Dreams Must Be Spoken Aloud

“I remember clearly how, on a winter day in November 2021, I was walking along the village road in Fiskars with a friend. I pointed to Nikari’s workshop building and said that within those walls operates an incredible small Finnish design company devoted to wood. I said out loud that nothing could be more wonderful than working there, as part of the Nikari team, in the middle of this idyll, bringing authentic craftsmanship to the world while making use of everything I’ve learned over the years – as an interior architect, a project sales professional, and an export sales specialist.

When, already in January, a position opened at Nikari for someone responsible for international exports, three or four of my friends messaged me saying, ‘Elo, this is so your thing – you have to apply!’ Sometimes you have to say things out loud in order for them to come true.”

Part of Nikari’s Serene World

“I am responsible for exports at both Nikari and Woodnotes. The companies share a CEO, Johanna Vuorio, as well as certain operations and employees – including me. My role is broad: we define strategic goals for exports both generally and country by country, we search for collaborators and partners. I prepare offers, visit architectural offices and retailers. And I also do very hands-on work – for example, packing for trade fairs, which is where I originally became acquainted with Nikari.

In my previous positions, we were neighbors at trade fairs, exchanging news and working side by side. The Nikari team was always kind, with great chemistry and atmosphere among them. They had an incredible ability to create a unique mood at their stand, right in the middle of all the trade fair bustle – serene and calm. Now I get to be part of all that.”

“I am immensely proud of how Nikari preserves Finnish craftsmanship and cabinetmaking skills – cultural heritage – and brings them into today’s context.” — Elo Pärlioja

Lightness and Calm in Nikari Furniture

“Wood is, in a way, a heavy material. Even metal can technically be made extremely thin – but solid wood cannot in the same way. It takes a lot to achieve an elegant line in it. From Danish modernism we are familiar with a certain lightness in solid wood, but Finnish craftsmanship has traditionally been different. There is always a certain elegance in Nikari’s furniture.

For example, I admired Louise Campbell’s November Light table long before I came to work at Nikari – its remarkable lightness. Later I learned that one cabinetmaker spends a full week crafting a single table. Just imagine that in these times someone pauses for that long to make one product – and then you get to bring it into your home. There is something truly valuable and unique about that. The same serenity I always admired at Nikari in Fiskars is present in every product.”

Preserving Cultural Heritage

“From a young age, I have paid attention to different materials. My mother was interested in interior design and aesthetics, and she taught me how to look at things. I learned that every material has its own language. Textile, for example, is not just textile – cotton, silk, and different weaves each have their own language. The same is true of wood.

When I studied interior architecture, the character of each material became even more important to me. At Nikari, wood – and understanding the language of wood – is at the very core of everything. I am merely a mediator. The true expertise lies in the workshop. It is important for me to visit weekly whenever possible: to smell the wood, to see all the skill the cabinetmakers possess. Everything returns to that.

I am immensely proud of how Nikari preserves Finnish craftsmanship and cabinetmaking skills – cultural heritage – and brings them into today’s context. It is slow, long-term building, and product development takes time. In Nikari’s products, every detail is extremely refined. Those who understand this, truly understand.

The real challenge today is how to convey this depth and dedication in a world driven by speed, superficial and screens — and to ensure that the true value of craftsmanship is recognised also in the commercial landscape.

For me, the greatest moments of recognition are when I can help someone understand – to truly see. When I can teach someone the language of wood. When I can, in a way, give them eyes to see the product differently.”

Nikari Was Born from Passion

“Nikari’s history is exceptional. It is unique that the founder, Kari Virtanen, is still involved in the company. Just recently we visited Kari’s own workshop with a group of architects, and he was comparing English and Japanese tools. It was incredible to witness someone’s passion so closely. And it is upon that passion that Nikari has been built.

It is also unique how Kari has been able to pass the torch forward — or like a diamond, as Johanna says. Together with Creative Director Jenni Roininen, they carry Nikari and its DNA into the future. It is wonderful to see the deep mutual respect between generations.”

A Space Must Feel Good

“At Nikari, people are valued exactly as they are. I moved from Estonia to Finland in 2011. There are others at Nikari who have also moved from abroad; in fact, the team is truly international, and everyone’s culture is respected.

For a small company, we are very international in other ways too – active around the world. We collaborate with some of the world’s best architects and design studios. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to believe that I am really here. Architecture has been a great love of mine since childhood, and furniture plays just as important a role in spaces as architecture does. A space is always a whole.

When you enter a new space, you first sense the atmosphere – you feel whether it is good or bad to be there. Only after that can you begin to analyze which elements create that feeling. It is important to find partners who aim to create spaces that feel good. Nikari as a whole is a value choice.”