The Chesterfield Couch

The Chesterfield Couch is a term used to describe a deep buttoned, tufted sofa, inspired through centuries of design and re-design, which seats more than one person.
 

The word "couch" originated in the 14th Century Middle England, from the Old French noun ‘Couche’ and is from the verb meaning ‘lie down’ or ‘bed’. The couch would typically be a piece of furniture you would lie down on or sleep on, long ago, similar to a chaise longue, but which we now in the UK, predominantly refer to as a sofa, or settee.

The word Chesterfield was commonly used to describe a couch or a sofa in the 1900’s. The first Chesterfield sofa was supposedly commissioned  Phillip Stanhope the 4^th Earl of Chesterfield born in 1694, who died in 1773, though the Chesterfield we have come to know and love was certainly inspired much later. A Chesterfield now refers to a couch or sofa with deep buttoning, typically upholstered in leather by hand.
 

Globally, the word 'couch' is more commonly used in the United States, Australia and New Zealand but is now beginning to be more frequently used in the United Kingdom. A couch is typically a chair or sofa for more than one person, though smaller couches are typically referred to as a 'Love Seat'.  Couches can be made up in leathers and more commonly in fabric. We believe the Chesterfield Couch is referred to as such for its relaxed sit, look and feel, which has inspired a design of our own.