Eames Reinvented: Rebuilding a Lounge Chair with Recycled Skateboards

Canadian fabricator and skateboarder Andrew Szeto (Instagram: Szetoszeto) has taken on something many would consider sacrilegious: he purchased a knock-off Eames Lounge Chair, disassembled it, and reimagined it using reclaimed skateboard decks. The result is a striking example of upcycling, craftsmanship, and design ingenuity that blends the old and the new in unexpected ways.

Deconstruction Before Reinvention

Szeto’s process begins with what many would see as a flaw: the chair is a faux Eames, not the original. But that only frees him to repurpose rather than preserve — there’s no guilt in breaking what isn’t authentic. He tears the piece down, locating the chair’s bones: its shaping, structure, and flaws that can be improved. 

Skateboards as Raw Material

The core of the project lies in using old skateboard decks. These decks, many of which have seen wear and tear, are cut into strips. Those strips become the building blocks. Szeto laminates them together, piece by piece, creating layers that are both visually dynamic (thanks to the color and graphic remnants of the decks) and structurally robust.

Forging Shape with Rough Tools

Rather than relying on high-end woodshops or precision molds, Szeto works with what many would call rough tools: reciprocating saws, angle grinders, power planers. But despite this rugged equipment, the end result is remarkably refined. The skateboard laminates are shaped—edges mitred, surfaces planed and sanded—until they mimic the iconic curves of the original Lounge Chair. 

Finishing and Renewal

After reaching the rough form, Szeto adds a layer of finish: in his case, a fiberglass film. This gives structural integrity and a polished aesthetic. The recycled skateboard wood, once bearing the scuffs and graphics of street use, is elevated into artful furniture that both nods to its past and points to sustainability in furniture design.

Why This Matters

Upcycling at scale: Taking something destined to be waste (worn-out skateboard decks, knock-off furniture) and turning it into high-value, well-designed pieces.

Material storytelling: You can see the history in the wood grain and graphics of the skateboards. The chair doesn’t try to hide its origins—it celebrates them.

DIY + craftsmanship fusion: The rough tools + skilled hands combo shows you don’t always need a perfect workshop to make something excellent.

Design commentary: It’s a subtle critique of knock-offs, authenticity, and what it means to reimagine design rather than just copy.

Conclusion