Take a seat

What makes a chair supremely comfortable? The rake, the suspension system, the frame or the fillings

- Arabella Youens

WELL-MADE armchairs are like old friends: comfortable, reliable and supportive. They can also be with you forever; constructed using traditional methods and filled with natural materials, they can be handed down through the generations and reinvented in a new fabric each time.

According to Amanda Barrett, of furniture-maker George Smith (www.georgesmith.com), the ideal shape, size, height and level of support are subjective. 'We often get asked what makes the most comfortable armchair, and it's not a question we can answer; the only advice I can give is to try as many as possible.' Two key elements to look out for are the suspension system and the fillings.

Both will determine how weight is distributed, a factor that will significantly affect comfort. The team at George Smith hand-stitch double-cone springs, which are evenly placed across a base of webbing.