The Rumpus book
Designed to be kept
A familiar form takes shape in hardwood and the hide you choose, made for the good hours at home.
- 1Rolled arms at back height
- 2Deep buttoning holds the hide taut
- 3A low, deep seat
- 4Turned feet
01 / The design
Drawn first, built slowly
The chesterfield is a form that has barely changed since the eighteenth century: its arms and back draw one continuous line. Deep buttoning gives that broad shape a rhythm, while a low seat invites you to settle in.
Meet the Winston
01 / The armThe roll brings the back around you.
02 / The buttonEach diamond draws the hide into a fold.
03 / The footTurned timber lifts the form above the floor.
02 / The build
Good sitting starts underneath
1. Solid hardwood frame
Kiln-dried hardwood is joined with mortise-and-tenon joints and reinforced with corner blocks.
2. Sinuous steel springs
Zig-zag steel springs support the seat with a little give beneath the foam.
3. High-resilience foam
Foam at 35 to 40 kg/m³ gives the seat its substance and helps it recover after sitting.
4. Top-grain semi-aniline hide
The same grade of leather covers the seat, back and outside arms.
03 / The leather
Character you can feel
A light finish. Semi-aniline colour has a light protective coat that lets the grain show.
The same hide, all round. Backs and outside arms use the same grade, so the piece can sit away from a wall.
Patina is the point. Use deepens the character already in the hide.
Read the grain
Grades describe the hide and finish; ask what covers every surface.
- Bonded
Bound fibres form a surface that can peel.
- Split
The lower hide layer is usually coated.
- Corrected top-grain
Buffing gives the grain a more uniform finish.
- Top-grain semi-aniline
A light protective coat leaves natural character visible.
Our choice - Uncorrected, dye-finished
Spills show readily on the exposed grain.
04 / The style
Six ways to make a room
ChesterfieldMade for conversation
The room built to talk in.
Winston, Barrister, Magistrate, Marlowe, Windsor and Clancy.
AviatorReady for departure
Ribbed hide and riveted aluminium.
Havana, Regal, Mustang, Gladiator and Falcon.
05 / The fit
Make room for the good hours
- Measure the clear door opening.
- Measure the hallway turns.
- Measure stairs and overhead clearance.
- Check the height × depth diagonal.
Allow for packaging and turning space; a diagonal alone cannot confirm access.
Talk through your measurements06 / Care
A little care, more character
Keep it out of direct sun and 50 cm from heaters.
Blot with a lightly damp cloth, without rubbing.
Spot-test a semi-aniline-safe cream before conditioning once or twice yearly.
Dust weekly with a soft, dry cloth, including seams and buttoning.
07 / The price
See where the money goes
- Under US$2,000
- You will often find bonded or split hide and ply frames.
- US$2,500 to 5,000
- Look for top-grain armchairs and two-seats on hardwood.
- US$5,000 to 9,000
- Larger top-grain pieces include made-to-order options.
- US$10,000+
- Design, name and retail margin can add cost.
Indicative USD shopping bands before delivery; compare specifications at every price.
08 / The swatch library
Find your kind of colour
Compare every photographed hide in the free digital library. Screens and room light affect colour, so a specialist can help you choose.
The library opens in a new tab.
Made for the good hours
A piece of your own
