Inside the workshop
Good furniture
begins with
understanding it.
The shape you see is only part of a sofa. The measurements, support, layers and finishing all deserve a closer look.
01 / The brief comes first
Know the room.
Agree the details.
A useful brief describes how the sofa needs to fit and feel, as well as how it should look. The written specification gives the making process a reference for the agreed dimensions, upholstery and finishing. It should also record the choices that a drawing alone cannot settle: how you want the cushions to feel, which back treatment you prefer and any charging or moving mechanisms.
Overall width, seating width and the route into your home are different questions. We work through them with you before the specification is settled.
A guide to measuring02 / Beneath the upholstery
Shape is built
in layers.
This workshop photograph shows a sofa body before its final upholstery is complete. Frame shape, support and padding each play a different part in the finished result.
The arm and back shape take form beneath the cover. A change to an arm height or profile can affect the structure, padding and upholstery together. That is why fully bespoke alterations start with a consultation rather than a single measurement on a screen.
Signature designs share our well-tested seating geometry. Traditional designs can also be altered, with the details worked through personally. We confirm the construction and cushion choices for the particular piece you order.
03 / The part you live with
Fabric, seams
and the final feel.
Colour is only one part of choosing upholstery. Look at the texture, pattern, edge treatment and how the fabric feels against your hand.
Physical samples help you compare a fabric in your own light. Look at the sample beside the colours that will stay in your room, and under both daylight and evening lighting. Keep its supplier, range and colour reference with your brief.
For patterned or contrasting upholstery, discuss which surfaces use each material and how the pattern should run across cushions and seams. A full sofa photograph and a close-up each tell you something different. Ask for the care guidance for the exact material you choose.
Explore comfort & upholsteryWhat to discuss before your sofa is made
Specific questions.
Useful answers.
Inside the sofa
Ask about the frame, support and cushion choices used for your particular design, and which elements can be serviced.
At the finishing stage
Agree upholstery references, pattern direction, cushion treatment and feet in the specification.
Before it comes home
Confirm the completed piece, access arrangements, delivery or collection plan, and the relevant care information.
Visit Archer’s · Parkgate, Rotherham
Meet the people behind the sofa.
A showroom conversation is a good time to ask how your chosen piece is made.
Made here. Here to help.
We reply to enquiries within 24 hours.
- Made to order
- Usually 6–8 weeks. Lead times can vary; we confirm the current estimate with your quote.
- Delivery
- Free within 25 km of our Rotherham showroom. Beyond that, we quote for your delivery address.
- Frame guarantee
- 20 years on the structural frame for normal domestic use. Cover and conditions. Fabric and foam are excluded from this additional guarantee; your statutory rights remain.