# Artistically Corroded Furniture Ka-lai Chan's The Ordinary Family Collection is Volatile By Meghan Young | Published 2012-02-26 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-ordinary-family References: [design-milk](http://design-milk.com/the-ordinary-family-by-ka-lai-chan/) & [kalaichan.nl](http://www.kalaichan.nl/) The furniture pieces in The Ordinary Family collection look like they have been corroded by a mysterious, colorful substance. Upon closer inspection, it becomes obvious that they have been artistically made to look like that. The 'substance' that appears to be eating away at their surfaces are different materials such as golden beads and [colorful plastic confetti](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/draga-aurel1). Designed by Netherlands-based designer Ka-Lai Chan, The Ordinary Family collection made its debut during OBJECT Rotterdam 2012 and is now being displayed at the Judy Straten Gallery. Inspired by personal family observations, The Ordinary Family collection is comprised of five pieces: [rocking horse, coffee table, side table](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/runda-tables), [praying chair](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/no-two-alike) and the No Sign of Design chair. It deals with common concepts of parental drug abuse and feminine vanity. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.6/10 - Popularity: 84% | Activity: 77% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Artistic Corrosion:** Opportunity for artists and designers to incorporate corrosion and decay into their creations, giving objects a unique and visually striking aesthetic. - **Mixed Media:** Emerging trend of combining different materials, such as golden beads and colorful plastic confetti, to create furniture that blurs the lines between art and functionality. - **Personal Narrative Inspiration:** Growing trend of designers drawing inspiration from personal experiences and observations to create thought-provoking furniture collections that tell meaningful stories. ### Who This Affects Most - **Furniture Design:** Disruptive innovation opportunity for furniture designers to experiment with unconventional materials and techniques to create visually captivating and emotionally resonant pieces. - **Art Galleries:** Potential disruption in the art gallery industry as artists like Ka-Lai Chan push the boundaries of traditional art forms by showcasing furniture pieces that blend art and design. - **Interior Design:** Opportunity for interior designers to incorporate artistically corroded furniture into their projects, adding a touch of avant-garde sophistication and intrigue to spaces. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Jewelry-Inspired Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/through-chrome-reflections.md) - [Wrinkled Plastic Film-Wrapped Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/paul-coenen-1.md) - [Whimsical Childlike Furniture Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-eternal-child.md) - [Vibrant Furniture Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vibrant-furniture-collection.md) - [Transformative Furniture Forms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/metamorphosis-collection-2.md) - [Playful Toy-Like Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/frunchroom-furniture-collection.md) - [Upcycled Plastic Furniture Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crafting-plastic.md) - [Waste-Incorporated Chair Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/knoll-chairs.md) - [Unconventional Outdoor Furniture Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/new-joy-furniture.md)