A B&B Italia Armchair Revival

Our client is renovating her home for retirement and wanted to reupholster two beloved B&B Italia armchairs. Over twenty years ago, she purchased a three-seater sofa and two armchairs from the Italian designer luxury brand for about $7,000 to $8,000. Unaware of reupholstery options, she discarded the sofa when it showed wear.

Now, with B&B Italia's rising popularity and prices with new armchairs starting from €4,000 to over €8,000, she was keen to preserve her 2 remaining armchairs.

The armchair's original fabric was a smooth, denim coloured blue with a white protective cover on the back.

The client wished to maintain the blue hue. So we assisted her in selecting a textured, high-performance, low-maintenance dark blue upholstery for the main chair and a high-performance blue boucle for the back cushion cover. Our goal was to ensure the new upholstery would last as long as the original.

Upon examining the armchair, we found a fabric label identifying it as the "Indo" chair designed by Antonio Citterio but we couldn't find much information about the designs online.

B&B Italia's craftsmanship was evident: neat, clean stitching on the slipcovers that extended all the way down to the legs. Beneath the covers, the seat featured a dacron wrap finish and an extra foam layer on top, giving it a full rounded appearance.

For us , the most interesting discovery was the collapsed base. Unlike most seats that use box springs, webbing, or nosag springs, B&B Italia had employed moulded cold polyurethane foam, a technique that provided uniform comfort and a good bounce when you sit on it.  This design likely contributed to the chair's exceptional comfort.

Unable to replicate the moulded foam in our Singapore facility, we fitted a wooden brace to push the moulded foam back into position. While it may not feel exactly as before, it now offers adequate support.

The entire reupholstery process, from commitment to completion, took about six weeks. Discovering the moulded foam base and the extra foam layer on the seat was enlightening. It showcased a determination designers have to enhance comfort and ergonomics.

While we couldn't restore the armchair entirely to its original state, we made improvements where possible. For instance, we replaced the paper cambric fabric at the base with a sturdier full fabric base to better suit Singapore's humid climate.

Reupholstery is a real viable option for those who have invested in designer furniture. Such pieces are thoughtfully designed for comfort, a quality not easily replicated in more monetarily accessible furniture.

However, it's essential to recognise that even high-end furniture can wear down over time.

But we think buying designer pieces remains worthwhile because of their superior finishing and comfort. Reupholstery offers a way to extend their lifespan, allowing owners to continue enjoying the unique comfort and style they provide.