# Mixed Media Seating The V & A Chairs are a Marriage of Old and New Materials By Amelia Roblin | Published 2012-01-11 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/v-a-chairs References: [notcot.org](http://www.notcot.org/post/45459/) & [tomas-alonso](http://www.tomas-alonso.com/index-2.html) It's rare to see the integration of modern materials with aged wood, outside of any shoddy attempts at restoring old structures. Quite uniquely, these V&A Chairs are assembled from solid ash, genuinely acquired from the ceilings of old Victorian buildings. Beautiful and brown, slats of the matured timber make for soft textured seats to match a gorgeous antique hybrid table by the same designer, Tomas Alonso. Bits of paler lumber are incorporated into the pieces to provide base supports such as legs and frames, but your eyes will more likely be drawn to the brightly colored metal tubes. Each of the V&A Chairs incorporates a [single unbroken](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wire-chair-concept) [powder coated steel pipe](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stamping-chair), painted in a [bold hue](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/taptap-chair) and bent to fit the dimensions of the object. The delightful furnishings offer a hint of history, a pinch of pigment and a playful spec of apparent asymmetry. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.7/10 - Popularity: 85% | Activity: 19% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Integration of Modern Materials:** Opportunity for businesses to develop products that combine contemporary materials with traditional elements, creating a unique and visually stunning aesthetic. - **Creative Restoration:** Businesses can explore innovative ways to repurpose old wood or materials from historical structures to create one-of-a-kind furniture pieces or architectural designs. - **Colorful Metal Accents:** Opportunity for businesses to incorporate brightly colored metal tubes or accents into furniture designs, adding a vibrant and playful touch to the overall aesthetic. ### Where This Applies - **Furniture Design:** Furniture designers can explore the integration of modern materials and antique elements to create unique and visually appealing seating options. - **Architectural Restoration:** Architects and restoration companies can repurpose old wood or materials from historical structures to incorporate them into furniture or architectural designs. - **Metalworking:** Metalworking businesses can seize the opportunity to create colorful metal tubes or accents for furniture designers who want to incorporate vibrant and playful elements into their designs. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Sleek Steel Structural Chairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/combchair.md) - [Sustainably Minded Seating Solutions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/conscious-chair.md) - [Plywood Sculptural Chairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mt-chair.md) - [Modern Steam-Bent Wooden Chairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/trave-chair.md) - [Bold Community-Reflected Chairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-flap-chair.md) - [Chromatic Chair Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/no-two-alike.md) - [Naturalistic Stainable Seat Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/daisee-chair.md) - [Meditation Wood Chairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vipassa.md) - [Music-Inspired Chairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/modern-chair1.md)