Specialty • Eames 670 / 671 • Herman Miller & Vitra
Olek repairs, restores, refinishes and reupholsters authentic Herman Miller- and Vitra-produced Eames Lounge Chairs and Ottomans with a focus on preserving original shells, veneer, hardware and period character wherever condition allows. The work is model- and era-specific—from shock mounts and broken lower back shells to cushions, leather, bases and finish.
The shock mounts on our 50 year old Eames lounge chair failed. In addition to repairing them, we had the leather upholstery treated, the wood refinished and the metal buffed. The quality of the workmanship was superb, the turnaround time was prompt, and the people we dealt with were knowledgeable, friendly and efficient. Didn't come cheap, but the result was worth every penny.
They did a beautiful job reupholstering my original Eames Lounge. It’s like new.
I reached out to Peter for some information regarding a damaged chair, not only did he help me but went above and beyond to make sure I could repair the chair with ease. Would highly recommend using Olek!
Olek, Inc. restored and reupholstered a vintage Eames lounge and ottoman for my client with beautiful results. They have a deep knowledge of the various versions and constructions of the piece, and offer excellent communication about the process. We took advantage of their pickup and delivery service, and opted for a leather from their offerings that is true to the style of the original piece. I would highly recommend Olek for reupholstery services and wouldn't hesitate to work with them again.
The nice folks at Olek have now done two jobs for me; both restorations of Eames side chairs. The work they did was excellent, there was good turn around time, and they communicated with me very quickly. I'm really happy to have found such a professional operation for furniture restoration and I highly recommend them.
First class experience all around. A beautiful repair to our iconic Eames lounge chair. After the initial shockmount repair, we had Olek precisely restore upholstery and the original rosewood -- looks spectacular! Wonderful customer service as well — highly recommend.
I bought my Eames Chair in 1989. Its been reasonably well cared for but used almost daily for all those years. Olek has been my go to for all necessary service on the chair. I can't say enough good about Peter and his company. They're very professional. They communicate with you as to what needs to be done This last work was replacing the cushions on both the ottoman and the chair. The leather matches perfectly. Thanks Peter and all for a making my chair whole again.
When my vintage Eames lounge chair suddenly broke in two I found several places that claimed to specialize in such restoration. I am so glad that I picked Oleck. Peter Triestman and the men he works with are true artists and experts at furniture restoration. I would trust them with furniture from any period and plan on bringing them other fine furniture I have that needs serious repair. They returned all of my emails quickly, answered questions, and picked up and returned the furniture in great time. Thank you Olek!
Beautifully restored my mother's Eames chair.
Great service!I sent photos of my damaged Eames lounge chair - received a reply in less than 24 hours with an estimated cost; received timely and useful communications throughout the process (including helpful instructions for disassembling and shipping as well as an update with an option for further restoration) and got the chair back fully restored in a couple of weeks.
Excellent work repairing an arm on my Eames Lounge chair. The leather they used matches the original, unlike the seat which was reupholstered by Herman Miller. Highly recommended.
Olek Inc recovered and replaced a backer board on my Eames lounge chair and ottoman. This chair is nearly 50 years old and is very special to me, so I was nervous about sending the cushions away to be refurbished. Yan Zhang at Olek explained the process over the phone and then in an email. The cost was itemized ahead of time and then again upon receiving and evaluating the cushions. Yan stayed in touch with me every step of the way. My Eames chair and ottoman cushions were returned promptly and in beautiful condition. The design of the chair allows for easy reassembly. It should last another 50 years.
Received expert advice regarding the authenticity of some vintage Eames Miller Fiberglas shell chairs. Thank you Peter !
Custom restoration. Great service and attention to details.
I've owned my Eames chair since the mid 70's.Olek refurbished it beautifully -- all first class work including the leather.If I could give them 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 stars, I wouldPositiveResponsiveness, Quality, Professionalism, Value
Thank you, the repair to my Eames fiberglass rocking chair is impeccable -- there is no evidence that the fiberglass was ever cracked, and the color match is perfect!It was a real pleasure to discover your company.PositiveQuality
Olek team did an amazing job on my vintage Eames Lounge and Ottoman. I highly recommend them. David was also a really good client representative and answered all my questions quickly.PositiveProfessionalism
We have been wanting to properly repair and upholster a 1960's era Eames chair and Ottoman for many years. We've been looking for someone who understands both leather and the mid-century design. Olek fills this niche perfectly.Our chair was given to me by a mentor, and we wanted it repaired and refurbished without compromising the original structure and materials. Olek knows Eames. They understand the materials, how the chair is constructed, and how to properly repair damage. Their repairs are in keeping with the original design intent, including using high quality leather and carefully preserving what they can from the original chair.Thank you for the quality workmanship, your care, and keeping us apprised of the work as it progressed.PositiveResponsiveness, Quality, Professionalism
My genuine Herman Miller rosewood Eames chair and ottoman dating from 1979 was in need of reupholstering. I also had 3 cushions from my Corbusier LC2 sofa that were worn. Based on a Google search and reviews, I blindly sent off my valuable furniture to Olek for repair. Boy did I luck out! David and Peter kept me apprised of their progress along the way and the results are stunning! The leather is exactly the same as the original leather circa 1979 (not the lower-grade leather currently used by Herman Miller). It's butter soft and beautiful. I highly recommend Olek, especially if you're refurbishing mid-century furniture like the classic Eames lounge chair.PositiveResponsiveness, Quality, Professionalism, Value
Dealing with David and Yuriy at Olek was painless and easy. Yuriy did a great job repairing the shock mounts on my eames chair.
I had a very good experience and recommend for restoration and or furniture repair. Two Eames dining chairs came out great. Quick turnaround time. Knowledgeable and very professional.UPDATE- November 2020. Mathsson Lounge chair and ottoman. WonderfulRestoration. OLEK did another amazing job beautifully restoring a family heirloom. Thank you Peter !
We had an original DCW Eames chair with the back fallen off due to deterioration of the mounts. Also it had been carelessly repainted to cover up who knows what, back in the day. Olek reattached the back and refinished the red color to its original state. Olek was fair, honest, and direct in their dealings. The work was impeccable and timely. The best recommendation is "no complaints," which is another way of saying, "everything fully realized as promised with no hassles." They've earned our trust for any restoration we might ever need.
When the shock mount on one side of our Eames Chair gave out and cracked the wood on the "ear" of the chair, we were very distraught. Once I packed the chair for shipping, David and his craftsmen had the crack repaired with four new shock mounts in about a week (including the New Year's holiday)! The chair is now back where it is supposed to be, ready for what life throws at it again. Very Satisfied in the quality of the repair, the timeliness of the process, they get my highest recommendation. Art Graham, East Hampton, NY
We called Olek to replace the shock mounts on our 50 year old Eames chair, as well as sew on a button that had come loose. The job was completed much sooner than promised, and the chair feels solid and ready for another 50 years. David was very communicative and answered all my questions quickly.
★★★★★ 5.0 average on Google · 100 reviews Read all reviews →
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Olek evaluates back position, flexibility, mount condition and the surrounding plywood before replacement. Degraded mounts are removed without treating the shell as disposable, then replaced with Olek’s proprietary system. Current Olek service terms state shock-mount warranty periods vary from 5 to 15 years depending on the quoted scope.
The original Eames attachment concept depends on flexible mounts bonded to the plywood shells. Olek treats that flexibility as part of the chair’s design intent, but does not reproduce the original failure-prone construction literally. Olek describes its proprietary replacement as using ebonized solid-beech plates shaped to the original mount profile, threaded flanges and neoprene bushings so the back can retain its intended movement while the attachment system is rebuilt around a different structural approach.
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For fractured lower back shells, Olek can preserve the original exterior veneer while rebuilding the damaged plywood structure from within. Where appropriate, damaged internal plywood layers are reconstructed with 1/16-inch maple veneer; matching interior face material may use documented, legally sourced old-stock veneer when required by the repair. Olek’s current service terms advertise a 15-year warranty on broken lower back shell repair.
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Finish treatment is based on the chair’s age and actual surviving coating. Earlier chairs may have an oil-finish maintenance history while later examples use other finish systems. Olek can selectively prepare and rebalance faded areas, repair veneer and develop color and sheen continuity without assuming every Eames shell should receive the same finish recipe.
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For early-production chairs commonly described by collectors as Series I, Olek retains and refurbishes the natural-latex and feather/foam character where condition permits rather than automatically substituting a later cushion construction. The objective is to preserve the softer, broken-in cushion profile associated with early production while still addressing failed materials.
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Original leather is retained when its condition supports continued use. When reupholstery is appropriate, matching considers grain, hand, sheen, tone, cushion profile and production era rather than color alone. Cushion work can be coordinated so new upholstery does not change the intended fit or silhouette.
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Olek inspects bases, connecting parts, clips, snaps, spacers, zippers and cushion backs, retaining serviceable originals where practical. When certain original acrylic-vinyl cushion backs cannot be retained, Olek can replicate the texture and hole pattern to preserve the visual and functional relationship of the cushion assembly.
From Identification To Return
Eames projects come from across the U.S. and abroad; shell-only shipping works for focused shock-mount or shell repair.
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Photos and labels identify the era and repair priorities before quoting.
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Ship the whole chair or only the shells; condition documented on arrival.
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Approved repairs completed, retaining original material wherever sound.
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Checked for structure, alignment and fit, then packed and returned.
When shock-mount failure tears or fractures a lower back shell, Olek can rebuild the plywood layer by layer while retaining the original outer face veneer and flitch pattern where feasible. A fine witness line may remain at the original break; the objective is to recover structure without erasing the chair’s identity.
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A back that begins to sag, stiffen or lose its intended flexibility deserves prompt assessment. Olek replaces failed or deteriorated mounts rather than attempting to re-glue degraded rubber, using its proprietary replacement system and a warranty term defined by the quoted repair scope.
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Vintage shells may have different finish systems from later production, and rear surfaces often age differently from protected areas. Olek uses the surviving finish, veneer thickness and production era to decide how much preparation and color correction are appropriate instead of applying one generic strip-and-refinish formula.
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Olek Established
5–15
Years · Shock-Mount Warranty by Scope
15
Years · Broken Lower Back Shell Warranty
Global
Shipping Coordination
Yes. Olek works on authentic Herman Miller- and Vitra-produced Eames Lounge Chairs and Ottomans, from early production—often described by collectors with Series I / Series II shorthand—through later vintage and newer production. The repair plan is based on the actual construction, materials, labels and production era rather than the shorthand alone.
Authentic chairs use molded plywood shells with face veneer. Vintage Brazilian rosewood is especially significant; because Brazilian rosewood (Dalbergia nigra) is CITES Appendix I, any matching old-stock material used in repair must be documented and legally sourced. Historical Herman Miller care material identifies Gunstock Oil on pre-1994 chairs, while later production moved through other finish systems, so restoration starts by identifying the surviving coating rather than treating one recipe as universal. Current production uses removable cushion units and polyurethane foam; early chairs can differ materially.
A back that visibly sags, changes position, becomes unusually stiff or loses its expected flexibility should be assessed. If a mount has separated or the back is sagging below its normal position, stop using the chair until it has been inspected to reduce the risk of additional shell damage.
Olek does not treat degraded shock-mount rubber as a reliable surface for a simple re-glue. When the mount itself has aged or failed, replacement is generally the appropriate repair rather than adding adhesive to deteriorated material.
Olek’s current public service terms advertise a 15-year warranty on broken lower back shell repair. Shock-mount warranties vary from 5 to 15 years depending on the quoted repair scope. The project proposal should state the exact components covered, duration and warranty terms.
Often, yes. Olek’s specialty is rebuilding damaged plywood from within while retaining the original exterior veneer and flitch pattern where feasible. A fine line at the original fracture may remain visible on close inspection, and feasibility depends on the actual damage.
For early Series I chairs, Olek’s stated approach is to retain and refurbish the natural-latex and feather/foam character where viable rather than automatically replacing it with modern urethane foam. Condition and previous alterations determine what can actually be conserved.
Original leather is retained when serviceable. When replacement is appropriate, Olek matches more than color: grain, hand, sheen, tone, age and cushion profile all affect whether new upholstery belongs on the chair.
The shells are veneered molded plywood and different production eras used different finish systems. Olek uses veneer-sensitive preparation, surviving finish and protected areas as references, selectively correcting fading or color imbalance rather than applying a generic stripping and refinishing process.
Olek’s goal is to retain serviceable original details when condition and function allow. Broken or missing components can be repaired or selectively replicated, including certain acrylic-vinyl cushion-back details where the original cannot remain in service. The same priority applies to sound face veneer, flitch pattern, color relationships and visible age, and to the comfort profile of the production era — vintage padding and newer cushion systems are not automatically interchangeable.
Yes. Olek coordinates Eames work nationwide and can handle international inquiries. Depending on the repair, the team may recommend shipping the whole chair or only disassembled seat/back shell components. Packing and carrier recommendations are given according to the actual scope.
Shock mounts, plywood structure, veneer, upholstery, hardware and finish cross several restoration trades. Olek’s furniture-restoration, cabinetmaking, finishing and upholstery capabilities allow the chair to be assessed as one designed system, and the shop has repaired hundreds of Eames Lounge Chairs for owners worldwide. Verified client reviews describe a shock-mount repair followed by upholstery and original-rosewood restoration, a collapsed chair handled end-to-end from quote through packing and shipping, and a 1989 chair maintained over years with replacement leather that matched successfully.
No. Eames®, Herman Miller® and Vitra® are trademarks of their respective owners. Olek Inc. is an independent restoration provider and does not claim manufacturer authorization or endorsement. References to Herman Miller and Vitra identify the authentic production being restored.
Start With Photos, Labels & The Failure Point
Send overall photos plus close-ups of the underside label, shells, shock mounts, lower back, cushion backs, leather and any damaged hardware. If the chair is sagging or a shock mount has separated, stop using it until the condition is reviewed.