Description
A Scandinavian Swivel Recliner Built Around Comfort
The Bolia Ripon Armchair is designed for extended relaxation, combining a generous high-backed silhouette with an integrated swivel and reclining mechanism.
Part of the wider Bolia collection at RB12, Ripon takes a more comfort-focused approach than many conventional Scandinavian lounge chairs, adding movement and adjustment without turning the chair into an overly technical-looking recliner.
Its oversized headrest, supportive upholstery and adjustable sitting position make Ripon particularly suitable for reading, watching television or simply creating a dedicated place to switch off at the end of the day.
Designed by Studio Nooi
Ripon was designed by Italian studio Studio Nooi, founded in Turin by Giulia Pesce and Ruggero Bastita.
The studio’s name comes from the Italian word “noi”, meaning “us”, reflecting their belief that good design develops through cooperation between designers, manufacturers, artisans, technicians and the people who eventually use the product.
That thinking suits Ripon particularly well: the visual form remains simple, while much of the chair’s value is found in the way the reclining and swivel functions respond to the person sitting in it.
An Oversized Headrest for High-Back Support
At 100 cm high, Ripon provides considerably more upper-body support than a low lounge chair.
Bolia specifically highlights the chair’s oversized headrest, which continues the upholstered form upwards to support the shoulders, neck and head when you settle back into the chair.
This makes Ripon particularly relevant when comfort is the main priority rather than simply adding occasional seating to the room.
Smooth Stepless Reclining
Ripon incorporates a smooth, stepless adjustment mechanism, allowing the chair to move through different reclining positions rather than restricting you to a small number of fixed settings.
The reclining control is operated through a discreet hidden handle, helping preserve the clean upholstered appearance instead of leaving a large mechanical lever visible on the side of the chair.
Sit more upright for conversation or reading, then recline further when you want a more relaxed position.
Return Swivel Function
The Ripon Armchair also incorporates Bolia’s return swivel function.
This gives you the freedom to rotate the chair when using it while helping it return towards its resting orientation afterwards, keeping the chair looking more orderly within the room.
The swivel function is particularly useful in open-plan spaces where one chair may need to face a sofa, television, window or another area of the room at different times of day.
Ripon Armchair Dimensions
Ripon combines generous upper-body support with a relatively contained overall width.
- Width: 81 cm
- Depth: 85 cm
- Height: 100 cm
- Seat depth: 53 cm
- Seat height: 47 cm
- Armrest height: 60 cm
- Net weight: approximately 25 kg
- Maximum weight capacity: 110 kg
The 81 cm width is particularly useful when you want the support and reclining ability of a substantial chair without allocating the amount of floor space associated with some traditional recliners.
A 47 cm Seat Height for Easier Everyday Sitting
Ripon’s 47 cm seat height gives it a more accessible sitting position than very low lounge seating.
Combined with a 53 cm seat depth and supportive arms, the proportions allow Ripon to remain comfortable in a relatively upright position before the reclining mechanism is used.
That makes the chair particularly versatile for reading, conversation and longer periods of relaxation rather than requiring you to adopt one permanently laid-back seating position.
Fabric or Traceable Leather Upholstery
Bolia offers Ripon across a wide selection of luxury upholstery fabrics and traceable leathers, allowing the chair’s appearance to move from softly textured and tactile to cleaner and more tailored.
Different upholstery families have different fibre compositions, durability ratings and care requirements, so permanent product copy should not treat every Ripon configuration as though it uses the same material.
Use the product options above to confirm the upholstery currently offered by RB12, or contact the team if you require help comparing Bolia fabrics and leathers.
Grey or Satin Lacquered Steel Base
RB12 currently offers two steel-base finishes for Ripon:
- Grey Lacquered Steel
- Satin Lacquered Steel
The base remains relatively discreet beneath the upholstered chair, allowing the larger headrest and curved seat form to remain visually dominant while still providing the mechanical structure needed for swivelling and reclining.
Add the Matching Ripon Footstool
For full leg support, pair the chair with the Bolia Ripon Footstool.
The matching footstool measures approximately 50 × 50 × 41 cm and continues the upholstered character of the chair, creating a complete reclining arrangement without building a fixed leg rest into the armchair itself.
The footstool is sold separately, allowing Ripon to remain useful as a standalone swivel recliner when floor space is more limited.
A Reading Chair for Longer Sessions
Ripon’s high back, oversized headrest and adjustable reclining position make it particularly well suited to a dedicated reading corner.
Place it alongside a floor lamp and side table, adding the matching footstool when you want to extend your legs during longer periods of sitting.
The swivel base also makes it easy to turn towards natural light during the day and towards another part of the room in the evening.
Designed for Living Rooms and Media Spaces
Ripon works particularly naturally in living rooms, media rooms and quieter areas where one chair can be dedicated primarily to relaxation.
Its swivel function provides flexibility within open-plan spaces, while the recliner mechanism gives the chair an additional level of comfort that conventional fixed lounge chairs cannot offer.
Despite that functionality, the mechanism remains largely concealed, allowing Ripon to retain the cleaner visual character associated with contemporary Scandinavian seating.
Handmade in Europe
Bolia lists the current Ripon Armchair as handmade in Europe, with production by Actona in Lithuania.
The chair arrives assembled, so there is no furniture assembly required after delivery.
Because Ripon arrives as a complete 81 × 85 × 100 cm chair, access through doors, staircases and lifts should be considered before ordering.
Ripon or Mielo?
For another comfort-focused Bolia armchair, compare Ripon with the Bolia Mielo Armchair.
Mielo has a lower, more open and sculptural lounge-chair shape with a reversible seat cushion, while Ripon provides considerably more upper-body support through its high back and oversized headrest.
Choose Ripon when reclining, swivelling and head support are the priority. Choose Mielo when you want a softer sculptural armchair with a lower silhouette and no mechanical adjustment.
Ripon or Dive?
The Bolia Dive Armchair offers a very different interpretation of premium Scandinavian seating.
Dive places greater emphasis on visible material craftsmanship through its solid-oak frame and full-grain leather support band, while Ripon conceals its structure within a deeply upholstered, high-backed form.
Choose Dive when visible oak, leather detailing and a lighter architectural silhouette are important. Choose Ripon when adjustable relaxation and upper-body support matter more.
Ripon or Conform Timeout?
If you are specifically comparing reclining chairs, the Conform Timeout Armchair is another relevant option at RB12.
Timeout takes a more visibly ergonomic approach and uses Conform’s Syncro Backup system to support the body as the chair reclines. Ripon has a softer, more fully upholstered appearance with an oversized integrated headrest and hidden reclining control.
Both are designed around extended relaxation, but Ripon is the more upholstered Scandinavian expression, while Timeout makes its ergonomic recliner character more visually explicit.
Explore Bolia Armchairs at RB12
The wider Bolia collection at RB12 includes armchairs ranging from low sculptural lounge seating to high-backed and comfort-led designs.
Alongside Ripon, designs such as Mielo, Dive, Visti, Bowie, Cosh and Fuuga allow you to choose between reclining functionality, exposed timber craftsmanship, deeper upholstery and more compact lounge-chair proportions.
Explore Designer Armchairs at RB12
Browse RB12’s wider collection of designer armchairs and lounge chairs to compare Ripon with Scandinavian, Italian and contemporary upholstered seating, including high-back, swivel and reclining armchairs.
Features
- Designed by Studio Nooi, Italy
- High-back upholstered armchair
- Oversized integrated headrest
- Return swivel function
- Smooth stepless reclining mechanism
- Hidden reclining handle
- Width: 81 cm
- Depth: 85 cm
- Height: 100 cm
- Seat depth: 53 cm
- Seat height: 47 cm
- Armrest height: 60 cm
- Net weight: approximately 25 kg
- Maximum weight capacity: 110 kg
- Grey Lacquered Steel or Satin Lacquered Steel base options through RB12
- Available in Bolia fabrics and traceable leathers
- Matching Ripon Footstool available separately
- Made in Lithuania
- No assembly required
- 12-year Bolia warranty
Highlights
- High back and oversized headrest provide considerably more support than a low lounge chair
- Stepless reclining allows the sitting angle to be adjusted rather than relying on fixed positions
- Hidden handle keeps the recliner mechanism visually discreet
- Return swivel helps the chair sit neatly within the room after use
- 81 cm width keeps the footprint relatively manageable for a high-back recliner
- Matching footstool extends Ripon into a complete relaxation chair
- Choice of upholstery allows the chair to be tailored to the surrounding interior
- 12-year Bolia warranty
