FAQ

I have never purchased furniture online. What can I expect?

We realize that many of our clients are ordering items sight unseen based on the images online. The items offered on our site are made by Italy's top suppliers and have been selected for their high level of design, quality, and workmanship. Our goal is to provide items to our clients that will exceed their expectations. To ensure our client's complete satisfaction with their purchase we offer our satisfaction guarantee (please see the details under our policies).

Our commitment to our customer's satisfaction is shown by our exemplary A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and our many customer reviews and testimonials.

When you purchase from italydesign, you are assured of working with an organization that genuinely cares about every aspect of your experience and is dedicated to providing 100% customer satisfaction.



Is the furniture in stock?

Many of the items featured on www.italydesign.com are in stock. If the item is not in stock it can be special ordered  from Italy. The order time if not in stock can vary. You can call (415) • 410 • 3025 to check availability and the order time. Upon receipt of an online order if an item is not in stock we will advise you on availability.



Are the Modern Classics original designs?

Much confusion arises around the production of historical furniture classics regarding "is it an original?" All pieces available for sale today, regardless of who has produced them or the price, are revised editions of furniture designs drafted and hand built in the early 1920s and 1930s.

So we ask, what is an original? The prototypes produced in the 1920s and 1930s by designers Breuer (Wassily chair), Mies van der Rohe, Le Corbusier, and others were highly experimental and involved bending tubular steel in completely new ways. The advanced metal processing used today was not available, thus visible welded seams and raw steel painted grey composed the original frames. The upholstery of the originals was stuffed with cotton, wool and other natural materials that did not hold their shape the way today's polyurethane foams do. There were no plastic feet inserts, polyester stitching, or synthetic elastic bands used in the originals. As you can see "authorized originals" are not originals at all since they are not made using the same materials and methods of production.

No current manufacturer of the modern classics can claim to be the original producer (except Thanet), as the designs have been passed from one manufacturer to another over the decades. Many of the designs were never copyrighted, or if they were, the copyright lapsed and the design moved into the "Public Domain" where any producer is allowed to make it. All top producers of modern classics employ current methods of manufacturing while remaining true to the exact original specifications resulting in high quality, comfortable furniture. The discussion about originality and authenticity is pointless because no piece made today is original since the manufacturing techniques, materials and subtle details have progressed with time.

Those companies who claim to be making the only authentic copy mislead the public and confuse the facts. Purchasing an "authorized copy" only means that, through clever marketing, you will be paying a lot more for the same well-made piece. Big name companies require a complex, multi-tiered distribution structure and employ expensive marketing campaigns resulting in very high prices for a piece produced in the same way.

We sell only the highest quality Modern Classics produced by Italy's leading manufacturers who specialize in classic furniture. Great attention is paid to every detail of production ensuring true modern editions of these beloved historical furniture designs. We keep our prices affordable by importing directly from the manufacturer and selling directly to you. After all, the Bauhaus movement, which influenced the design of many furniture classics, encouraged the acceptance of modern design into commonplace objects and accessibility to all, while shunning elitism and exclusivity. We endeavor to make the modern classics available with that original intent.



Can I custom order a product in a different version other than shown on the website?

Some of our items are available in different versions. You can call (415) • 410 • 3025 to check with a sales associate.

Do you have a catalog you can send me?

As we have approximately 2000 items on our in-stock E-commerce website and we are continuing to add to this collection, it is best to serve our clients with updated information on our E-commerce site rather than a printed catalog. Please use our e-commerce site as our product catalog.



Can I get tear sheets, product specifications or larger pictures on specific products?

We have provided all the available product information on the detailed product page with larger pictures to assist our customers in making their buying decisions. Please use these pages as we do not offer any additional product documentation.