Private Residential Commission
Playful Sustainability: A One-of-a-Kind Table for Dodds & Shute
This one-of-a-kind, large-scale table is crafted from a custom blend of recycled plastics — including white bottle tops and discarded DVD and CD cases — reimagined into a joyful, ice cream-inspired design. The final finish is a swirl of pastel deliciousness: creamy oranges, soft lavender, blush pinks, and minty greens all blending into a strikingly unique surface.
Commissioned by Dodds & Shute, a leading design-led procurement company committed to ethical and sustainable sourcing, the table embodies the playful possibilities of circular design. From the outset, the brief called for something bold, expressive, and grounded in material storytelling — something that could be both a talking point and a tangible example of what happens when waste is treated as a resource.
Every piece we design begins with a question: what can this waste become? In this case, we were inspired by the fact that the space it was going in was an old ice cream factory. We wanted the surface to evoke joy — a kind of nostalgia-meets-modernity — while also clearly demonstrating the beauty, value that can emerge from reprocessed waste and a nod to the buildings history. The plastic blend we developed for this project creates subtle transparencies, flecks, and soft colour transitions that give the material depth and ice cream inspired movement.
The form itself is bold but minimal: a large oval tabletop resting on cylindrical legs, designed to celebrate the surface while offering durability and simplicity in construction. It’s a form that feels both contemporary and classic, allowing the material to speak for itself. The result is not only visually arresting but deeply tactile — a finish that invites touch and sparks curiosity about its origins.
This project also reflects the growing role of sustainable design and furniture in shaping the future of interiors. As brands and studios like Dodds & Shute lead with intention, there’s a shift underway — from sustainability as a box-ticking exercise to something far more creative and generative. Our work exists at this intersection: where high design meets low waste.
In a world grappling with overproduction and environmental strain, this project proves that recycled design can still be luxurious, expressive, and full of delight.
This one-of-a-kind table embodies a sense of optimism — a reminder that waste, when redirected through design, can become something meaningful and lasting. We believe that sustainability doesn’t need to feel heavy or restrained; it can be light, expressive, and joyful. That’s a message we aim to carry through every surface and silhouette we make.
Every piece we make is handmade in the UK and developed in close collaboration with clients. In this case, the table is more than just a bespoke commission — it’s a testament to Dodds & Shute’s ongoing advocacy for responsible design. Their team has consistently championed ethical procurement, carbon accountability, and transparent supply chains across the architecture and design world.
As a studio, we’re proud to contribute to this wider movement. This table joins a growing portfolio of custom furnishings and surfaces we’ve created from coffee waste, oyster shells, single-use plastics, and other overlooked by-products. Each project is a new opportunity to ask how waste can be elevated — not hidden or disguised, but celebrated.
The pastel tones and unexpected playfulness of this piece make it a standout — not just aesthetically, but emotionally. It’s rare that recycled materials carry such a sense of lightness and fun. But we believe that joy has a place in sustainability.
When materials are thoughtfully reimagined, they can tell stories that connect us — to nature, to process, to each other.
