A New Life for a Classic – The k Chair’s Removable Covers Are Easy to Install
For 20 years, the k chair, designed by Harri Koskinen, has been a staple in Woodnotes’ collection. When the fabric parts of the chair start to show signs of wear, they can easily be replaced without professional help.
Durability and sustainability are core values for Woodnotes. We want our products to last for generations and to be easy to update and repair.
When Harri Koskinen designed the k Chair two decades ago, he incorporated a slipcover solution from the very beginning: the chair’s soft fabric components are not permanently attached but instead slip over the metal frame like a hood.
The covers are easy to remove and replace – just like a hood.
YOU CAN REPLACE THE k CHAIR COVER YOURSELF
No special skills or tools are required for the replacement. The k chair doesn’t need to be taken to an upholsterer; the cover can be changed right in the middle of the living room.
“You can order replacement covers through your nearest dealer” says Minna Ahokas from Woodnotes.
Besides being practical, replacement covers offer a great way to refresh the look of an old chair – and, by extension, your home’s interior. If you originally purchased a k chair with Sand paper yarn cotton fabric twenty years ago, you can now switch to a soft-textured Easy Care fabric, which is incredibly easy to maintain in daily life.
For color, you can choose a familiar shade of natural or stone or completely transform the look by opting for one of the special 20th-anniversary colors, such as the vibrant Park green.
“With new covers, you get a chair that looks completely refreshed and as good as new,” Ahokas says.
PAPER YARN COTTON AND EASY CARE FABRIC GIVE THE CHAIR DIFFERENT EXPRESSIONS
“As our founder Ritva Puotila has said, paper yarn cotton fabric creates a pure impression. Its surface is smooth, lint-free, and does not shed dust. Combined with the chair’s stitching, it gives a subtle, graphic look. Cotton cord always maintains a certain connection to nature – it retains a faint, wood-like feel that has a calming effect,” Ahokas explains.
Another benefit of paper yarn cotton fabric is that, like wood, it responds to changes in humidity and temperature, meaning the surface never feels too cold or too warm and does not cause perspiration.
The Easy Care fabric cover, on the other hand, enhances the cozy, lounge-chair feel of the k chair. The result is softer and more inviting compared to the structured, architectural lines of the paper yarn cotton upholstery fabric.
THE REPLACEMENT COVER ALSO INCLUDES NEW PADDING
Since the k chair’s frame is made of steel, it barely wears over time. This means that a new cover makes the entire chair look as if it just came from the store.
“In addition to the upholstery fabric, the replacement cover also comes with new padding and support fabric, ensuring that the chair’s cushioning feels just as fresh and comfortable as when it was new,” Ahokas explains.
The replacement covers come with clear instructions, making it easy to remove the old cover and install the new one. The process is simple and straightforward.
Ordering a new cover is just as easy – you only need to know the model of your k chair, and then select a new fabric and color to suit your style.
“I love the idea of forming an emotional connection with objects, of truly valuing them. When we appreciate something, we take care of it. That’s how it becomes a classic – something worth preserving.”
Interviewed: Minna Ahokas designer, product development coordinator, Woodnotes
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