Designers reimagine vintage chairs for modern homes

Silke Schwarz • 19/09/2026 • 2 min read

Five design brands reimagined vintage chairs for modern homes in Vinterior’s Second Hand September initiative, blending craftsmanship with contempo

Vinterior's Sit Differently campaign, which is a collaboration with five UK brands and makers. — Vinterior’s Sit Differently campaign, which is a collaboration with five UK brands and makers.

Vinterior has introduced its Second Hand September initiative, encouraging buyers to view used furniture as artistic surfaces rather than functional items alone. Under the name Sit Differently, the project teams five design brands with five vintage chairs, each reworked to align with current tastes while keeping their original craftsmanship intact.

The partnership includes House of Hackney, With Nothing Underneath, Oliver Spencer, and artists Sam Wood and Harlie Briggs. Every brand took a chair from Vinterior’s collection and merged its historical roots with present-day design. A 19th-century mahogany settee, for instance, received new upholstery in With Nothing Underneath’s striped TENCEL™ Lyocell fabric, a renewable material derived from wood pulp. This fusion highlights both British tradition and modern simplicity.

A James Shoolbred armchair from the same period was re-covered using fabric from House of Hackney’s AW26 collection, which draws inspiration from threatened UK rainforests. The pattern adds warmth while maintaining the chair’s original form. Meanwhile, a B&B Italia Metropolitan Me84 armchair received a striking update through Oliver Spencer’s green-and-pink houndstooth wool, blending structural boldness with contemporary ease.

The artistic elements are particularly striking. Harlie Briggs applied hand-painted designs to a 19th-century walnut library chair, drawing from folk art techniques. Sam Wood transformed two Victorian birch chairs into colorful works titled Wind in the Willows, using expressive brushstrokes and precise linework to create unified yet individual pieces.

The campaign’s focus extends beyond visual appeal to environmental responsibility. Sandrine Zhang Ferron, founder of Vinterior, explained that the chairs were originally designed for longevity, and now they are being reinterpreted by contemporary creators. A share of proceeds will benefit Plant One, a UK-based organization dedicated to restoring native forests in one of the world’s most ecologically damaged regions. The collection is now available on Vinterior.co.

According to local reports, the initiative aligns with a growing trend where secondhand furniture is recognized as a medium for personal and artistic statement. The collaboration shows how heritage pieces can remain relevant through thoughtful redesigns, appealing to both collectors and sustainability-conscious buyers.