Bespoke ping pong table reframing outdoor play at Chelsea Flower Show
Cornilleau, Europe's leading outdoor table tennis brand has partnered with UK illustrator and author Clare Therese Gray on a bespoke ping pong table for the Chelsea Flower Show
Europe’s leading outdoor table tennis brand, Cornilleau has partnered with UK illustrator, author and pattern designer Clare Therese Gray on a bespoke ping-pong table reframing outdoor play as a functional art.
The piece marks the brands 80th anniversary, bringing Clare’s expressive language into Cornilleau’s precision-engineered outdoor furniture. Therefore, transforming one of the brand’s signature tables into a considered design object.
What is Clare’s work like?
Clare’s work is rooted in natural landscapes, recognised for its intricate botanical motifs, organic forms and layered narrative details.
For this bespoke piece for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Clare drew inspiration from the flower fields of Northern France, where Cornilleau is based.
It translates the natural beauty of these landscapes across the surface in a composition that is both expressive and refined.
The result is a piece that sits effortlessly within a contemporary garden, a luxury terrace or any design-led outdoor setting.
Clare explains: “The flower fields of Northern France are extraordinary in their colour, texture and natural composition, and I wanted to capture that richness and detail within the artwork.
“Cornilleau’s beautifully designed tables felt like the perfect canvas; their clean lines and sculptural quality allowed the floral elements to flow naturally across the surface.”
Photo: Cornilleau
Where can we see the bespoke table?
Darren Mason, UK managing director at Cornilleau explains: “Chelsea Flower Show is a natural setting for Cornilleau, where outdoor design, craftsmanship and creativity come together,
“Collaborating with Clare Therese Gray has allowed us to reinterpret one of our tables as a true design piece.
“Her storytelling approach and connection to nature align perfectly with our belief that outdoor games should be both functional and beautiful – seamlessly integrating into contemporary outdoor spaces.”
Photo: Cornilleau
What does the table say about broader garden trends?
The project reflects a broader shift to how our gardens are being designed and lived in.
As our outdoor spaces take on greater domestic significance, the appetite for furniture that balances utility with aesthetic intention continues to grow.
For Cornilleau, the Clare Therese Gray collaboration is part of an ongoing commitment to creative partnership.
It’s also a signal that games tables can hold their own as objects of design.
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