31 & Change is a Brooklyn-based furniture venture that specializes in funky updates on otherwise understated American hardwoods, often in combination with found or vintage elements. According to founder Kurt Lenard (whose background in graphic design informs the work), "31 & Change represents not only a date and age, but a reflection of moments that define us."

In particular, the Greene Ave bench caught my eye—partially because the thumbnail is in prime real estate (towards the top of the page), but also because I live a couple blocks away from its namesake street. Oh, and the design ain't bad either:

Bastard chairs are a dime a dozen and we tend to cast them off into purgatory all too often. The Greene Ave. collection is a project that rescues these orphan chairs and upcycles them into a one-of-a-kind bench for your entranceway, dining table or backyard patio.

Each bench uses three contrasting chairs from different eras to form a new contemporary piece. All benches range in size, shape and color.

Well, you get the idea pretty quick, but I still think 31 & Change does a good job riffing on traditional design tropes without becoming a novelty act; the final products are clever yet tasteful.

I suppose they're playing to a certain sensibility by naming the pieces after streets in North Brooklyn... ones that I know very well, as someone who crosses or traverses many of the titular streets on a daily basis, short of pinpointing the locations of the photoshoots (clearly Dumbo, right?).