Leather Guide How Much Leather To Buy For Your Eames Swivel Chair

In the realm of modern furniture, the Eames swivel chair stands out. Even though it has been present since the 1940s, it is still very much in vogue today. These days, you can even get them in a rainbow of hues!

How much leather is needed to cover one of these classic chairs has remained constant over the years. If you want your very own Eames chair, but don’t know where to start or how much leather you’ll need, this blog post is for you.

What is Eames MCL Leather?

Natural and unique, Eames MCL Leather is crafted from cow hides. Each side of this leather is made up of a different material; one side is a suede with rough grains, and the other is a smooth, creamy cow’s skin.

Black, brown, and white are the color options.

The sumptuous appearance and long-lasting quality of Eames MCL Leather were intentional design goals. Depending on how many yards you need, prices might range from $97 to $218 per square foot.

What is Vicenza leather?

High-quality Vicenza leather is a smooth and soft cowhide with a very fine grain. Vicenza’s refined appearance sets it apart from other fabrics, making it a good choice for formal projects like sofas and dining chairs.

The fabric is both aesthetically pleasing and highly durable, making it an ideal choice for high-use furniture like a couch or chair. Depending on the number of yards you require, the price might range from $75 per square foot to $146 per square foot.

How to Measure for an Eames chair:

First, determine the depth of your chair by gauging its breadth from back to front.

Second, determine the required depth and height.

Third, sum the two numbers and divide the result by 16. (in inches). Find out how many yards of leather are required for this Eames chair reproduction with this handy calculator.

Step 4: If the calculated amount is insufficient, add more until the desired effect is achieved.

How Much Leather Should I buy?

Anywhere from 20 square feet to 36 square feet of upholstery material will typically cover a single seat with an inch to spare in all directions. At the typical 18-inch height for our chairs, that’s around 250 square feet per person.

Depending on how many seats you need to cover, you may need more or less cloth; however, it is always a good idea to purchase a little more.

Add up the two numbers, then divide the result by 16. (in inches). Find out how many yards of leather are required for this Eames chair reproduction with this handy calculator.

How Much Does it Cost to Reupholster an Eames Chair?

Reupholstering an Eames chair usually costs between $175 and $750. It’s more expensive than buying a brand-new ready-made chair, but if you care about the aesthetic quality of your home, it’s money well spent.

How much does one yard of Eames MCL Leather cost?

The average price of Eames MCL Leather is $97 per yard, including transport. There are three color options available for this model: black, brown, and white. What’s even better is how simple it is to locate just the color you need.

The labor involved in creating this high-end fabric makes the pricing per yard more reasonable.

Other materials, such as leather veneer or vinyl, offer a similar feel at a lower cost. These may be a better option than conventional leather if durability is your top priority.

How does Vicenza compare to cowhide?

Cowhide has a rougher texture and less durability than Vicenza, making it ideal for use as accents on furniture.

The outcomes of making furniture from Vicenza, which is more softer than cowhide, will be superior.

How do I maintain my Eames Swivel lounge?

A protective covering of Vicenza leather is the finest way to keep your lounge in good condition.

The frequency of cleanings will be reduced as a result of this, too!

A moist cloth wiped in a circular motion is the best way to clean. Mild soap can be used if necessary, but it’s best to avoid getting any soapy water on the seat’s fabric or back.

A damp sponge with water and mild soap can be used to remove any stains from a chair after a spill.

Keep your sofa away of the direct sunshine to prevent color fading or damage.

Make utilization of a piece of black cotton cloth to clean in among the seams of your cushions. Even the dust bunnies that accumulate behind your seat cushions can be easily removed with a vacuum cleaner.

In case you’re interested in learning more about how how how how how how how.

What are some good places for buying quality furniture?

The Ektorp sofa is just one example of the higher-end goods available from a variety of respectable manufacturers, including Bassett, Herman Miller, and even Ikea. These stores have an advantage over their competitors because they sell furniture that has been evaluated for durability and quality requirements.

The 6 Best Eames Chair Replicas

TOOMOO Leather Recliner with Ottoman – Best Value

The TOOMOO Leather Reclining Ottoman Chair is remarkably similar to the original Eames design.

Until, of course, you see the price tag.

In terms of price, this replica of an Eames lounge chair is hard to beat. In light of this, it has garnered a number of overwhelmingly positive reviews from satisfied customers who have commented on its superior comfort and sturdy construction.

TOOOOO is a furniture maker that operates mostly through the online marketplaces Amazon and eBay. The majority of its items are shipped out of the USA.

The chair’s features are as follows:

• Potential load. There’s no need to worry about fitting into this chair, as it can support up to 300 pounds.
• Instantaneous transport. The production of an original Eames Lounge chair is a laborious process. This sofa replacement may be delivered to your house in only two days.
• The materials are excellent. Genuine leather was used to create the cushions and ottoman. The Eames plywood backing has been replaced with a high-density, eight-layer laminated wood. And sturdy aluminum is used to make the legs.

The TOOOOO Leather Recliner is fantastic in many ways.

In the first place, the leather is surprisingly soft given the chair’s high price. The producer has done an excellent job of locating reasonably priced, high-quality leather.

The eight-layer laminated wood may not be plywood, but it has the look and feel of an original Eames Lounge Chair.

This chair is a close replica of the original Eames chair by Herman Miller in terms of dimensions.

A real Eames Lounge Chair is incredibly hefty, and so is TOOMOO’s imitation, so keep that in mind if you decide to put together your own. If you can, team up with someone else to construct it. Even with help, putting together this chair will take at least an hour.

Larger people may have trouble fitting comfortably in this chair.

You can’t go wrong with this TOOMOO option if you want an Eames imitation delivered to your house quickly.

1-Inch Home Lounge Chair Indoor Recliner w/ Ottoman

The 1-Inch Home Lounge Chair Indoor Recliner and matching Ottoman is an excellent Eames reproduction that not only comes in four distinct forms, but is also rather robust for a replica chair due to its construction out of 8 layers of plywood.

The 8-layer plywood exterior is sturdy enough to support an individual weighing up to 330 pounds. Although the original Eames Lounge Chair can support up to 375 pounds, many knockoffs are made with flimsier 5- or 7-layer plywood and can only hold up to 300 pounds.

The 1-Inch Home Lounge Chair, just like its larger counterpart, has a built-in 15-degree recline. This replica Eames chair, however, has a reclining back in addition to being a knockoff. Reclining is not a feature of the original Eames Lounge Chair. It doesn’t go any lower than its reclined 15 degrees when you swivel it.

The chair’s reasonable pricing is a major factor in its widespread acclaim. Members of the public who have purchased this chair and ottoman have praised it for its high quality and the speed with which it was delivered.

The premium cowhide used in the leather seats passes a stringent quality control inspection before being installed.

The 1-Inch Home’s base is made of aluminum, just like the original Eames’.

The 1-Inch Home Lounge Chair is advertised as being easy to assemble due to the fact that it comes with all the hardware and tools required, and the holes are already pre-screwed. Due to the nature of mass production, there may be occasions when the quality of this chair suffers. Users have complained about missing instructions and incomplete screw holes. The installation of the base can be just as challenging, and may even need for the use of a soft mallet.

However, if all the pieces are included, putting this chair together should take no more than 15 minutes.

When compared to other replica Eames loungers on the market, the 1-Inch Home is priced competitively and offers a lot of bang for the buck.

LAFII.T Full Mid Century Lounge Chair & Ottoman

The LAFII.T Full Mid Century Lounge Chair & Ottoman is available in more than a dozen hues, including some bright and eye-catching alternatives, which helps to break up the monotony of browsing through all of these copycat Eames Lounge Chairs.

This may seem like a backwards step for a copycat producer of high-end furniture, but in reality, they’re not that far off. The Eames Lounge Chair is now available from Herman Miller in an array of color schemes.

White leather and a lighter shade of wood are the most eye-catching choice of upholstery material and finish. Other colors available besides the standard black leather include a stunning crimson leather. There’s also a choice of dark brown with a light walnut shell, and a mocha brown shade.

Here’s some further information on the seat itself:

• You can put up to 330 pounds on it without it breaking.
• It’s similar to the Eames Lounge Chair in that it has large armrests.
• It’s not a plywood construction. Laminate wood is used instead since it is more cost effective.
• It replicates the original Eames chair down to the reclining angle of 15 degrees.
• Like the original Eames chair, it can swivel through a full circle.

While it shares a lot of similar qualities to the Eames Lounge Chair, there are some noticeable differences. The laminated wood, for instance, is quite noticeable and doesn’t look as high quality as a seven- or eight-layer plywood.

There are some notable distinctions, despite the fact that it has a lot in common with the classic Eames Lounge Chair. For example, in comparison to a more conventional seven- or eight-layer plywood, the laminated wood used here stands out as obviously inferior.

Even though the LAFII.T chair is hard to come by, it usually ships within three to seven days.

There are actually two boxes for the chair because of its two-part construction. One of those containers will have a user guide.

Rimdoc Mid Century Lounge Chair and Ottoman- Editor’s Choice

The Rimdoc Mid Century Lounge Chair and Ottoman is, without a doubt, the best Eames Lounge Chair reproduction on the market today.

To the untrained eye, this would appear to be a genuine Herman Miller chair worth $6,000. This, thankfully, is a lot cheaper.

Here’s some more information regarding this seat:

• High-end components. Authentic leather covers a cushion that boasts a thicker sponge for a more comfortable sink-in and a somewhat firmer feel. The exterior plywood is practically immaculate.
• Durable. It can accommodate people up to 330lbs, which should be perfect for most. If you’re taller than 6 feet 3 inches, you might find this chair a little small, but still nice for sitting. Anyone taller than 6 feet 8 inches may not be able to comfortably sit in it.

Genniyz Mid-Century Lounge Chair & Ottoman – Premium Pick

The Eames Lounge Chair has become so well-known that high-quality knockoffs are available. Our “high-end” choice, the Genniyz Premium Mid-Century Lounge Chair & Ottoman, is still quite a bit less than Herman Miller’s original design.

This lounge chair was built by Genniyz to nearly match the original by Herman Miller.

• A length of 35.5″
• Width of 35 Inches
• Those who are 32 inches in height

The overall dimensions of the ottoman are 27″ in length, 21″ in width, and 16″ in height.

Genniyz spared little effort in ensuring that the wood shell of this chair was of the highest possible quality. This shell was constructed with 7 layers of actual wood grain veneer and kiln-dried to eliminate the possibility of warping or cracking.

It’s upholstered in luxurious Italian full-grain aniline leather. If the company says its leather is the best in the world, you should probably just ignore them. Even yet, this chair has a high-end look and feel the instant you take a seat in it.

Rubber shock mounts underneath the armrests, as seen on the Herman Miller original, were incorporated by Genniyz. The mountings significantly improve the seat’s ergonomics.

This lounger has five legs on the chair and four on the ottoman, just like the originals by Herman Miller.

Genniyz opted for a stainless steel frame instead of aluminum like the original Eames, which makes the chair a bit heavier but more long-lasting.

The chair may be a bit hard when first unpacked, but some owners have reported that it has softened up with use.

Unfortunately, we do not have any additional seat colors at this time. Black leather covers a natural plywood shell on the Genniyz chair, just like the original Eames Lounge Chair.

This chair’s assembly is similarly straightforward and need only take you 15 minutes.

Furgle Mid-Centure Lounge Chair & Ottoman

From its 15-degree tilt angle to the wide armrests and gorgeous finishes, the Furgle Lounge Recliner Chair and Ottoman is another great Eames Lounge Chair replica that won’t break your budget.

The Furgle Lounge Recliner Chair and Ottoman is yet another high-quality, cost-effective alternative to the original Eames Lounge Chair; it features the same 15-degree tilt angle, wide armrests, and beautiful finishes.

• The Furgle Lounge Recliner Chair and Ottoman is another fantastic Eames Lounge Chair copy that won’t break the bank due to its wide armrests and excellent finishes.
• 7-layer plywood.

Seven-ply plywood.

There are a couple drawbacks to this seat:

• Some owners have noted that after a few months of use, the seat softens up from being on the firm side.
• It has been reported by several buyers that there is a slight squeaking sound when rocking back and forth in it. Some have claimed that applying a small amount of WD-40 to the base’s joints resolved the issue.
• It’s possible that the lumbar support proportions aren’t quite right. Of course, your size also plays a role in this.

There is a higher likelihood of faults and poor craftsmanship with any copycat manufacturer selling furniture at prices that seem too good to be true. Furgle has been contacted by a few customers who have expressed concerns about the product’s quality; fortunately, the company is willing to replace the chair or ottoman at no cost to the customer. Keep the chair’s original packaging in case you need to return the chair for any reason.

Firstly, this is a very fashionable seat. Although Eames chairs are quite cozy, it’s not uncommon to see them in a study or library rather than a living room because its primary function is aesthetic rather than functional. So, if that’s what you’re looking for, then do so on a budget with this replica option.

Why Should You Consider an Eames Lounge Chair Replica?

Importantly, though, it’s a chair of unparalleled chic. While the Eames chairs are quite comfy, it is not uncommon to find them in a study or office rather than the living room. If that’s what you need, then you can have it without breaking the bank by purchasing a replica.

While it’s great if you’ve saved up $5,000 or $6,000 to buy an authentic Eames Lounge Chair, you could find it more convenient to spend less than $1,000 on a replica of this stylish seating option instead. You can typically find them for sale between $800 and $1,500.

There’s also the issue of shipping delays. The production and delivery time for an original Eames Lounge Chair can exceed 20 weeks. A replica model may usually be sent to your home within a week.

Luckily, you can bring that modern, stunning piece of furniture into your living room or den with the availability of several imitation Eames Lounge Chair alternatives.

Choosing the Best Eames Chair Replica – What to Look For

There are a number of factors to think about when searching for the greatest Eames Chair imitation, such as build quality, the number of legs, comfort, and assembly convenience.

Take advantage of this buyer’s advice to locate an affordable and tasteful copy of the Eames Lounge Chair.

Design

In order to fool people into thinking they’re looking at an original Eames Lounge Chair, your reproduction must be as close as possible. Design-wise, here are some things to keep an eye out for when purchasing a knockoff Eames chair:

• A leather-upholstered car seat. Really, this is a major deal. Your duplicate, if it is to pass muster, must look like a leather seat and be crafted from high-quality leather. Italian leather is used in a lot of copies.
• Sufficiently roomy armrests. The Eames Lounge Chair is easily identifiable by its several signature features, one of which being its oversized armrests. They appear like miniature pillows and are just over a foot in width, making them ideal for draping over the sides of a seat.
• Recline. The standard for an original Eames is a 15-degree recline. Numerous copies share that perspective. One feature that is absent from a genuine Eames chair is the ability to recline deeper, which is present in some alternatives.
• Wooden case. Seven or eight layers of plywood are ideal for the outside. Laminate wood is used by certain replica makers to cut costs. Because of so, not only is the design altered, but the durability is also compromised.
• Steel thighs. You prefer aluminum legs, but the total number of legs is more crucial. The ottoman on a genuine Eames Lounge Chair has four legs, not five.

Build Quality

A replica Eames lounge chair’s quality can be judged primarily by three distinct aspects.

Leather Quality

The leather on your reproduction chair should read like “high-grade,” so you know you’re on the right track. If you ask, some producers will even reveal the leather suppliers. If you’re looking for premium leather, Italy is the place to go.

Wood Quality

Typically, a chair’s shell will be made out of plywood. Seven to eight layers of plywood make for a sturdy and beautiful reproduction chair.

Hardware

This is crucial since a duplicate chair with cheap hardware would not last long. It’s also challenging to find information about which chairs have the greatest hardware. Before buying new hardware, you should learn as much as possible about any known quality control difficulties.

Price

If money were no object, you probably wouldn’t be looking for a knockoff Eames Lounger. How much, therefore, should you spend on a knockoff?

You can usually find a high-quality knockoff of an Eames chair for less than $1,000. A few models are priced at exactly $1,000, but for an additional $200-$300 over the average imitation, you won’t be receiving much of an improvement in quality.

Be wary of incredibly inexpensive models, too. Most replicas on the market today are of quite excellent quality, so if you discover one for less than $500, for instance, you can assume that it is of lower quality. There’s also a potential that it won’t build properly or even look anything like the chair in the picture.

Though you won’t have to part with $6000 to buy a duplicate, you’ll still have to shell out between $700 and $1,000. Do your homework, check out some reviews, and familiarize yourself with the store’s return policy before you buy anything.

Manufacturer & Place of Origin

The vast majority of these chairs are manufactured overseas and shipped from American distribution centers.

Nothing to worry about here. There may be some hiccups in quality control, as with any mass-produced item, but rest assured that you are still obtaining something of good quality.

The high cost of Herman Miller furniture stems in part from the fact that each chair is carefully crafted by an individual craftsman. Machines in a factory are used by replica manufacturers to craft the seating.

Comfort

When considering the ease of sitting in an Eames Lounge Chair replica, there are two factors to consider:

• Height. In some cases, it is possible to purchase a “tall” version of a replica item, which is made with taller people in mind. The maximum height for which an average Eames Lounge Chair is suitable is around 6 feet 4 inches. A longer seat in the taller model makes it more comfortable for those with longer legs.
• Cushion. This is crucial information. There’s no point in using top-notch leather if the cushion sponge isn’t soft and pliable. You need a cushion that lets you sink in a little, but provides some support, too. Most chairs are on the stiff side when they first arrive, but they break in well with time.

Size

For the most part, replica Eames Lounge Chairs are all about the same size, give or take an inch in either direction.

Every replica Eames lounge chair is the same size within an inch or so on each side.

• A standard 33-inch height.
• Inches of Seat Height: 15.7
• Size: 33″ in width
• The depth is 35.4″

A genuine Eames Lounge Chair, according to the rules, should be exactly square.

Assembly

The market for knockoff Eames lounge chairs is rife with poorly assembled products.

You can put together a replica chair in around fifteen to twenty minutes. It’s also easier if you have a second person helping you, because these chairs are pretty heavy.

However, because of their mass production, not all copy chairs have the finest quality control throughout assembly. In certain cases, the lack of a user guide is the only thing standing between you and success. Sometimes it’s simple, as when a chair has a missing screw because the hole on the bottom wasn’t finished being drilled.

Sometimes, the base of the chair won’t fit perfectly into the seat. Some owners reported having to use a rubber mallet to get things put together.

There are times when the chair’s legs won’t snugly fit into the seat. There have been reports of owners needing to use a rubber mallet to assemble their products.

Shipping

With more and more individuals now working from home, shipping times have become increasingly essential to online customers. You’re looking at over a half year of waiting time for an original Herman Miller Eames Lounge Chair to be built and delivered to your home.

The good news is that many reproductions are manufactured in large quantities, which means they can usually be shipped within a week or two.

It’s also important that your chair gets there unscathed. You should look at factors like the quality of the packing when reading reviews of replica chairs.

Please be aware that the instructions for assembling these chairs are only included in one of the two boxes they arrive in.

Last but not least, remember to keep all of the packaging materials in case your chair arrives damaged during shipping.

Warranty

A genuine Herman Miller Eames lounge chair, as you might expect, features a fantastic 12-year guarantee. Things that wear out or break due to regular use will be replaced free of charge.

However, this does not hold true with replica models. Most retailers who sell replicas don’t back their products with any kind of guarantee. Instead, you can send it back within a few days after receipt if 1) you decide you don’t like it, or 2) it arrives damaged.

Remember that many vendors of these counterfeit lounge chairs advertise a guarantee without actually providing one.

Although this may sound alarming, it is really rather common. It’s unusual for a furniture manufacturer to include a warranty with their product. Since clients are shelling out $3,000+ for a single chair, Herman Miller provides this option.

We suppose you are unconcerned about returning this after a few years because a replica can be purchased for a fraction of the cost of a genuine model.

FAQs

Who makes the best Eames lounge chair replica?

Furniture is always subjective, but when it comes to copies of the iconic Eames Lounge Chair, a few manufacturers stand out.

• The TOME Mid-Century Lounge Chair and Ottoman is an excellent duplicate in terms of build quality, comfort, and cost.
• TOOOOO Leather Reclining Loveseat with Ottoman. At this price, it’s hard to find a better chair.

Are Eames replica chairs comfortable?

Comfortable seating on a replica Eames chair is possible. Even if the materials and construction quality of a replica Eames Lounge Chair might not be as high as that of an original, it is still possible to find a high-priced, high-quality copy.

Many copies improve upon the original Eames’ level of comfort by making small changes to the design. The ability to recline is a feature included on many models from different manufacturers, making it ideal for those long, relaxing Sundays. Take note that the original Eames Lounge Chair did not have a reclining mechanism.

Many manufacturers of replicas have increased the comfort of their chairs by including extra-large cushions.

Do your research because there are probably some cheap knockoffs on the market that aren’t as comfortable.

How can you tell a real Eames chair from a fake?

In order to tell the real from the imitation Eames Lounge Chairs, there are a few key features to examine.

The label

• This is the brand’s label. Black rectangular labels with rounded corners have been Herman Miller’s trademark for the past two decades, always found affixed to the underside of their chairs and bearing the company’s emblem. In the 1990s, a switch to silver was made in the color scheme.
• Band of metal. Authentic Eames Lounge Chairs and Ottomans will also have a metal disc with the Herman Miller emblem attached to the base of each piece.
• A paper tag. Despite its frequent loss, an authentic Eames Lounge Chair should have a signed paper label attached to the base. The chair’s patents are included in that document.

Base

The base of a genuine Eames lounge chair and ottoman will feature five legs for the chair and four for the ottoman. Both sit at a little slant because to the angle of the legs.

Some other things to keep an eye out for are:

• The seat must be able to turn fully around.
• Not a reclining chair. Most recent copies include a reclining option. The original angle of an Eames Lounge Chair is 15 degrees.
• The chair and ottoman both rest on a rubber foundation stamped with the words “Domes of Silence.”
• Each of the aluminum legs has a rounded end, rather than a square one.

Cushions

This seat cushion can be used in place of the ottoman, as they are of same dimensions. The cushion on an Eames lounge chair is 6 inches thick. These pillows are always made out of leather.

Dimensions

Measuring the proportions of a lounge chair is a quick and straightforward approach to verify its authenticity as a genuine Eames design. Ideally, they would look like this:

• Maximum height of 32 inches (from the floor to the headrest)
• Just 15 centimeters above the floor (from the floor to the edge of the seat)
• 32.75″ wide (the chair is as wide as it is long – measure from each outer edge)

Why is the Eames chair so expensive?

Its high price tag can be attributed to the high caliber of its components and the painstaking attention to detail that went into its construction; there are no screws or other fasteners in sight. The Eames lounge chair was a technological feat when it was first introduced. It was revolutionary because it was the first piece of furniture to ever blend plywood molding with leather.

The fact that it’s now a cultural icon has increased the need for it. Similar to how Tiffany & Co. charges $10,000 for a diamond ring despite the fact that the exact same diamond and setting can be purchased elsewhere for far less money, this practice is completely justified.

As a result, Herman Miller is certain that it can maintain steady profits by charging more than $5,000 for its chair and ottoman combination.