Amthal Karim – Head of Design at Furniture And Choice – shares her monthly overview of on-trend styles and interior looks currently inspiring furniture buyers.
In every furniture store there’s a particular sofa that everybody recognises. A silhouette that’s survived the test of time, a staple in modern and traditional homes across the world — classic tufting, low back and rolled arm rests — the Chesterfield.
This iconic sofa is ever-present and yet always evolving, and there have never been so many iterations in shape, colour, and upholstery. We’re unable to attribute the Chesterfield to a specific design style because it’s so versatile it encompasses them all.
This British icon dates to the eighteenth century when Lord Philip Stanhope (the fourth Earl of Chesterfield) commissioned a piece of furniture to allow his colleagues to sit comfortably without creasing their suits. What began as a status symbol reserved for the wealthy has evolved into stylish, on-trend, smart casual seating of the twenty-first century.
The formality of the original Chesterfield has given way to a distinctly relaxed feel, moving from traditional leather upholstery to modern velvets, chenille, and plush fabrics. However, luxury has not been forgotten — the background of opulent, sumptuous surroundings still emanates from a velvet Chesterfield. We continue to see customers demanding rich velvet colours such as fashionable green and royal blue.
What makes this iconic sofa accessible to everyone is that it can be made to work with almost any interior design look. Chesterfield designs continue to adapt and expand to suit modern life. The original armchair has transcended sizes to simple 2-seaters, to L-shapes with chaise and grand full corners. Contemporary, plush fabrics add a chic edge, understated linen transforms to a cosy, country-style retreat.
The most recent development in the history of the Chesterfield is a focus on tufting. Tufting itself has become an instantly recognisable feature of British design. At this year’s Milan Design Week several designers took their cue from the classic Chesterfield, presenting us with exaggerated, puffed, and quilted models such as the ‘Tufty-Time 20’ by Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola.
It’s ironic that tufting, which was originally created to serve a practical purpose — secure stuffing and retain a rigid shape — is now being used for an opposite effect. The latest tufted sofas are designed to be overtly soft and feel like you’re floating on a cloud. Today’s Chesterfield descendants feel super comfortable, but they would be unlikely to keep your suit from creasing — it’s precisely this constant reinvention that defines the Chesterfield’s enduring appeal.
