PROJECT STORY / NATUZZI ARMCHAIR

The craft beneath
the familiar chair.

The covering is what you see. The construction is what you live with. This armchair rebuild brings both back into consideration.

Rebuilt by David Huttar at Huttar Craft Works.

BEFORE THE REBUILD / WHAT I FOUND

The covering hid
the real problems.

When I opened this chair, I found several failures after only a few years of use. Thin pine rails with poorly placed knots, a broken side rail, inadequate connections, particleboard joined with standard upholstery staples, and stretched-out webbing all formed part of the problem.

My concern was the way those materials and connections had been used together in this particular frame. Fresh upholstery would have covered the same weaknesses. I wanted the work underneath to justify the time and materials going into the finish.

Leather-covered armchair before restoration, with a dark grease stain visible in the headrest area — Before restoration: the familiar leather covering, with a visible grease stain in the headrest area.

Straight-on view of the original bare frame with thin pine rails on the arms — The original bare frame. The chair’s right arm is on the left of this photograph; its middle rail contains the large knot.

Close-up of a large cracked knot in the original right arm rail — A large knot interrupts much of the narrow right-arm rail, with cracking visible at the knot.

Original side assembly with a broken rail hanging away from the board — The broken side rail, separated from the original side assembly.

Original green webbing attached to particleboard with a separated connection below — The original webbing and the board it was fastened to. Stretched support was another problem found during teardown.

Exposed bent staples in a separated original particleboard connection — The separated particleboard connection and the upholstery staples used to join it.

Rebuild the foundation before restoring the finish.

I chose to rethink the frame and support rather than repeat the construction I had taken apart. The fitted joints, heavier structure, and renewed support that follow were my response to the condition of this chair.

01 / FITTING THE PIECES

Joinery worth a closer look.

Each connection begins with shaping the wood to fit its adjoining piece. That fit matters: the joint is part of the structure, even when the finished upholstery hides it.

This is the standard I bring to the work—taking time with the parts you’ll never see, because they still matter every time you use the chair.

Close-up of a shaped wooden connection fitted into a rail — A fitted connection, before the upholstery hides it.

Chair frame during assembly with a handsaw and shaped wooden parts on the bench — Shaping, fitting, and assembling the replacement frame.

02 / THE FRAME

A familiar shape. A new structure.

I wanted to preserve the chair’s familiar shape while giving it a structure I could stand behind. That meant rebuilding the frame and reconsidering how its parts worked together. The rounded arms needed more than an outline for the upholstery; their construction deserved the same attention as the seat and back.

Rear view of the wooden frame showing rails and fitted upright members — The frame during the final stages of construction.

Complete exposed replacement armchair frame — The completed frame, sealed with polyurethane before support and upholstery.

03 / SEAT & BACK SUPPORT

Comfort has a foundation.

Comfort starts before the cushioning goes on. I treat the seat and back support as part of the build, with attention to how the springs are secured and connected. Soft padding and an attractive covering should complement that foundation.

Separate wooden seat assembly with sinuous springs and connecting cord — The seat support before cushioning and covering.

Sinuous springs and connecting cord fitted into the back of the chair — The back support installed within the rebuilt frame.

04 / BRINGING IT TOGETHER

From exposed structure to finished seating.

A rebuild should bring the whole piece together: structure, support, comfort, and appearance. I restored the upholstery over the rebuilt frame and refreshed the leather’s color. The familiar chair remained, with the work beneath its surface given a new beginning.

Rebuilt chair with initial light-colored covering layers over its arms and back — The transition from wooden structure toward upholstery.

Finished brown leather armchair on the workshop bench — The completed chair after rebuilding and leather restoration.

A WORKSHOP OBSERVATION

Testing the rebuilt arms.

At approximately 215–220 pounds, I repeatedly landed with my full weight on each arm individually, then with one foot on each arm, applying downward and outward force. Nothing budged. I wanted to see how the rebuilt arms responded before their construction disappeared beneath the upholstery.

This was an informal workshop test of this particular frame. It does not establish a certified weight rating, a long-term fatigue result, or a guarantee against damage. Furniture should be used as intended.

Look beneath the covering.

My standard is comfort, support, and durability, with attention to the work beneath the finish. Every piece calls for its own assessment: sometimes a new covering is enough; sometimes the frame and support need attention first. I want those decisions to follow the condition of your furniture and the way you intend to use it.

Discuss your furniture project

This is an independent Huttar Craft Works project involving a Natuzzi chair. No affiliation with or endorsement by Natuzzi is implied.

The craft beneaththe familiar chair.

The covering hidthe real problems.