Our materials
Every material brings something different to a personalised piece. We choose the surface, colour and character that best suit the design, then make and finish it in our Christchurch workshop.
More than 30,000 orders made with care, practical experience and materials we trust.
What we work with
Some pieces need the clean consistency of MDF or acrylic. Others are all about the warmth and individual character of bamboo, pine or rimu. The product page tells you the main material used for each design.
Colour and finish
We use high-quality Resene paints for our painted finishes and coloured details. They give us a broad, considered palette and the reliable finish needed for pieces made to be displayed and enjoyed.
Screen colours can vary slightly from the finished paint colour. That small difference is normal across displays and lighting.
Smooth and precise
MDF is an engineered wood panel with a smooth, consistent surface. It is especially useful for crisp cut shapes and painted designs where an even finish matters more than visible grain.
Best kept indoors and dry. Painted edges and surfaces should be handled with the same care as other decorative pieces.
Clean and contemporary
Acrylic gives fine details a polished, modern finish. We use it where a design benefits from crisp colour, contrast, shine or a lightweight raised element.
Clean gently with a soft cloth. Abrasive cleaners and rough cloths can mark the surface.
Warm and layered
Bamboo has a warm natural tone and a distinctive layered edge. It engraves beautifully and works especially well for detailed signs, rulers and keepsakes with a lighter visual feel.
Tone, grain and engraved colour naturally vary from sheet to sheet.
Solid and full of character
Our solid pine—including the pine used for height charts—is sourced through a local Christchurch timber merchant. Its warmth, grain and natural character make every finished piece subtly different.
Knots, grain changes and small tonal variations are features of real timber rather than faults.
Distinctly New Zealand
Rimu is used for selected pieces where its rich colour and distinctive grain suit the design. Each piece carries its own pattern, so no two finished products will look precisely alike.
Availability and appearance vary. The individual product description is the best guide for a particular piece.
The right material for the design
We also use specialty woods and supporting materials where they improve the finish, strength or detail of a design. Our Christchurch merchant helps us source timber suited to the work.
When a material is important to your choice, check the product description or ask us before ordering.