In Australia we love a Scandinavian design aesthetic. Warm, alluring, poetic in its balance of decorative minimalism. Sustained by Swedish, Norwegian and Danish brands, Scandi design has become a blanket term for a particular kind of effortless, considered living. But Finnish design asks something different of us – it speaks to us on different terms.

At Saturday Indesign this year, KFive Furniture with Nikari is giving us an evocative, palette-cleansing education into contemporary design – the Finnish way. While Finland is loosely considered part of the geographic circle of Scandinavian design, it remains distinct from its neighbours. Nikari is both a brand and a culture, reflecting 60 years of Finnish woodworking traditions. Located in the village of Fiskars, Nikari is a product of its origins in every sense. The surrounding forests have historically provided the charcoal fuel for the ironworks that founded the village in 1649.

That proximity to nature is incredibly important, says Johanna Vuorio, Nikari’s CEO. “The forests, the changing seasons, river and surrounding landscape are part of our everyday lives. They remind us where our material comes from and reinforce a sense of responsibility towards it.” Johanna’s words encapsulate everything Nikari stands for – a brand grounded in the land, with an elemental and reciprocal relationship that underpins the honesty and rigour of its work.

“Wood is at the heart of everything we do,” says Johanna. “Nikari was founded by a master cabinetmaker, and since 1967 our work has been guided by a deep respect for timber as a living, renewable material.” Nikari doesn’t view wood as a resource, so much as a partner in the design process.

What does this mean for the pieces Nikari produces, and that we ultimately welcome into our homes? “What fascinated us is that timber is both remarkable practical and deeply emotional. Our role is not to overpower the material but to understand it and allow its natural qualities to shine.” As a result, every Nikari piece carries its own character, grain and story.

At Saturday Indesign this year, Nikari’s Australian partner, KFive Furniture will transform its Surry Hilly showroom into a Finnish forest, capturing that unique relationship between nature, craftsmanship and design with a hint of mysterious folklore. This immersive experience, named HALTIJA for the guardian spirit of Finnish folklore, will draw together quintessential traditions of craft-making in action, gastronomic delicacies and iconic Marimekko textiles. At the centre of the experience is a curated selection of Nikari pieces, complemented by handcrafted pieces from Australian design house, Broached Commissions.

Visitors can experience first-hand the values and principles that underpin the rigour and detailed beauty of a Nikari’s heirloom-quality pieces. “Our respect for wood influences every decision we make, from sourcing certified timber from responsibly managed European forests to favouring natural surface treatments that allow the material to breathe and mature gracefully,” says Johanna. Because creating heirloom quality requires more than just durable materials. “It requires careful craftsmanship, honest construction, timeless design.”

When Nikari works with a design collaborator, they seek curiosity, humility and willingness to engage deeply with the wood. There are many realities to working with solid wood, and Nikari connects their collaborators in close dialogue with craftspeople and production teams, to test and refine ideas and find that essential Nikari balance of function, beauty and technical detail.

Cultural continuity is important to Nikari, who see themselves as part of a much longer story of making. Every piece they produce carries forward knowledge, skills and values developed over generations. “Our role is not only to create furniture for today, but also to help preserve and evolve these traditions for the future,” says Johanna.

While geography and Finnish culture may shape Nikari’s past and its future legacy, it also in no ways limits it. “When we travel, we meet architects, designers, craftspeople and manufacturers exploring many of the same questions [as us]: how to work responsibly with natural materials, how to create lasting value, and how to balance innovation with respect for heritage. What unites us is … a shared believe that quality, craftsmanship and sustainability matter, and that objects can have both cultural and practical value.”

Visit KFive Furniture at Saturday Indesign, to meet Johanna in person and experience the folkloric magic and Finnish tradition of making within the HALTIJA forest. At 10.30am on Saturday, Johanna will be speaking as part of the panel discussion, Forest to Form: Timber, Tradition and Contemporary Finnish Design – exploring the relationship between forests, craftsmanship and contemporary design, and what Australian designers can learn from Finland’s respect for timber and longevity. More here.