* In partnership with Domkapa.
It seems virtually impossible to hide from the bouclé trend at the moment (not that I would want to!). It’s popping up in every interior magazine, insta post, and pinterest board. You may think that this fabric, originally created to mimic sheep fur, is just a fad but bouclé has been around since the 1940s, thanks to a fellow Finn Eero Saarinen who invented the Womb Chair. I’ve wanted to own a piece of bouclé furniture since spotting a very similar chair at Maison et Objet a few years back. I just love the texture and luxe feel that it can bring to a very ordinary space. I’ve been getting to know a Portuguese upholstery brand Domkapa in recent months and got to see and test their version of bouclé at Decorex International back in October. All I can say is wow! I could hardly contain my excitement when Domkapa asked me to pick a design from their collection that spoke to me the most with the perfect finishing touches to go with it.
So, a few weeks ago I had a very special delivery from Portugal sent by the lovely Domkapa Team. It was the heavenly Pearl Armchair upholstered in Columbia Nata with a gold brushed stainless steel base. It arrived fully assembled and well wrapped and protected. The armchair is incredible. The quality and the colour look even better in real life. I really didn’t expect this chair to turn out quite as beautiful as it did. And it complements our neutral interior scheme flawlessly too.
Now let’s talk about the chair itself and what makes it so amazing in my eyes (and hopefully yours too!)
D E S I G N
Let’s be honest, an aesthetic design is a good design. Otherwise, what’s the point? I’m a firm believer that if a piece of furniture doesn’t please your eye or make you happy it shouldn’t be in your house. Comfort is, of course, important too but luckily with Domkapa, you won’t have to sacrifice either. Round armchairs with sumptuous curved shapes have been making a comeback for a while now. I like to call these chairs accent chairs as they almost instantly add a wow factor to your living space. The purpose of accent chairs is to look good but also provide extra seating (which is very handy, especially around Christmas). Domkapa has a vast selection of armchairs but Pearl is more than just a chair. It’s a vibe. I love the texture of Columbia Nata with the soft round curves and the stitching at the back. I had a tough time choosing the metal finish for swivel base but, in the end, brushed gold stainless steel worked out perfectly. It matches all the other gold and brass accents in our living room so beautifully.
C R A F T S M A N S H I P
After my Decorex experience, I knew that Domkapa’s quality and craftsmanship would be on another level. All the furniture is handmade in Portugal by local suppliers who use high-quality materials that are made to last. Since all the furniture is made to order, there is no wastage which makes Domkapa a sustainable alternative to mass-produced furniture. The stitching is absolutely perfect and the chair feels extremely well-made and robust. There is no doubt that the Pearl armchair is beautifully handcrafted and made to last. If you’re looking for a sophisticated design and exquisite craftsmanship, Domkapa is the perfect partner for your high-end interior design projects.
F A B R I C
There is no doubt that bouclé has a huge visual impact. I can see why so many designers are turning to this material. It’s thick and ‘nubby’ in texture making it a very durable choice for high-traffic rooms. Columbia Nata consists of 100% polyester which means that it’s not only durable, but the twisted wool fibers seem to almost rebel against dirt. Of course, you need to be careful with liquids which is why Domkapa offers a waterproof resistance treatment for all their furniture. You could always opt for a darker colour if in doubt. It’s also worth ordering a sample box from Domkapa before placing an order. I haven’t had my chair long enough to comment on maintaining the fabric as such but I would say a thorough hoover with a furniture attachment once a month should keep your chair dust free. You can find more maintenance and care tips here.
C U S T O M I S A T I O N
I had so much fun creating the perfect armchair to match my neutral interior aesthetic. The great thing about Domkapa is that they really listen to their customers and want to provide them with a tailor-made upholstery experience. Customisation is everything in interior design. It will enhance your home and make the design more personal. We all live very differently and there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to design schemes. Each house and room is different, and each individual has a different personality to match the space they live in. Although I was looking for an accent chair, it was equally important for me that the armchair would be multi-functional. I was so impressed when I found out Domkapa offers Pearl as a swivel chair option as it allows extra movement and versatility. And thanks to the round shape Pearl is one of the most versatile swivel chairs out there. It will be easily suited for multiple rooms in your home. I also love that I got to pick a brushed gold stainless steel base to match all the gold accents in our living room. I tend to go for a timeless colour/material when picking finishes. Brushed gold in particular ages beautifully which is an added bonus. I couldn’t resist adding a cushion (with a removable cushion cover) to provide some extra support.
C O M F O R T
As much as I like to talk about aesthetics, comfort is pretty high on my list too. Although Pearl may not look that comfy, it feels quite literally like sitting on a cloud. The fabric feels absolutely beautiful to touch and the seat is bouncy (which I wasn’t expecting). It’s also pretty wide so ideal for reading a book with your feet up. If you’re still not convinced, we had some guests over last weekend and everyone got to do a little sit-test. And guess what? They all commented on how comfortable the chair was. I also think it helps that the boucle fabric is pretty thick and hard-wearing. I do love the extra cushion, although you may not need it at all. The swivel base provides added comfort and versatility, making Pearl easy on the eye from all angles.
I hope you can tell by this post just how much I adore our new armchair from Domkapa. I’ve had the pleasure to get to know the brand and the people behind it in recent months and the whole experience has been truly special. As a company, they live up to their ethos and produce furniture that is well-designed, well-made and built-to-last. More importantly, they are incredibly customer focused and a pleasure to deal with. I can’t wait to share more about their design process very soon, so stay tuned!
