Armchairs made out of old traffic signs are upcycled into conversation pieces.

Rhode Island-based designer Boris Bally follows a philosophy called “HUMANUFACTURED®,” a hybrid of art, design and craft. His latest project exploits the stark graphics of street signage to create conversation pieces for the sitting room.

In his process, he seeks to minimize scrap by saving retired traffic signs from trash heaps, transforming them into furniture and using what’s left for mailboxes, house numbers, clocks and picture frames. It’s estimated that by producing hundreds of these armchairs in a year alone, Bally will save over twenty tons of aluminum waste from dead-end landfills.

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I know from trays. When I first moved into my 1920s era house I was pleased to find a tray rack in the cabinet underneath the butler’s sink, and boy, have I filled it with platters! One is for holding soup and crackers on sick days when my girls crave room service; one was a wedding challah bread plate for Shabbat; another is a turn-of-the-century bar tray from my brother, Rob; and then there’s the rooster motif paper mache tray presented as a housewarming gift from the Phillips family.

Of course, trays are not just for serving. Some of the sustainable ones I’ve rounded up also make for great writing on your wall.

Map it Out! Shown above and at top, these recycled metal trays featuring NYC city and subway guides are from artist Boris Bally, $220, and are at home both on your wall or carrying a few pretty little bowls of munchies (don’t put food directly on them). Available at Artful Home.

Lovely Laminate: It’s always service with a smile with the Ibride trays which depict nature, portraits and other fanciful images. Made by three members of the same French clan, each one is fabricated with reclaimed wood and scraps of paper which are pressed using century-old machines. They are sealed to last with a non-toxic glue and laminate. The works of art are heat and stain resistant and are sooo lovely. They could even serve as perfume trays in your boudoir. Dimensions: H 16″ x W 10.5″ . They run $65-$200 at Velocity.

Natural Beauties: Organically-grown bamboo doesn’t have to be a bore. Check out these peppy 16″ serving trays, handmade by Bambu using a natural lacquer accent, a non-toxic water-based adhesive, and food-safe polyurethane. They’re sold for $24 each in three pretty shades at Branch Home; The Papaver Vert Tray and Bowl set from Velocity, $88, is designed to house jewelry and is formed of hand-crocheted wool and mohair which is wet felted, molded, trimmed and steamed. And naturally, nothing is uncorked and served quite as nicely as on cork itself, especially if the tray is poplar plywood in a modern form by Urbana Designs. $150 at Branch Home.

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