Matt Blatt Replica Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman Premium GD-KIT-011

Chair is great. Kogan is not – Bought this chair through Kogan and got ripped-off on freight. Charged me $215 freight, and then would not honour a "free-freight" offer. Appalling customer service, not even bothering to read my enquiries properly. Dismissive and "tough cookies" attitude. Be careful during checkout. I wasn't and paid a high price. Beware. Kogan last, not Kogan First.

Exceptional quality and comfort! – I bought one of these for my Airbnb last year and absolutely love it. The leather is beautiful and soft. Went back to buy one for myself but they’re not doing them right now. Show details

Love my MB replica Eames lounge chair – Bought this on sale for approx. $1500 delivered about 12 months ago. Bought it sight unseen so it was a risk. Happy to report that it is a very comfortable chair made with quality leather. I sit in it practically every evening and find it very comfortable. Love how you can interchange the seat pad with the footrest pad, although my seat pad still… Read more

looks brand new with no signs of wear. Have been waiting for these to come back into stock to order another one for my husband.

Impeccable! – This chair is fantastic. I compared with all other replicas and this is by far the most superior. It’s important to remember it is a replica so it’s going to be made overseas and be slightly different to an original (hence the price difference!) but it should still be good quality and Matt Blatt version is fabulous! The customer service at the Bundall showroom was also great. Can’t wait to shop there again! Show details

MB version is a really faithful replica of the original! Fantastic! – Also known as the Iconic lounge chair to MB, there are a lot of bad reviews of this replica Eames lounge chair here. Some aren't even from Matt Blatt which is a little unfair to MB given it says MB in the title. Anyway, in the fear of being called a fanboy, I won't go there. Please note that I only have had this lounge chair for a week so this is… Read more ·  1

no long term review but my observations and output of my research into this product.

The genuine article was first debuted in 1956, designed by Charles and Ray Eames for the Herman Miller furniture company. It has been in production non-stop ever since and changes apart from core design have been made over time! The plywood went from five layers to seven. The upholstery choices include leather, fabric and naugahyde in early days, now only leather remains. Even with the leather version, it has gone through a number of sources over time to improve on quality. The spacers / shock mounts behind the back have also changed over the years from rubber to chrome to plastic. So, if you find plastic spacers on yours, like MB's do, do not be alarmed. "Domes of silence" glides on the original meaning a rubber washer on the metal glides to provide some cushioning is there in the MB version. Of course they are not etched with the wording, "Domes of silence".

With the MB version, all cushions are clipped on like the original with metal clips and a snap button, just like the original. Leather piping are everywhere (e.g. top and bottom of arm rests) without cutting any corners and buttons are leather too. Seat has five legs in the base and the ottoman has four, just like the original. Some have complained that ottoman should have five legs, perhaps the original once had five but certainly not the original debuted in 1956, nor does the current version. They only have four legs.

MB's version doesn't appear to use memory foam inside but does have 2 layers of foam. That said, the foam almost exhibits a memory foam effect! That's because, unlike modern leather sofas, which uses fabric for base or perforated leather to help the cushion regain shape after compression drawing air through the holes. Eames lounge is designed with a plastic sheet with holes drilled / punched into it for this purpose, which unfortunately, isn't as efficient. To add to the problem, it is clipped snuggly on the plywood base with piping surrounding the cushion. This can form a rather good seal keeping air from going in and out freely creating a laboured hiss sound sitting or getting off the lounge, and the cushion remains compressed for a good few seconds before it regains its shape. I tested this by unzipping the cushion slightly and noted very significant difference in how quickly the cushion regains its shape. Some manufacturers have elected to stop using metal clips and went to velcro instead which creates a gap between the plywood base and the cushion and no doubt aids the inflation/deflation process. I ended up not fitting the cushion completely into position but just slightly forward in the front so the piping doesn't create a good seal. This helps the cushion regain it shape much faster.

Dimensions of the MB version is also very close to the original. It is well known that the Eames lounge doesn't provide ample head rest for tall people. As a result, some manufacturers have elected to make the lounge taller by as much as four inches! Angle of the back and seat is also as per the genuine article. I felt asleep on the first day sitting in the chair which is a good sign of how comfy it is.

For this reason, I could have easily awarded the MB replica of the Eames lounge chairs five stars out of five if it wasn't for one thing - there are several nicks on mine - on the aluminium legs, base and a few marks on the plywood especially near the back screw holding the armrest to the metal plate. It is just way too tight and I think the assembler didn't have much of a choice but to scratch the plywood fitting the armrest. The inside of the plywood is painted black and there are some marks, not that you would see it because it is covered by cushions. However, there are a couple around the edges which are visible if you are observant. BTW, original Eames lounge chairs uses Phillips screws while MB's uses allen key screws. I wonder if the very first Eames lounge chair uses slotted screws and later went to Phillips screws.

Given the popularity of the Eames lounge chairs, there are quite a few manufacturers out there and people importing directly from China at very competitive prices. MB claims its supplier manufactures their version exclusively for MB and theirs is the most faithful replica of the original in Australia. It has a heftier price tag, close to the expensive end amongst Eames replicas. For that, I expected less marks and nicks on the product.

In conclusion, MB's replica of the Eames lounge chair is a very faithful imitation of the original and carries all the good and some of the challenges of the original. Personally, I wouldn't mind if the rubber shock mounts holding the back to the base, via a metal plate, are held by screws / bolts that are visible from the side. After all, you would see the screws holding the armrest to the metal plate if you look carefully and there are ways to cover it up if you must. I do not look forward to the glue giving way and the plywood in the back snapping off completely, one of the most common problems of this lounge, rather spectacular and catastrophic when it happens.

I will update this review over time with my thoughts and experience.

I must mention also that MB staff were fantastic. Thank you so much Sophie for letting me know that this replica Eames lounge chair / Iconic lounge chair was going on sale. I went to the store the morning when the sale started before the shop even opened. It was only available to the first 20 customers the ad read.

Has the look, has the feel and now I've got the style – This Eames replica chair & ottoman was easy to assemble. For AU$300 at Aldi I was prepared to take the risk. I have admired this chair since I first saw it on the comedy show Frasier and now I have one of my own and it is every bit the stylish chair I thought it would be. The chair is set at a fixed angle and I find it perfect to sit on and read… Read more

with my feet on the ottoman. The picture (to me) is a true representation of the actual product. It doesn't move up and down or recline at different angles because it's not meant to. Before you buy, KNOW what it IS that you want. Very happy

Don't try and refund – I received item and had all sorts of issues trying to refund. I was told if I ship it back I might get refund won't deal with them again, ever.  Show details

The chair was wobbly and falling apart – I think this might made it china, I should have come here to read the reviews first. After a year of regular use I noticed the chair was wobbly and falling apart. I ended up taking it to the tip, oh well you win some and you lose some.  Show details

Aldis replica eames lounge chair and ottoman – Reboxed it and returned it to Aldi... very uncomfortable, does not recline at all and there is no head support. Do not waste your time or money for a good look.

agree with customers – Matt Blatt replica is just not my good at all. I have purchased one from Milano Republic and they have outstanding quality. It is just great product from Milano Republic. This is my 5th purchase from them and every time ive been more than happy.

Replica antonio citterio spoon stool - shonky!!!! – The stools were over $250 each and within a year the seat does not go up and down, chrome has corroded and the white has changed to a patchy grey. Extremely poor quality!!! I expected the chairs to last at least 5 years or more. Do not waste your money on Matt Blatt!!!!!! Looked nice for the first year and then started to deteriorate! Bad warranty, very bad quality.

Replicas are not Real - Buyer Beware! – It wasn't until I was educated by friends in the design industry that I even realised that MB was selling fake, replica products that are not produced to the original specification of the designer. The sad thing is that the real products (Knoll, Herman Miller, Tom Dixon - to name a handful of the producers who make the products to original… Read more

specification) are really not that much more expensive that the shoddy product from Matt Blatt. If you're prepared to spend $1000+ on a rip off item, do yourself a favour and check out the real things first. Warned off before I made the mistake - there's nothing to like about stolen IP. Replica, and badly produced at that.

Terrible Just Terrible – The name shoudlve said it all... I received damaged goods and when i called i received "I dunno mate" all 3 out of 3 times... The damaged goods were also 8 weeks late... Shocking... go with ANYBODY else... Damaged, bad service, did not want to refund, charged some bs fee of $220, disgraceful

A bit B-grade – I expected great quality given MB claim to be the best and charge the most. It arrived with some connection issues, chair was a bit wobbly etc. Customer service was useless - barely understood my problem, and took 2 weeks for a solution. All in all, over-priced rip off. Nothing - after seeing competitors prices Damaged - shocking customer service

comfy and elegant – I'm sad that the user below had such a bad experience, as we've never encountered a bad experience with matt blatt. We've bought numerous pieces and it's always been a pleasant dealing. My boss recently got this chair to add to his office and I must say it looks like luxury. IT also feels like luxury and comes with a matching ottoman. The great… Read more ·  1

thing is you can switch the cushion from the ottoman and the seat so if one is looking a bit overused you can make a switch and let it rest. Overall the quality is superb and the leather is soft. All he needs now is a wood fire burning and a cigar :D feel liek pure luxury I don't get to have one at my desk!