A friend has a Barcelona two-seater -- a knock-off, of course, with a decently made if incorrect frame, white leather/pleather foam cushions (oversized), and straps made of something like coated felt, applied to the frame via pop rivets in blind holes -- a novel use of this fastener (?).
The straps were failing at a prodigious rate, so I undertook to replace them, in the least expensive manner I could find. 
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The result, after five hours of work, is quite comfortable. The plywood has just enough "give" to make the initial sit pleasant (not too firm), and the cushions are at their best. The seating position is perhaps an inch or more higher than the original -- alert and upright but comfy.
The cushions are kept in place by their original snap-straps, now engaging loose softwood slats. (The old straps were simply sheared off "close to the bone" with a sharp knife, leaving the stubs still riveted in place.) A "quick-and-dirty" job which serves its purpose -- to avoid discarding another object into the landfill ?
Perhaps pull out all the old...
Perhaps pull out all the old strapping and use these and belts from a saddler, they might shift around a little or might it be possible to drill out and hand tap threads in the holes for new fasteners? If thats not possible I did see a redone chair in a movie 9red cordorouy) that used a broad piece of fabric wrapped around the frame the whole wodth, like a deck chair, looked good.
Chicago fasteners, they come in a much shorter length too.
Thanks, all.
First I went looking for strap material. I found the blog below, and learned about Chicago fasteners. This would be the right way to repair a decent Barcelona chair -- especially if the back was to be visible. But (as you can see from my friend's mess) "ghetto" was more than good enough, this time. I even stapled felt weatherstripping on the top of the back panel, where I was afraid the wood might rattle when you sit down.
Removing all those pop-rivets was going to be hell ! I did think of tapping the holes and using machine screws -- but then I said "screw it."
How much would you have to spend for those leather straps ?
http://retroranchrevamp.com/2011/05/23/repair-the-chair/
SDR
the repair, while arguably not pretty, looks solid as a rock, and perhaps that is the point...you're a lovely man for helping a friend...
It's hard to tell what the back of the loveseat looks like.. would it not have been easier to just go to a home depot and buy a couple of lawn chair webbing repair kits if looks were not an issue?
I have an old Danish lounge chair that originally had Fagas straps, but was repaired with lawn chair webbing...it has held up just fine to daily use from my mid sized beau-hunk...
That's
good to hear. I really took the easy way out -- though I suppose I could have looped new webbing over the frame members (the front and top ones, anyway) without removing the existing remains. That really was going to be a chore.
I wouldn't have pursued this remedy if the piece was visible from behind. But there's only one place for the seat in this narrow room -- with its back to the wall.
I confess that the faux-masonry display furniture is mine as well . . .
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