Recycled design for the home

Recycled, reclaimed, reused – I love it all. Those who know me know I love to seek out great vintage pieces and flea market finds, but what I love best is coming across innovative designers who upcycle period pieces or recycle waste materials into something new for the home.

These days, in our increasingly environmentally-aware society, many designers are looking to promote design that makes use of found objects, saving more waste from landfill and bringing new life to pre-loved furnishings, homewares and furniture.

Kei Ng and Brian Richer are the Toronto designers behind Castor, a design duo established in 2006. Castor design lighting and furniture and are interested in the ‘middle ground between art and design’. The reuse of materials is also an important part of Castor’s aesthetic. Burnt out bulbs to make lighting, a rusty shipping container to make a sauna… this recontextualisation of materials is a primary design consideration.

Lighting designs by Castor

Reestore are a Bedfordshire based studio who design and manufacture a range of handmade products for the home and office. The current range includes chairs made from shopping trolleys, roll top baths transformed into sofas and magnificent desks produced from aeroplane wings.

I particularly love Max the Bath Tub Chaise, a contemporary twist on the sofa briefly featured in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. ‘Max’ is created from a vintage cast iron bath and upholstered in the fabric of your choice.

Max the Bath Tub Chaise by Reestore

The Texas based company The Weld House specialises in converting old car parts into beautiful new furniture designs. This fabulous dining table is made from the roof of a 1966 Chrysler Newport!

1966 Newport dining table by The Weld House

“We are a small company specializing in handmade steel furniture. Our passion is delivering functional works of art that have a rich American history. By combining the colourful, reclaimed sheetmetal of 20+ year old American automobiles with the attention to detail and heavy gauge tubing from The Weld House, you end up with an heirloom quality piece of furniture that is truly one-of-a-kind.” – The Weld House.

As we’ve seen from these designers, recycled materials can be reused to create some really incredible new designs. Any of the pieces I have featured would be a real talking point! I love discovering new, innovative pieces and would love to know what furniture you have come across using reclaimed items?