Bursts of vibrant red, energetic blue, and timeless evergreen welcome visitors to Finnish Design Shop’s showroom & shop this holiday season. Warm scents and lights, soft music, and timeless design envelop guests in the serene and unhurried ambiance of Nordic Christmas. Read more
Alvar Aalto's creations share not only a timeless design language but also a distinctive sense of humanity. Aalto designed his products with life at the forefront – they were made to be lived in, experienced, and built to withstand the everyday and special moments alike. Discover Aalto's armchairs with us, each one meticulously handcrafted and upholstered in Turku, Finland. Read more
Artek’s product selection includes several classics of Finnish design, such as Alvar and Aino Aalto’s furniture and lamps. Our customer service is there for you when you want to know more about Artek’s products, have questions about the material options – or just want to order a new set of wheels for your Aalto tea trolley! Read more
In the poster competition organized to celebrate the anniversaries of the Paimio Sanatorium Foundation and Grafia, the Association of Visual Communication Designers in Finland, the participants were invited to interpret Aino and Alvar Aalto’s vision of the human relationship with the environment, architecture and design. We asked the designers awarded in the poster competition what inspires them most about the Aaltos’ design legacy. Read more
The Paimio Sanatorium Anniversary Collection includes a special birch wood version of the Paimio armchair, as well as Aalto stools dressed in forest green, sun yellow and sky blue colors found in the sanatorium. Additionally, Artek introduces new colors for Aino Aalto’s Side Table 606. Read more
In downtown Helsinki, under the spires of a castle-like Art Nouveau building, there’s a home whose residents value a cozy atmosphere and design from past decades. Join Design Stories on a visit to this charming home! Read more
Jenna Kiuru is a visual storyteller who, when buying an object, carefully considers both the necessity for and care required by it. Jenna and her spouse live in downtown Helsinki, leading a wonderful life in their compact home. Read more
The Paimio Sanatorium 90 poster competition was received with tremendous enthusiasm both in Finland and abroad. The international interest and overwhelming number of entries, 444 in total, took the jury by surprise. Here are the winners – take a look! Read more
A new international poster competition organized by the Paimio Sanatorium Foundation and Grafia is now open for entries, interpreting Aino and Alvar Aalto’s vision of the human relationship with the environment. Finnish Design Shop is pleased to be involved as a partner. The competition runs from 10 February to 10 March. Get to know the jury and read head of jury Ilkka Kärkkäinen’s comments about the competition. Read more
Tidying up the pantry is worth it, as it will not only make you feel good, but also help you make really good pasta. Use the contents of your pantry to cook delicacies such as soup with beans and ready-made tortellini, green ricotta pasta or vegan lentil ragu. Read more
Have you heard the buzz about blue? Many intense colors were on display at Stockholm Furniture Fair, but only one hue truly stole the show: bright electric blue. Capture the sparkling shades of blue and give your home a fresh, vibrant new look! Read more
Iittala’s 2023 releases include another batch of design treasures buried in its archives – which truly are incredibly extensive considering Iittala’s 140-year-old history. This spring, especially fans of Alvar Aalto or Oiva Toikka are surely in for an abundance of treats! Read more
“Without background information about things, they’re just empty, meaningless, and don’t really tell me anything at all,” says Design Stories columnist Hanna-Katariina Mononen. Read more
Green, soft and sparkly – the wonderful festive atmosphere at the Finnish Design Shop’s Turku showroom is almost palpable and the tables are filled with carefully selected gift items – almost too many to choose from. Luckily, interior architect Maija Rasila has agreed to share her best gift tips with us all. We warmly welcome you to our showroom for holiday shopping and lunch! Read more
Artek is an iconic Finnish furniture manufacturer, best known for coveted classics such as the Aalto stool and the Beehive lamp. Humane values and an innovative attitude have made Artek a globally known brand, whose products carry on the legacy of its founders in an unforgettable way. Read more
Villa Ervi is a prestigious building located in the maritime landscape of Kuusisaari, Helsinki, built by architect Aarne Ervi for his family in 1951. The exceptional complex also includes an astounding office building completed in 1962. Villa Ervi is currently looking for a new owner – take a tour with us! Read more
The exhibition Aallot – Aino and Alvar Aalto Through a Collector’s Eyes showcases classics and rarities from collector Pertti Männistö’s amazingly extensive Aalto collection. On display are also original pieces from the Paimio Sanatorium. Read more
Strong accent colors, numerous vintage pieces by Artek and the best of 1970s architecture – these are what make up the interior of Anni and Daniel’s home in Turku, Finland. Join Design Stories on a tour of this bright home in a terraced house! Read more
Grilled spicy tofu in salad wraps with quick kimchi and addictively good cucumber salad. Try Suvi Kesäläinen’s recipes to make a tasty KBBQ vegetarian meal with all the side dishes. Read more
Design treasures, local history, architectural gems, art in a sauna... There’s no end of places to visit in the Finnish summer. Design Stories’ editorial team picked their must-see exhibitions for summer 2022 – grab the best tips for your own summer adventures! Read more
The awakening of spring inspires to bring plant power to the interior as well. Treat your green plants with an annual soil change and update the decoration with unique pots and planters. See the greenery tips and take your houseplants to a whole new level! Read more
Nella Beljan is the founder of the Berlin-based gallery and showroom Zora Auguste. She found eight perfect vintage gift ideas for her family, friends and herself at Franckly, Finnish Design Shop’s online marketplace for pre-owned design. Read more
The Artek 2nd Cycle store in Helsinki is celebrating its tenth anniversary with a selling exhibition consisting of specially selected rarities and beautifully patinated pieces by Finnish designers including Alvar and Aino Aalto, Maija Heikinheimo and Paavo Tynell. Read more
Pertti Männistö has collected an incredibly extensive collection of lamps and furniture designed by Aino and Alvar Aalto. The collector’s home in Kaarina, Finland, is also decorated with Aalto furniture that exudes timeless beauty. Timeless indeed – the newest furniture in Männistö’s Aalto collection was made in the 1960s. Read more
On weekday mornings, Mika and Julie Tolvanen walk through a forest close to the shore of Lauttasaari where they can see the sea glistening behind the trees. The workplace of the couple behind the Pidät brand is only meters, not kilometers, from their home. Read more
The pop of charming green brightens up the living space and is a top trend of the season. Green spots of color can be easily brought home whether you’re looking for a few accents or a full-on redesign. See the picks and introduce some green into your interior! Read more
Paimio Sanatorium was Alvar Aalto’s international breakthrough and a functionalist “total work of art”. Now the building is on the verge of a new era, under the Paimio Sanatorium Foundation. The Franckly Visits column takes you on a tour to inspiring architecture and design destinations – nice to have you with us! Read more
Skilfull handling of light is inherent to classic Finnish designers and architects, such as Alvar Aalto. Known for a plethora of design icons, Artek delights decorators with a lighting guide, which we perused for tips that turn choosing the right light into a breeze. Read more
Documentary director Virpi Suutari was reading love letters sent between Alvar and Aino Aalto at her summer cottage. These and numerous other sources and film shooting trips around the world were the basis of her latest documentary, Aalto. Read more
In the home of textile designer Eri Shimatsuka and architect Jussi Kalliopuska, Finnish architecture meets Japanese aesthetics and joy. Read more