chesterfield sofa terminology

Design Features

To help understand some of the terminology and lingo used when ordering your S.W. James, we have put together a helpful little dictionary & illustration guide.

Terminology

Pleats and Buttoning

One of the most laborious techniques when creating a new S.W. James Chesterfield is the elaborate pleating. It can only be painstakingly completed by hand.

The deep-buttoning technique is synonymous with the iconic British Chesterfield. Again, this process is only achieved by hand at S.W. James. Each sofa, wing chair and tub chair we make is meticulously deep-buttoned by hand.

Terminology

Piping, Studs, Feet and Borders

Each stud/pin is individually tacked by hand. More than 1000 studs are used on an average Chesterfield to accentuate and add individual character to the Chesterfield. Most Chesterfields in our range combine both piping and studs. This is quite rare and a special touch the team like to add. All our studs/pins are a antique brass effect as standard.

We offer three types of feet at S.W. James. These are; Tub feet, which are low and very robust. Legs, which lift a Chesterfield off the ground and offer an alternate finish. Finally, we offer legs with brass castors. You can see this on the Monty amongst others. We think this combination completes the Chesterfields look in a regal manner.

Traditional Chesterfield borders tend to come with double buttoning (See Sterling). They can also come with a single button (See Monty). Finally, for a more contemporary look, we can offer a simple, plain border (See Huxley). This offers a cleaner more modern feel.

The S.W. James Team

We're here to help

We appreciate ordering your handmade Chesterfield or vintage sofa is a very personal decision, and we know you’ll have questions before you decide on an S.W. James of your very own. We’re here to help at every step – working closely with you throughout each part of the production process to ensure you’re 100% happy with your new S.W. James when it arrives in your home.

We’re a passionate team, and we love to talk about our Chesterfields and vintage sofas; so, if you have questions prior to placing your order, or at any point during production, just ask. You’ll always talk directly with Warren or the other business founders.

Call Warren and the team today for a friendly chat.
(If the office is closed, please leave a short message – including your name and contact details – and we’ll return your call as soon as possible)

0161 359 5462

Or email Warren and the team by clicking here

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