Designing the Future
Matt White on Evolution, Inspiration and What’s NExt for Flophouze
When Matt White launched Flophouze in 2015—his now-iconic eco-friendly shipping container hotel—Round Top, Texas, wasn’t exactly on the map for high-design lodging. The town of just 90 residents offered few overnight options, but White saw potential. Inspired by his global travels and his passion for architectural salvage, he set out to create something entirely different.
His adventures also motivate his other passion: Recycling the Past, his architectural salvage company with a growing inventory of unique materials. “Lately, we’ve been focusing hard on hardwood flooring bringing it to Round Top at fair, wholesale pricing,” he said. “I’m always thinking about what’s next.” White gave us a teaser of one of those “next things” coming late fall/early winter to Flophouze: a large sauna built from a converted shipping container, the perfect addition to the already substantial wellness offerings that include spa services and a pool made from a reclaimed container.
The newest addition to the Flophouze fleet is a barn built of salvaged materials and big enough to sleep eight guests for the perfect retreat. The Barn began with the footprint of an old animal barn. Its timbers were salvaged from a historic building in New Jersey, and the
wood floors came from reclaimed horse paddock fenc ing as well as salvaged dead and downed trees.
Reflecting on how Round Top has evolved since Flophouze’s debut, White is optimistic: “It’s changed tremendously. It is growing in so many ways for the better. It's becoming a creative destination, with the culmination of many different art forms. I’ve always said it’s the Burning Man of the antiques world in the Aspen of Texas.”
What makes Round Top special, he said, is its ability to surprise. “It still has that unexpected charm,” he said. “You still get those ‘ah-ha’ moments when you arrive.”
His vision extends well beyond hospitality. The original Recycling the Past location in New Jersey continues to thrive, outfitting commercial projects, film sets and curious shoppers in search of the extraordinary. Recycling the Past’s Texas warehouse is stocked
with rare, architecturally significant pieces—positioning Round Top as a year-round destination for builders, designers and dreamers alike. “You can come here and find everything you need to build and furnish your dream home,” White said.
Keep track of all the new developments at Flophouze via flophouze.com and @theflophouze on Instagram. Follow along with Recycling the Past at recyclingthepast.com and @recyclingthepast on Instagram.
