Our Process

A tray is a simple object, which is exactly why the details decide whether it feels cheap or expensive. Here is how ours gets made.

1. Design

Every finish starts as a question about a room. Does a bathroom vanity need a softer tone than a coffee table? Does a wood grain sit better in a farmhouse kitchen than glossy black? We design finishes for the space they are going into, not for a colour chart.

2. Material selection

We use a textured shagreen and crocodile pattern faux leather over a rigid core, with a non slip base. Faux leather is a deliberate choice, not a compromise: it wipes clean, it does not absorb spills from a wine glass, and it holds colour consistently across a production run in a way real hide never does.

3. Hardware

Handles are stainless steel, fixed through the tray wall rather than surface mounted. This is the single most common failure point on trays in this price range, so it is the part we spend the most on.

4. Sampling and approval

New finishes are produced as samples first and lived with. They go on a real coffee table and a real vanity for a few weeks. Anything that scratches, peels at the corner or looks different in daylight than it did under studio lights does not go into production.

5. Quality control

Trays are checked before packing for finish consistency, handle fit, edge sealing and base adhesion. Anything with a visible flaw is pulled.

6. Packaging

Each tray is wrapped and boxed in a white Home Redefined presentation box. This started as a request from customers buying the tray as a wedding and housewarming gift, and it is now standard on every order.

7. Delivery and aftercare

Orders ship from our US fulfillment partners. If something arrives damaged or wrong, we replace it. See Our Guarantee for the details.