apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Chesterfields are back in a big way in Paris. Tres chic tres cool.

Where I come from the term 'chesterfield' is interchangeable with the word 'sofa'. I Love the look of these chesterfields tho

I want a chesterfield so badly but my cats would claw the hell out of it so it'll have to be put on hold. :o(

Now why did they have to screw up that delectable blue room with that rug?

I would love a tufted sofa, high arms or no. I have been voted down twice. Only thing my husband ever really disagreed with me about, decor-wise. Well, that and the Dear Ingo ceiling fixture, but that wasn't in the budget anyway, so that doesn't count.

Love that paisley sofa (not a Chesterfield in my book, though). I have a green version of the raspberry one in my living room.

There are definitely some imposters in that montage!

I adore the look of the tufted sofa, but the high arms just seem too uncomfortable. I like to curl up on sofa's and nap with my head on a pillow on the arm rest. Actually, I've discovered how to describe the only sofa I can truly live with - a tight back with English roll arms. Ahh. Tight back so that the back cushions don't get scrunched down and low roll arms for napping! They're my favorite. So many sofas are pretty but you just can't nap on them the right way...

For some strange reason, every guy I know loves those really worn-out leather chesterfields (you know, the ones where the leather is super soft, really cracked leather, maybe overly loved in spots, but still solid enough for 100 years more service). Friends tell me their man would leave them in a heartbeat for a derelict chesterfield.
Maybe it's a primal thing. A tactile delight. Or harkens back to the sporting gentlemans place to retire with a brandy and tall tales. I know chesterfields are the staple of every cruisey bar in my city (I assume every city), coveted by all. Could its siren call lie in the luxurious promise of a beer-football/cricket-superscreen as its constant companion?

We have Chesterfields by a U.K. company at H.D. Buttercup. If you're interested please email me at ddoherty@hdbuttercup.com and I will gladly send you photos.

I grew up bouncing around the two tufted black leather Chesterfields that live in my grandparents' basement. Now that I can truly appreciate them, I'm appalled by my childhood behavior. :)

Right now, they're abandoned and unloved. Their leather is cracked, they've survived at least two floods, and I am dying to swathe them in velvet and carry them away with me. If only I had the room...

they're beautiful but not very comfy. not for napping on. but that can be good in itself i guess. enforces good british posture.

My fiancee and I have been replacing some of our Ikea furniture, with some more "grown-up" pieces. A Black Chesterfield Sofa is our next purchase on the list. The best thing is he is so into the look I didn't even have to convince him. I can't wait!!

god i love those couches... and the colors are so amazing, and when i was in paris i noticed they were trendy there too.

Ah, I'm drooling over that blue velvet... Delicious.

La-Z-Boy, of all places, has a version of the Chesterfield. It is called the "Ritz" on their website. Can anyone comment on the quality, price etc. of their version?

I always assumed that "Chesterfield" was the Canadian way of saying "sofa." But now that I know better, I realize I love Chesterfields, especially velvet ones. Thanks for the info!

A friend of our family just gave me a fan-back chesterfield to help fill up my empty living room. The chesterfield is deep blue velvet with carved wood arms and legs. The upholstery is very old and has some holes. Until I decide what color and fabric to reupholster it, I am leaving it as is. These modern styled rooms are inspiring backdrops for such a traditional looking sofa.

These are fabulous and many of the pictures were used earlier in other blog lineups of Chesterfields. Can anyone tell me please what color of paint is used in the background of the photo with the beautiful gold velvet chesterfield? It is this gorgeous shade of purple, plum, violet. It is amazing and I have to know what it is!

I have a very old chocolate leather chesterfield from France. The leather is a little cracked in some spots, but it's gorgeous. Problem is...it's not comfortable, the seat depth is short. Unless you are sitting sideways, then it's OK.

The ones with tufting on the back and sides only is more practical, IMO. If you have the tufting on the seat, you will have to vaccuum each little tuft after you have had a cheese and cracker party :-)

The first black chesterfield above is in the book Flea Market Style. And the lavender one with the dog has GOT to be Anthropologie. They seem to like that inside-out seams-showing upholstery.

Definitely butt-test these type of sofas before you buy! Many just don't feel right, even though they are lovely. Restoration Hardware carried one (the Barkley?) a few years ago, don't know if they still do. I wanted to buy one, but it's catalog only...no place you can test it. No way I'm buying another without sitting in it first.

I still want one though. A comfortable one, I mean.

I'm practically droooooling! I'm looking for a new sofa and I'd kill to have a chesterfield!!! Where's a good place to find them for sale?? lol.

i am crying happy tears just looking at these sofas. a nice chesterfield just feels so substantial, historic and luxurious. the full bodied beauties of the sofa world.

our sales are going through the roof at Distinctive Chesterfields (google us lol) - it appears that theyre efinately ala-mode.

they have one in yellow leather at anthropologie. alas it's 6,000 bucks which i'd happily pay if i had it.