When it comes to design, sustainability is more than a buzzword, it’s a responsibility. At the core of everything we build is a simple question: How can we create beauty without waste? Our latest project, a repurposed white timber bar, is the perfect example of this philosophy brought to life.
This bar is more than just a statement piece. It’s a reflection of our commitment to sustainability, conscious design, and working with intention. From the first sketch to the final coat of paint, this project was designed and built in-house, minimising waste and embracing the art of repurposing.
Repurposed Materials: Designed With Purpose
Nearly every element of this bar was created from pre-loved materials we sourced locally. Our talented maintenance and workshop team, lead by Belinda, restored, reworked, and rebuilt materials into something completely new. A bar.
From the structural framework to the surface panelling, each timber piece was hand-selected for its strength, durability, and character. Many of these pieces had past lives, as shelving, flooring, or framing giving them a richness you just can’t buy off the shelf. After carefully stripping, sanding, cutting, and assembling the components, the bar was painted a soft white, giving the timber a fresh start.
A Fully In-House, Low-Waste Build
Every stage of the process happens under one roof in our workshop. This gives us full creative control over the quality, build and finish. It also helps reduce transport emissions and packaging waste. We didn’t rely on third-party builders or outsource any stage of the process.
By consolidating the design, sourcing, and construction in-house, we are able to reuse offcuts, limit waste, and repurpose existing resources that might otherwise have ended up in the bin. The result is a piece that’s not just beautiful, but built responsibly.
Proof that sustainability doesn’t mean sacrificing style.
Designing With Constraints: Belinda’s Perspective
Designing sustainably comes with its own set of challenges, especially when you’re working with reclaimed or inconsistent materials. But for our designer Belinda, those limitations are what make the process exciting.
“It’s more difficult in the thought and planning process. Nothing is just off-the-shelf purchasing. Half the fun is working out where to get the materials and how they can be best used. When Jason designed and built our very first bar years ago, it was so much easier. Try duplicating that with materials that weren’t available when the first one was built — it becomes a different product. Although it looks the same, it has been built in a slightly different way. From design and build point of view, this might be a challenge, but I really enjoy that kind of challenge. It keeps me thinking, it keeps me honest, and creative, and that is the best way to bring something together.”
This mindset of thoughtful design under constraint has shaped more than just the finished bar, it has shaped the way we work.
Sourcing Smarter: Where Sustainability Starts
Alongside salvaged timber from past projects, we turned to trusted suppliers and second-hand platforms to source materials. Some of our go-to resources included:
- Plywood and Panel: A local supplier that offers sustainably sourced timber sheets and panelling. They are committed to ethical forestry practices and responsible sourcing.
- Robertson Paints: An Australian manufacturer with a strong focus on using advanced acrylic technology and responsible manufacturing processes.
- Facebook Marketplace: A surprisingly rich source of quality offcuts, dismantled furniture, surplus timber and tools. Shopping second-hand reduces the need for new production and keeps perfectly good materials in circulation.
These choices weren’t just good for the budget. They aligned with our values: to think before we buy, and to use what’s already available whenever possible.
Want to Build Sustainably? Start Here
If you’re thinking of building sustainably, whether it’s a custom event piece or furniture for your home, here are a few helpful starting points:
Buy Queensland Timber www.buyqldtimber.com.au
Recycled Timbers recycledtimbers.com.au
The Big Red Shed www.thebigredshed.com.au
Woolloongabba Demolitions www.gabbademos.com.au
Kennedy’s Timbers www.kennedystimbers.com.au
Australian Standard for Sustainable Forest Management https://www.forestry.org.au
The Takeaway: Build With Intention
This bar is a celebration of craftsmanship, but it’s also a quiet protest against fast design and unnecessary waste. It’s a reminder that with care, creativity, and intention, we can build with what we already have, without compromising on aesthetics or function.
Whether you’re designing something new or reimagining something old, consider this: Can you reuse? Can you restore? Can you rethink the materials before you make your next purchase?
