We’re Obsessed With This Recyclable Material That Looks Just Like Terrazzo

From House Beautiful

A staple of 1970s design, terrazzo has made a major comeback in the design world in the past few years. A composite material of marble, glass, or quartz, terrazzo was mainly used for flooring in airports and public buildings in its heyday. Now, we're seeing it on everything from lighting fixtures to coffee tables to planters. Advancing the combination of both this design trend and sustainable design Smile Plastics creates decorative panels made from 100 percent recycled materials that look just like terrazzo.

Each Smile Plastic panel is arranged by hand before they are pressed so each one is slightly different. The UK-based materials design and manufacturing house uses a wide range of recycled materials to create its panels. Some include coffee grounds, plant pots, yogurt packaging, and plastic bottles.

Run by designers Adam Fairweather and Rosalie McMillian, Simple Plastics’s goal is to change people’s perception of waste through innovation: “to use art and technology to unlock the hidden potential in recycling, and open their eyes to the unexpected beauty of scrap,” the founders say on their website.

Through the bespoke service, you can commission custom panels by sending the company your requirements. If they’re feasible, Smile Plastics will create a series of test tiles and then test the material for large-scale production if it’s necessary. Finally, they’ll produce full-sized panels. Some of the company's recent clients include Stella McCartney, Lush, Anthropologie, and Christian Dior.

Through Smile Plastics’ sister brand Studio Smile, you can purchase a side table that has a 100 percent recycled top and a powder coated angle iron base. With a black or white base, the table is available in a variety of speckled colorful tops. Pretty and good for the environment? That's what we call a design win-win.

Follow House Beautiful on Instagram.

You Might Also Like

• 7 Secrets HomeGoods Employees Won't Tell You

• 19 Closet Organization Ideas You'll Want to Steal Immediately

• 15 Styling Tricks That Make A Small Living Room Seem Bigger Than It Is