The summer exhibition at the showroom & shop features stunning outdoor furniture where traditional shapes and materials meet technical innovations. Join us in exploring the summer novelties at Finnish Design Shop!
“SUMMER ARRIVED in Finland like a thief in the night, enveloping the landscape in a mesmerizing greenery almost instantly. Few had the chance to think about the neglected outdoor spaces, as their use suddenly became relevant again. Fortunately, you can make improvements throughout the summer when you notice new needs or realize that a certain solution isn’t working. Finnish Design Shop's summer exhibition offers ideas for a relaxed and comfortable outdoor life. If you are visiting Finland, our showroom & shop in Turku is a great destination for a summer trip, as it also features stunning paintings by Marjatta Holma until the end of August. Welcome to explore the summer novelties and timeless classics that endure year after year!”
• Finnish Design Shop's showroom & shop >
Intriguing shapes in pine
At the Milan Furniture Fair, it became evident that Faye Toogood is one of the hottest designers of the moment. It’s great that the Finnish company Vaarnii has also enlisted her in their design team. Toogood’s style is recognizable and humorous, and the Peace outdoor lounge chair with its ottoman is no exception: the furniture look as if they were built from giant ice cream sticks.
Made from thermally treated Finnish pine, the Peace lounge chair is designed to withstand outdoor conditions, and the untreated surface gracefully turns gray over time. If you prefer the original brown appearance of the wood, the color can be maintained with regular oiling.
Unforgettable outdoor meals
Is there anything more delightful than dining outdoors on warm summer days? Since it’s nice to gather a larger group around the table, a large dining table with enough chairs is essential for summer lunches and evening gatherings.
Muuto's 70/70 Outdoor table, designed by TAF Studio, combines sturdy aluminum legs with a mahogany top, making it suitable for outdoor use. If you find it difficult to choose a suitable chair model, you can easily collect a variety of chairs around the outdoor table, allowing each guest to select their favorite seat.
Textile treasures for your outdoor haven
An outdoor living space feels like a real living room when the sofas have plush cushions and there's a soft rug underfoot. Modern advanced outdoor textiles are resistant to water and sunlight, and can be easily cleaned of any occasional messes.
Skagerak’s luxurious Tradition modular sofa features a beautifully finished teak frame, and the cushion hidden beneath the pleasant-to-touch Sunbrella outdoor fabric dries quickly after a rain shower. Woodnotes’ durable and stylish In-Out rug is available in various colors and patterns. The overall look is completed by GUBI's Satellite Outdoor pendant light, whose IP65 rating makes it suitable for outdoor use.
Sumptuous shapes
Fatboy is known for its casual and straightforward bean bags and hammocks, and this same style extends to their other products. The Paletti sofa series consists of modules that can be configured into various setups. Although the pieces look like the cushions were just thrown onto a frame made of steel and recycled plastic, the overall structure is solid and the backrest stays firmly in place.
A single piece works well as an armchair for a small balcony, and in a larger space, you can assemble a massive corner sofa by combining different parts. When you complete the setup with a side table for placing items, a rechargeable lamp, and a couple of loose cushions, a lazy summer day effortlessly transforms into an atmospheric evening.
Summer on the balcony
The Palissade series, designed by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for HAY, is an investment that brings joy for years to come. These versatile pieces of furniture have an airy look but are extremely sturdy, and especially when galvanized, they can withstand outdoor conditions year-round. On the covered summer balcony at the showroom, the low Palissade lounge chairs are paired with Eero Saarinen’s stunning classic: the Tulip side table with a surface suitable for outdoor use.
The curved shapes continue with ferm LIVING’s striking Hourglass planters. This year, floral artist Annina Jaala has crafted balcony plantings with durable grasses. The olive tree might look familiar, as it spent the winter indoors at the showroom. Now, it’s back outside, enjoying the summer weather and sunlight—hopefully, a few new leaves will appear soon!
• All outdoor planters & pots >
Marjatta Holma’s summer exhibition
Finnish Design Shop’s showroom delights art lovers this summer with an exhibition featuring tempera and oil paintings by Marjatta Holma. In these understated works, materials take center stage, engaging in a dialogue with the showroom’s products and its stunning architecture.
Holma describes her works as follows: "It’s no longer about hanging paintings, interior design, or the pursuit of beauty. The paintings are windows, doors: delicate structures in the world where the viewer has the freedom to place their own associations. My paintings navigate between the spontaneous and the concrete. My goal has been a painting without an image. The slipperiness of the paint and the roughness of the canvases are my subjects. The materials are allowed to emphasize their inherent textures in harmony with the exhibition space’s architecture.”
Marjatta Holma’s exhibition will be on display at the showroom until the end of August 2024.
Interior designer Riikka Soini-Ferraguto, who works at Finnish Design Shop’s showroom & shop, appreciates functional and beautiful design and strives to make long-term choices. Natural materials and vintage finds give any space character and softness.
See also:
• Finnish Design Shop's showroom & shop >
• All items at Finnish Design Shop >
Text: Riikka Soini-Ferraguto Images: Suvi Kesäläinen