctive Chesterfield Sofas

I trust that Ginger loved her sofa?

Mark
Distinctive Chesterfields