Considering Special Studio? Meet Dune, Made in Melbourne
If you’ve been looking at Special Studio’s Lulu Stool, you’re probably after something that does more than hold a drink. A compact piece with a shape you actually want to look at. Something that can sit beside the sofa, then become an extra seat when a friend comes over.
Our Dune Stool & Side Table belongs on that shortlist too. Designed and made in Melbourne, it has a flowing, rippled body inspired by sand dunes, with an updated internal structure for occasional seating.
They’re different designs from independent studios. This is our take on what to compare before choosing, and where Dune might fit into your home.
Explore Dune - from $249 AUD →
Special Studio Lulu and Namami Dune: the practical differences
Special Studio makes its Lulu Stool in New Zealand from recycled plastic, with matte and gloss finishes. Its product page lists four heights: 40, 45, 50 and 55 cm, each with a 33 cm diameter. Lulu is intended to work as both a seat and a side table.
Dune is made in our Melbourne studio from PLA bioplastic. We offer two sizes, with a narrower overall width:
| Size | Height × width | Price, AUD |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Approx. 40 × 30 cm | $249 |
| Large | Approx. 48 × 31 cm | $289 |
For an Australian retail reference, Designstuff lists the Special Studio Lulu Stool in Medium, 45 cm high × 33 cm wide, in Sage Matte at $359.90 AUD when checked. That is a different size from either Dune option, not an identical-product comparison. Prices and availability can change, and delivery charges should be checked before ordering.
You can check the source listings at Special Studio and Designstuff. Special Studio’s own store displayed NZD pricing during our check, so we haven’t treated those prices as Australian dollars.
Choose the shape you want to live with
A small table is often out in the open, with nothing hiding its sides. That makes its silhouette worth paying attention to.
Dune’s curves move around the body rather than reading as straight flutes. From one angle, you see a broad fold. Move around it and the shadow changes. In a quiet room, that can be enough detail without adding a pattern to the rug or another picture to the wall.
If your search started with “bubble side table” or “retro plastic stool”, think about which part appealed to you: rounded shapes, colour, or a piece that feels less formal than a conventional timber table. Dune isn’t a bubble-shaped design. Its softer, dune-like folds offer a different way to bring sculptural furniture into that space.
Measure beside the sofa, not just in an empty corner
Forty centimetres and forty-eight centimetres don’t sound far apart until you put a table beside a sofa arm.
Measure from the floor to the height where you’d comfortably reach for a book or cup. Then mark out the table’s width on the floor. Leave room to walk past it and to sit down without moving it every time.
The same applies beside a bed. A sculptural side table can make a lovely bedside surface, but be honest about how much you keep there. A lamp, phone, water glass and stack of books can fill a small top quickly. If you need drawers, a compact stool-table won’t replace them.
A side table that can become an occasional stool
We’ve refined Dune’s internal construction so the current version can serve as both a side table and an occasional stool. It is designed to support up to 100 kg.
That flexibility is useful in a smaller living room. Keep it beside the sofa most days, then clear the top when you need another seat. It won’t give you the back support of a chair, so choose it for the way you’ll actually use it.
The seating specification applies to the current updated Dune. If you own an earlier version, don’t assume it has the same construction or load capacity.
Materials: PLA bioplastic is not recycled PET
Dune is printed from PLA bioplastic, a plastic derived from plant-based feedstocks. Special Studio describes Lulu’s material as recycled plastic; the Australian retailer listing identifies recycled PET. Those are different material choices, not interchangeable descriptions.
We wouldn’t call Dune ceramic, and “plant-based” doesn’t mean it belongs in your garden compost or ordinary recycling bin. Disposal depends on the material and the facilities available locally.
The printing process builds up Dune’s form in layers. Look at the close-ups as well as the room photographs so you know what to expect from the surface.
Colour and making time
Desert, Latte Brown and Chocolate sit comfortably with timber and softer interiors. Royal Blue, Ice Blue or Yellow can make the piece more of an accent. Pastel Pink, Terracotta and Forest Green give you other directions to explore.
You don’t need to match the table to every other object. Often one colour connection elsewhere in the room is enough. The Dune product page shows the current options and prices.
Dune is made in small batches. Production may take longer than our usual lead times depending on the availability of your selected colour. If you’re furnishing a room for a particular date, contact us before ordering rather than assuming it’s ready to dispatch.
When Dune is worth a closer look
If you’re considering a Special Studio stool or side table and would also like to explore a Melbourne-made option, Dune offers its own flowing form, two practical sizes and a starting price of $249 AUD.
Choose the piece whose proportions, material and finish suit your room. And if Dune is the one you keep coming back to, start with the dimensions. It’s much easier to choose a colour once you know where it will live.
Shop Dune Stool & Side Table →
Planning a reading corner around it? Explore our table lamps for the other half of the setup.
Written by Namami Studio, the maker of Dune. Product details and the cited retail price were checked on 14 October 2026. Namami Studio is independent of and not affiliated with Special Studio.
