B&B Italia is an innovative Italian luxury furniture brand founded in 1966 by Piero Ambrogio Busnelli. The company is headquartered in Northern Italy, and has become one of the most influential luxury designer furniture brands globally.
Busnelli was a bold personality, who had great technical knowledge from his work at Cassina, the well known and established Italian furniture manufacturer. He also had a visionary approach and wanted to use research and innovation on order to completely radicalise the way that sofas were produced. He also understood finance, marketing and consumers and acted like a catalyst between different teams to create revolutionary changes.
His vision and ambition was a little too much for the more conservation Cassina brand and so he set up a new company in partnership with them, C&B Italia. Coming from Cassina and B from Busnelli. A few years later Busnelli took out a bank loan to buy out Cassina and such as his sense of humour was, he renamed the company B&B Italia - Bank & Busnelli!
Innovation
Otto Bayer had invented polyurethane foam in 1937 and Busnelli decided to re-purpose this technology and use it in an innovative way to manufacture furniture. The traditional technology used a wooden frame, spring base, strapping and block foam pieces glued to it, with fabric then upholstered by hand. This had the disadvantage of the wood moving onver time, the strapping and glue becoming old and brittle, they were not easily recoverable and relied heavily on the skill of the upholsterer.
Busnelli changed this by using a steel frame that is considerably stronger than wood and so could be guaranteed for 10 years, combined with hooked strapping and metal to metal fixings. The frame is then encased in cold cured polyurethane foam, which is more stable than traditional foam and can be a repeatable industrial process. Which in turn reduces costs and increases quality. It also allowed much more design freedom in shapes, the items to be easily recoverable by the end user and better seating comfort.
B&B Italia's Research & Development Centre (CR&S) is their internal department where the internal team work with external designers right from the initial idea generation and are then involved in the whole design process. B&B Italia invest heavily in this process and have over 65 patents and 4 compasso d'oro awards. Testiment to their ongoing commitment to innovation.
A video of the history of B&B Italia
B&B Italia & Innes - over 20 years of working in partnership
B&B Italia & Innes
Innes is an authorised B&B Italia retailer, offering a curated selection of B&B Italia furniture and accessories. Our collection includes sofas, tables, lounge chairs, beds and storage, We provide expert guidance on product selection, space planning, and care to ensure you choose the right B&B pieces for your home or project. We have all of the stunning fabric and leather samples available in our sample room.
Each year, we visit the stunning B&B Italia flagship store in Mialn to meet the B&B Italia team and their designers and view new product launches and line extensions. Find out more about our 2024 visit during Milano Salone. B&B Italia also have a stunning showroom on Brompton Road in London, where we can make appointments for clients to view the huge range of pieces on display.
Visit our showroom to experience B&B Italia furniture in person, or contact our team for personalised recommendations and availability information.
B&B Italia Designers
Read more about the many designers behind B&B Italia products
B&B Italia Sustainability & Environmental Practices
Quality sits at the core of B&B Italia. It underpins every aspect of the company’s work — from the products it creates to the relationships it builds. The objective is clear: to deliver lasting value for clients while maintaining the highest standards across the entire value chain. B&B Italia works closely with its suppliers, developing partnerships based on trust, collaboration, and a shared commitment to innovation.
Innovation, research, and a relentless pursuit of excellence have defined B&B Italia from the outset. Alongside this is a strong sense of responsibility to the wider community. Respect for the environment and adherence to clear ethical standards guide the company’s decisions, shape its culture, and influence how it works with institutions, partners, and everyone involved in bringing its products to market.
Robust Quality Management Systems ensure that every product meets the regulatory standards of the markets in which the company operates. B&B Italia products comply fully with European and US legislation, and every stage of the product lifecycle is assessed for health, safety, and regulatory performance. Independent verification is carried out by leading Italian and international testing laboratories to ensure these standards are consistently met.
The company’s commitment to innovation and quality naturally extends to sustainability. B&B Italia continues to integrate circular economy principles into its design and manufacturing processes, developing products that are easier to disassemble and recycle. The result is furniture designed not only for exceptional performance and longevity, but also with greater responsibility for the future.
FAQS
Frequently asked questions about B&B Italia
WHAT IS B&B ITALIA KNOWN FOR?
B&B Italia is internationally recognised for its innovative approach to contemporary furniture design. The brand combines advanced industrial manufacturing with high-level craftsmanship to produce furniture that is both technically sophisticated and visually distinctive.
HOW LONG DOES B&B ITALIA FURNITURE LAST?
B&B Italia furniture is designed for long-term use. With proper care and maintenance, pieces can last for decades thanks to the company’s focus on structural engineering, durable materials, and high manufacturing standards.
WHERE IS B&B ITALIA FURNTURE MADE?
B&B Italia furniture is designed and manufactured in Italy, primarily at the company’s headquarters in Novedrate. Production combines advanced technology with traditional Italian craftsmanship.
CAN B&B ITALIA FURNITURE BE CUSTOMISED?
Many B&B Italia pieces offer extensive customisation options, including a wide choice of fabrics, leathers, finishes, and configurations. This allows clients to tailor furniture to suit both residential and commercial interiors.
WHAT MATERIALS ARE USED FOR B&B ITALIA FURNITURE?
B&B Italia furniture uses a wide range of premium materials including high-quality fabrics, natural leathers, metals, engineered polymers, and carefully selected woods. Each material is tested for durability, comfort, and long-term performance.
HOW SHOULD B&B ITALIA LEATHER FURNITURE BE MAINTAINED?
Leather furniture should be regularly dusted with a clean dry cloth and cleaned with appropriate leather care products. Avoid direct sunlight, heat sources, and harsh cleaning agents to preserve the leather’s natural qualities. See our B&B Italia Leather Guide for a detailed explanation on each leather.
WHAT IS B&B ITALIA'S WARRANTY?
B&B Italia provides a manufacturer's warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship under normal residential use. The warranty does not cover normal wear, damage from misuse, or commercial applications. Warranty claims require proof of purchase and are handled through authorised retailers such as Innes. The warranty is different for different products and is detailed in the warranty card that comes with your specific piece.
CAN REPLACEMENT COVERS OR SPARE PARTS BE PURCHASED?
The beauty of how the pieces are made means that for many models, replacement covers, cushions, or components can be ordered through Innes. You can then give your sofa a new lease of life without buying a new one. Availability depends on the product and production year.
Now that you have learnt all about the design brand B&B Italia. Would you like to treat yourself to a designer sofa or lounge chair? Then click the SHOP B&B Italia button to see the full range or contact us at the gallery.
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