Imagine putting your old issues of Elle Décor or any other shelter magazines to good use: this is precisely what Studio Jens Praet has been fine tuning with old magazines since 2007 when he created the first pieces for his “Shredded Collection” of contemporary furniture which has been a resounding hit worldwide.

And last Fall, Industry, a contemporary design gallery in Washington, D.C. commissioned a table, low table, bookcase and a high bench, all in an edition of 8 + 2AP (artist’s proofs) + 2P (proofs) uniquely made of shredded Elle Decor magazines and clear resin.  The table itself, my favorite piece of the group, was made with 26 kilos (57.2 pounds) or between 2-3 years of Elle Décor’s.  It’s a handsome piece perfect for a working or breakfast/dining table.

The idea began when Praet, a young and accomplished Belgian designer in Italy, was distraught by all the wasted paper produced by offices and thought to come up with a creative way of re-using it. With some fairy dust and clever thinking, he invented a type of paper composite with a unique appearance and hard as wood.  And so now, the Elle Décor’s(or any other magazines) can come back to your home or office reincarnated as usable furniture. Talk about practical decoration!

image credits: Theo van Pinxteren for Industry Gallery, Washington, D.C. and L.A. whom commissioned this series from Studio Jens Praet, Italy