Alba Coffee Table – Nella Cutlery Chopping Boards

Alba started life in commercial kitchens across the UK, where chopping boards are resurfaced rather than replaced. Working with Nella Cutlery Services, we transformed the plastic shavings created during this restoration process into a sculptural coffee table, giving a material that would otherwise be discarded a second life.

As the UK’s largest commercial knife sharpening and chopping board resurfacing specialist, Nella has spent more than a century helping professional kitchens repair, restore and reuse. Every resurfaced board has just a thin layer removed before returning to service, extending its lifespan and reducing unnecessary waste. Those colourful shavings became the starting point for Alba.

We were drawn to the material because it already carried a history. Every fragment represented years of use in busy kitchens before becoming part of something entirely new.

The design reflects that journey. A polished circular tabletop showcases the colours and patterns within the recycled plastic, while the more textured base celebrates the rawness of the material itself. Rather than hiding its imperfections, Alba allows them to become part of its character, creating a piece that feels both refined and materially honest.

Alba was first unveiled at Clerkenwell Design Week 2026 as part of our New Material Expressions collection, alongside Daphne and Mira. Together, the three prototypes explored how overlooked waste streams from different industries can be transformed into collectible furniture through material research, craftsmanship and thoughtful design.

Named after the word for “dawn,” Alba represents renewal and the beginning of a new cycle. It’s a fitting name for a piece that demonstrates how thoughtful design can uncover value in materials that already exist, giving them another life and another story to tell.