Back to articles
THE DIGEST
Vinterior invites you to Sit Differently
Vinterior launches Sit Differently, an exclusive Second Hand September campaign celebrating character over conformity. Discover how five UK brands and makers have reimagined pre-loved chairs to create one-of-a-kind pieces expressing individual style.
This Second Hand September, we are celebrating individuality and personal expression through pre-loved furniture. In collaboration with five UK brands and makers, Sit Differently showcases how vintage furniture serves as a canvas for creativity and a reflection of personal style.
Sit Differently is grounded in a single principle: character over conformity. We invited House of Hackney, With Nothing Underneath, Harlie Briggs, Sam Wood, and Oliver Spencer to select a pre-loved chair from our archive, and reimagine the piece through their own design lens.
The result? Five distinctive visions of vintage furniture, each telling a story of collaboration between past and present.
House of Hackney
House of Hackney has reimagined a 19th-century James Shoolbred armchair by upholstering it in their XYLEM print from their newest collection, OVERSTORY. The print is inspired by Britain's endangered temperate rainforests and traces the intricate vascular networks within trees that transport life through the forest.
"Vintage furniture carries a story that cannot be replicated. Each mark, material and detail reflects the hands that created it and the lives it has been part of. We hope when someone unwraps this piece, they feel a sense of wonder, welcomed by something that has a soul, a story, and a connection to the natural world." Frieda Gormley and Javvy M Royle, founders of House of Hackney.
Oliver Spencer
Menswear brand Oliver Spencer has upholstered a B&B Italia Metropolitan Me84 armchair with contrasting houndstooth in wool from their collection. The chair features panes of green and burgundy pink, bringing the brand's signature tailored aesthetic to the contemporary sculptural form.
"What inspires me most is how great pieces of vintage furniture transcend trends. This chair was incredibly modern when first released, and it still looks sharp and beautifully relevant today. That longevity, both aesthetically and structurally, is something I really admire and try to echo in our clothing." Oliver Spencer.
With Nothing Underneath
British womenswear brand With Nothing Underneath has upholstered a small mahogany settee with cabriole legs using their signature striped TENCEL™ Lyocell. The sustainable fabric is derived from natural wood pulp, fully biodegradable and compostable.
"I have always been drawn to vintage furniture. There are great hidden pieces and I love that they hold so many stories. They withstand the test of time due to their beautiful craftsmanship and serve as a great reminder that practical, day-to-day objects shouldn't lack artistry," explains Pip Durell, founder of With Nothing Underneath. The piece combines British heritage with contemporary sustainable materials in a single cohesive design.
Sam Wood
Artist Sam Wood has transformed a pair of Victorian birch antique chairs using bold gestural sweeps of colour overlaid with observational drawing. Each chair features saturated, joyful colour while maintaining distinct visual personality.
"I deal with history every day (looking at architecture, ancient artefacts, or landscapes shaped by human lives). I see the same character in vintage furniture; it bears the marks of its previous owners and tells its own story through cracks and patina," Sam Wood explains. Rather than erase this history, he has amplified it, preserving the original patina whilst introducing his contemporary artistic vision.
Harlie Briggs
Artist Harlie Briggs has hand-painted a 19th-century walnut library steps chair in folk-art style. The chair transforms between two uses, functioning as both a stool and seat via its original mechanism.
"I fell for the fact that it transforms between two uses, all via one old-fashioned button. There's something so charming about that kind of ingenuity. You can tell it was made by someone who really cared about the craft." Her painted design features tulips, clovers, and a rearing horse across the panels, with the phrase "these are the good old days" added as a reminder to notice and cherish everyday moments.
A note from our founder
At its heart, Sit Differently embodies one principle. As Vinterior founder and CEO Sandrine Zhang Ferron puts it: "Our Second Hand September partnership is a perfect expression of how to choose character over conformity. These pieces were made to last by craftspeople who had a point of view. We've reimagined them through today's most compelling creative voices. The philosophy is the same: buy something that says something about who you are. Buy something that won't fade with the season. Buy something that sits (literally and philosophically) as an act of self-expression."
The Sit Differently collection launches 15 September at vinterior.co. Prices start from £1,200, with each piece available as a one-of-one. As part of the campaign, Vinterior will donate a share of proceeds from the collection to Plant One, a UK woodland restoration charity. Established to rebuild native woodland across the UK, Plant One's work aligns with Vinterior's commitment to sustainability and the environment.
Discover the Collection
Shop the full Sit Differently collection here
