B&B Italia turned foam into art. Founded near Como in 1966, it pioneered cold-moulded polyurethane, the technology behind Gaetano Pesce's Up armchair and Mario Bellini's Camaleonda. Decades of Antonio Citterio sofas followed. Every B&B Italia piece here is an original, authenticated and restored, then delivered in 1 to 5 days. Originals only.
B&B Italia, Italian Design Innovation Since 1966
B&B Italia was founded in 1966 by Piero Ambrogio Busnelli, first as C&B in partnership with Cesare Cassina, then as B&B Italia from 1973. Its breakthrough was industrial: cold-moulded polyurethane foam, a technology Busnelli saw applied to rubber ducks at a London fair and turned into a new way of making furniture. It let designers shape a sofa like a sculpture.
That freedom drew the best of Italian design. Gaetano Pesce created the Up armchair, the piece that inflated from a flat vacuum-packed disc; Mario Bellini gave it the Le Bambole and the modular Camaleonda; Antonio Citterio began a partnership that has defined the brand's sofas for decades. Afra and Tobia Scarpa and Marco Zanuso are here too, and the company holds three Compasso d'Oro awards.
New, B&B Italia sits at the top of the market, ordered through a dealer with a production wait. Every original at REHAUS is authenticated, restored where needed, and delivered in 1 to 5 days, well below the price of new. Design doesn't depreciate. The Forever Guarantee and a 30-day home trial mean reduced risk on furniture built to last. Browse the originals.
B&B Italia: frequently asked questions
What is B&B Italia?
B&B Italia is an Italian furniture company founded in 1966 by Piero Ambrogio Busnelli. It pioneered cold-moulded polyurethane foam, which let designers shape furniture in ways that were not previously possible. It is known for icons like Gaetano Pesce's Up armchair, Mario Bellini's Camaleonda, and decades of sofas by Antonio Citterio.
What is the Camaleonda?
The Camaleonda is a modular sofa designed by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia in 1970: deep, tufted seats and backs that hook together into endless configurations. Withdrawn and then reissued, it has become one of the most sought-after Italian sofas of its era, which is part of why a genuine original is worth seeking out.
Who designs for B&B Italia?
B&B Italia has worked with many of the great Italian and international designers: Gaetano Pesce (the Up armchair), Mario Bellini (Le Bambole, Camaleonda), Antonio Citterio (its signature sofas for decades), Afra and Tobia Scarpa and Marco Zanuso, among others. The brand holds three Compasso d'Oro awards.
Where can I buy authentic, pre-owned B&B Italia in the UK?
REHAUS sells authenticated, original B&B Italia in the UK. Every piece is checked against the real thing, restored where needed, and delivered nationwide in 1 to 5 days. You buy from one company, not a private seller, with the Forever Guarantee and a 30-day home trial behind it. Stock changes often, since each piece is one of one.
How much is B&B Italia, new versus pre-owned?
New, B&B Italia is priced at the top of the market, ordered through a dealer with a production wait. A pre-owned original at REHAUS, authenticated and restored, typically costs well below new and is ready to deliver in 1 to 5 days. The difference reflects buying the original second time around, not a discount on a copy.
Is pre-owned B&B Italia worth buying?
Yes. B&B Italia is built to a very high standard, and many pieces, the Camaleonda among them, are modular and designed to be re-covered rather than replaced, so a well-kept original lasts. Every piece at REHAUS is authenticated, restored where needed, and backed by the Forever Guarantee and a 30-day home trial.
How is B&B Italia delivered, and can I return it?
Each piece is delivered in 1 to 5 days, with white-glove delivery complimentary on qualifying orders. Every order comes with a 30-day home trial, so you can live with it before committing. If it is not right, returns are straightforward. Because each piece is one of one, it is only truly yours once it has shipped.
Why buy B&B Italia from REHAUS?
REHAUS sells originals only, never copies or reproductions. Every B&B Italia piece is authenticated, restored to a high standard, and delivered fast across the UK, with the Forever Guarantee and a 30-day home trial. You get the real Italian design, with genuine provenance, rather than an approximation of it.
