Zevi, we thought we’d do a little feature on the lesser-known Italian designer, known for his use of chrome Renato Zevi's stylish chrome furniture pieces were often sold by French retailer Roche Bobois. Zevi’s shelving systems, often made with chrome or brass, are also highly sought after by stylists and What are the hallmarks of a stylish Renato Zevi chrome furniture design? I want to style vintage chrome furniture but I don’t know how! 

If you've ever wondered how to balance old and new pieces in your home, and making it all click together, you'll need to read this article. We've teamed up with Dr Kelly Smith, founder of north-east based SPELK Studio . SPELK’s focus is creating beautiful, functional and aesthetically refined furniture and homewares. As well as designing new furniture, Kelly has a love for mid century design and sustainability and is naturally an expert at blending old and new furniture to create the perfect balance. Kelly is no stranger to writing about design, so we invited her to guest edit an article on her specialist subject: successfully combining vintage and modern styles. Vintage chair illustration by Kelly. My personal difficulties with combining contemporary and vintage furniture have mainly been related to functions and proportions. Vintage furniture was designed in a different era, and I love its style and authenticity, but sometimes it doesn’t match the way we live today. In my case, I needed a table which was an appropriately large size for an open-plan kitchen, and which would stand up to the various uses a modern table is subjected to — not just dining, but also working from home, doing homework and crafts, etc. To cut a long story short: I ended up designing my own table, and my furniture company SPELK Studio was born. The first SPELK Studio table, styled with Eames DSW chairs and a George Nelson Bubble Lamp (both 1950s), plus contemporary glassware and ceramics from M&S. Do it yourself Integrating vintage and contemporary furniture is a delicate balancing act. When done right, it can transform a room into a curated, personalised space that feels both fresh and grounded, showcasing the best of each era without muddying their distinct characters. Here’s how to master the art of blending new with old, creating a harmonious room that tells a story rather than merely presenting a theme. In Kelly's home, an Eames footstool and LTR tables (designed in the 1950s) accompany a modern hearth and storage cupboards. Embrace Authenticity Over Replication The key to mixing vintage and contemporary is keeping authenticity at the forefront. Avoid replica pieces that imitate the look of antiques; instead, let new pieces be visibly modern and vintage items proudly bear the stamp of their time. Real vintage has a presence that replicas can’t match, carrying patinas, textures and stories that add grounding and depth to a room. Jeanneret chairs (1960s) accompany a contemporary table. Photo credit: Leibal. Striking the Right Balance between vintage and modern A successful blend of old and new relies on a careful balance in proportions. Too much vintage can quickly make a space feel like a museum. Too much modernity, on the other hand, risks isolating the vintage pieces, making them stand out awkwardly”. “Aim for a thoughtful ratio where each type of furniture has room to shine: a halo piece, such as an eye-catching midcentury coffee table , can serve as the focal point, drawing the eye and anchoring the space. A modern sofa forms a backdrop to a 1960s Petalas coffee table by Jorge Zalzupon. Photo credit: BC Arquitetos. Curate, Don’t Copy The goal here isn’t to recreate a showroom. Instead, imagine the room as a collection of treasures accumulated over time. Think about the joy and serendipity of finding that perfect vintage bar cabinet or beautifully constructed coffee table, and let these one-off pieces play off more restrained, contemporary items. This curated approach lends the room character, making it feel lived-in and loved. Mix in quirky touches — a retro lamp , a vintage turntable — to make the space feel personal and playful. It’s about building a room with its own soul, rather than mimicking a photo you saw on Pinterest. Layered textures and quirky objects in a modern apartment. Photo credit: Michael Sinclair. Tonal Harmony Not Matchy-Matchy Matching is out; harmony is in. Forget attempting to match finishes too closely because it simply isn’t possible. Not only do vintage pieces have a texture and age that can’t be replicated, they are often also made from materials which are no longer widely used for various reasons (often related to sustainability). You aren’t going to be able to match the colour of 70 year old Brazilian rosewood, so don’t try. A stark contrast is often more successful than a near-match that just misses the mark. For instance, a vintage teak sideboard can sit confidently beside a modern black-lacquered chair without feeling at odds, as long as the tones play well together. Unifying details, like brass handles on both old and new pieces, can bring cohesion without slipping into overly coordinated territory. And remember, mixing too many types of wood can look chaotic; choose one or two tones to thread through the room. Teak finishes contrast with the palisander shell of the lounge chair. Photo credit: Joe Fletcher. Unleash the Power of Scale Scale is an often overlooked but critical element in merging furniture styles. Play with size and scale by pairing larger vintage pieces with smaller modern accents, or vice versa, to create a dynamic visual rhythm. A tall, dramatic vintage cabinet can complement a low modern armchair, and a huge vintage ceramic vase can work well on a small modern side table. By varying scale, you prevent the room from feeling static and add layers that draw the eye in various directions, inviting exploration. A Nelson Bubble Lamp dwarfs the furniture below. Photo credit: Hermann Miller. Accessorise Across Eras One of the easiest ways to merge new and vintage is by accessorising thoughtfully. Place vintage items on new furniture — think of a weathered wooden sculpture on a pristine new shelf, or a vintage glass bowl atop a minimalist console. Similarly, let modern objects rest on vintage pieces. This interplay, like a sleek new table lamp on a restored modernist bureau, subtly links the eras without overwhelming either style. Let the accessories tell stories, adding depth and richness to the space. Kelly drinking coffee at a contemporary table made by her own company, SPELK Studio. Cups and bowl: Denby Chevron (1960s). Coffee pot: Chemex (modern). Milk bottle: Wilt’s Dairy (1950s). Artwork: Jack Kampmann (1966). Defy Architectural Expectations One common misconception is that vintage should match the era of the home’s architecture. In truth, a Victorian house can host midcentury gems just as easily as a modern loft can be furnished with an art deco cabinet. Don’t feel confined by historical timelines or architectural boundaries; breaking them can bring delightful surprises. In new builds, vintage items add character and history, grounding the space in a way that purely modern furniture often can’t achieve. In older homes, a contemporary piece can provide a refreshing contrast, letting the architecture shine as a backdrop. A vintage table and chairs add character to a Victorian house. Photo credit: Aucoot. Let Vintage Pieces Tell a Story Authentic vintage pieces often bear the marks of their past lives - patina, wear and quirks that give them personality. Resist the urge to refinish every piece to perfection or jazz it up with bright paint. By all means, restore pieces sympathetically, but avoid altering them to the point where their history is erased. Patina and wear often add authenticity and warmth, connecting us to the eras these items came from and lending a unique sense of grounding to the room. The contrast between vintage and new brings out the character of each, giving the room a layered, textured quality. Patinated brass wall sculpture by Curtis Jere. Photo credit: Paul Serpette. Embrace Functional, Fun Details Beyond their beauty, vintage items often bring a sense of whimsy and surprise. Pieces like a rotary phone or a record player introduce frivolous but delightful functions that bring life to a room. These details not only provide practical uses but also add an element of joy to your space — whether it’s the charm of a retro bar cart stocked with cocktails or the tactile pleasure of flipping through a stack of vinyl. The Joy of Curation and Timelessness In the end, mixing vintage and contemporary isn’t about following strict design rules; it’s about curating a room that feels meaningful, cohesive and a little surprising. Embrace the quirks, the mismatched handles, the patterns, and the intricate details that vintage brings. Let the architecture support, not overshadow, the furniture, and enjoy the visual dialogue between past and present. When it all comes together, you create a room that feels authentically yours — a space where history and modernity converge in effortless style. This blog was guest edited by Dr Kelly Smith, a graphic designer and writer with a PhD in Contextual design. She's the founder of north-east based SPELK Studio , a British furniture and homewares design studio rooted in the principles of sustainability, craftsmanship and innovation. You can find out more about her exciting business here , and if you liked this blog you can read more of her articles by tapping here . urbn nest specialises in vintage & mid century style furniture & decor. You can find our current stocklist at   urbnnest.com .

that Pieff was an exotic furniture brand, especially given that they used high quality materials like chrome We also wanted to make sure that the colour respected the chrome frame, which is probably the standout It both tonally reflects the chrome, while also providing strong contrast and visual interest. Once we polished the chrome up, they look like brand new chairs!

produced in a range of colours and were finished in real leather or high quality fabrics with real chrome It has that classic egg chair shape, sitting on a chunky and deliberately misshapen round base, in chrome

Teak and chrome lounge chairs (includes refurb) The lovely low slung and armless design makes these chairs We just love the teak and chrome combination, and paired with the right fabric, these will look amazing The chrome has also been cleaned and polished.

Style them with a teak Danish style dining table with tapered legs, or perhaps an Italian-style chrome