Looking for a great and modern alternative to the traditional Christmas tree? Both of these fabulous local Canberra businesses have some tip top alternatives to making your house feel Christmassy without the need to buy a plastic or real tree.

Wood Made Tree

This Canberra based business is the brainchild of Christina Zappia and her husband Robert Lans. One evening in the lead up to Christmas several years ago, Christina had the desire to create some sort of sculptural, sustainable, reusable tree to adorn the living space of the pair’s new home. She sketched up some designs and roped in Rob, his collection of wood and tools and together they knocked up their first tree…a Wood Made Tree.

Put off by plastic and the short term offerings of that perfect cut pine, Wood Made Tree provide the people of Canberra and surrounds with a more sustainable option for a tree at Christmas time.
Wood Made Trees are made from recycled Tasmanian hardwood timbers, and a selection of upcycled items. The timbers they use include Tasmanian Oak (warm golden straw colour), Celery Top Pine (pale and creamy and just as delicious as it sounds), Myrtle (in a magnificent pinky red) and Blackwood for their sturdy bases with the occasional bit of Huon Pine for custom orders.

Rob hand measures, cuts, sands and assembles every tree individually, and there are two different tree options available – a 150cm free standing tree, and a 60cm table top tree in several designs. Custom orders are also available.

The duo are all about reusing, reducing, recycling and upcycling. They use the timber from old playpens and washing racks for the trunks on the table top trees. And they package the trees in bags and wraps made using recycled vintage curtains and other fabric items.

The pair have also created some ornaments made from old venetian blinds and vintage chandelier crystals. They are sparkly and glittery and very attractive considering that they are made from old window wear and light fittings!

Christina says their trees make a great alternative to other types of Christmas trees because they are more sustainable than plastic or a fresh cut tree every year, you can own your very own locally handmade designer tree for a similar price to that of a fresh cut tree or a plastic tree, they are very compact when packed down for storage which also makes them perfect to take away when travelling at Christmas time, and they don’t create any mess.

You can check out Wood Made Tree in person at our Christmas Markets on Sunday 13th and Saturday 19th December. For more information visit their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/woodmadetree.

Kingfish & Co

Another local, David Kingsberg, is also creating beautiful wooden and very modern alternatives to the traditional Christmas Tree. David’s business, Kingfish & Co, is a Canberra based business focusing on recycled, salvaged, or custom made furniture and home wares.

David sources recycled materials to create individual customer orders or one-off pieces, and started making his handmade wooden Christmas trees in November this year. The trees proved to be very popular as a great looking and space saving way to add a festive feel to the home.

Kingfish & Co Christmas trees are made from 100{919d826c0730d492d9b75cddbb51fd01fa3e5d45dc1125b67f720901bbac5117} recycled timber offcuts so each tree is unique and nothing goes to waste. Standing at 60cm tall, they’re Christmassy in a ‘shabby-chic’ kind of way.

David’s work can be seen at the markets throughout the year on a monthly basis, with his Christmas trees a highlight at the Christmas Markets on 5th, 6th and 20th December. You can also check them out on Instagram: www.instagram.com/kingfishandco.