Just like its name, Rabbit Trap Timber is unique. It’s a family run furniture business that produces handcrafted pieces from individually chosen, recycled materials; no table, stool or bench is quite the same.
Initially inspired by “a few pieces of timber full of rusty nails” – and a heap of character – Rabbit Trap Timber is now a full-time job for Justine Taylor and her husband Rabs in the NSW Southern Highlands. “I love it,” Justine says.
Central to their business is a commitment to the environment. The pair source material from old cattle yards, wharves and demolished warehouses, turning it into furniture that will “last another lifetime.” Offcuts become share platters, chopping boards and pilgrim stools, and the sawdust even goes to local farmers.
They believe their environmental tact is appealing to customers; “people are tiring of the whole throwaway thing and are turning towards a more thoughtful, organic way to live.” With clients who “are aware that mass produced, cheaply manufactured furniture imported into this country, although affordable, is not going to withstand the battering of family gatherings,” Rabbit Trap Timber keeps them happy. Pieces are made with love and to last.
Each piece of timber is collected and inspected first-hand. And while a time-consuming process, it’s a highlight for Justine whose “lifelong obsession” is scouring for treasures. It’s with this kind of passion that Rabbit Trap Timber runs.
The approach to design is similarly committed. Pieces are carefully fashioned, based on simple, functional designs that “let the timber speak for itself” – which only seems appropriate when it’s already full of natural charm and history.
Buy Rabbit Trap Timber online, where you can also find local stockist details.
