Nordic interiors, including furniture, sundry goods, and textile products, are extremely popular. The Nordic style, which harmoniously blends natural beauty and modern design, is one of the styles many in Japan wish to emulate for their interiors.
Regarding furniture, there are many simple, elegant, and masculine designs that utilize minimalism. However, textile products like curtains and cushions often appear too colorful or childish in Japan. In Nordic Finland, however, interiors that prioritize subtle color palettes, simplicity, natural materials, and beautiful monochrome contrasts are preferred. This creates bright, open spaces that harmonize with nature and emphasize Nordic elegance.
Our store offers a variety of Nordic interior textiles, and recently we have been proposing interiors featuring curtains, cushions, and rugs with the theme of "Adult Nordic." In particular, we have developed products created in collaboration with Heini Riitahuhta, a ceramic designer representative of Nordic Finland. Ms. Heini Riitahuhta drew designs inspired by nature, such as birds, butterflies, and plants, with the hope of fostering closer ties between Finland and Japan. We are committed to using 100% natural Japanese linen for these designs, which are dyed and printed in Kyoto.
These cushions are not overly cute; they possess a calm ambiance reminiscent of a Nordic landscape, while distinctly highlighting adult charm.
＜Designer Introduction＞
Heini Riitahuhta / ヘイニ・リータフフタ
Heini Riitahuhta studied ceramics and glass design at the University of Art and Design Helsinki, graduating with a master's degree in 2002. She garnered attention during her studies, winning the Gold Prize in the ceramics division at the International Ceramics Festival Mino in the same year as her graduation. Her graduate project "Helmi" (an oil lamp) was selected for ARABIA's gift collection, a leading Finnish ceramics manufacturer, and she was hired as a designer. Her representative work includes the company's RUNO series.
Inspired by Finnish nature motifs and traditional crafts, her works are characterized by bold lines and original color palettes, often highly decorative, and she has created works for numerous projects in Japan.
She is currently a member of the ARABIA ART DEPARTMENT, a highly sought-after position for ceramists worldwide, and is active as a pattern designer and ceramic artist.
The Lintunen
Lintunen is a term of endearment for a bird.
The Finnish word for bird is Lintu, and adding "nen" makes it something like "little bird" or "birdy" in English.
"For me, birds are also a symbol of great freedom, of being able to go anywhere. This motif is a bird dreaming in a garden full of flower scents. At this time, I believe we need positive and happy dreams to keep living with hope. Birds are one of the main motifs I use, combined with a floral frame representing the garden. They can be linked to the roots of all the designs I have created so far," says Heini, who also mentioned that designing interior textiles was a dream of hers. This work expresses her wish for these dreams and hopes to take flight and be carried to everyone.
The Lintunen – Pink
This is the pink version of The Lintunen.
Lintunen is a term of endearment for a bird.
The Finnish word for bird is Lintu, and adding "nen" makes it something like "little bird" or "birdy" in English.
"For me, birds are also a symbol of great freedom, of being able to go anywhere. This motif is a bird dreaming in a garden full of flower scents. At this time, I believe we need positive and happy dreams to keep living with hope. Birds are one of the main motifs I use, combined with a floral frame representing the garden. They can be linked to the roots of all the designs I have created so far," says Heini, who also mentioned that designing interior textiles was a dream of hers. This work expresses her wish for these dreams and hopes to take flight and be carried to everyone.
The Päiväperho
Päiväperho is a shortened combination of "päivä" meaning day and "perho(nen)" meaning butterfly.
"I love playing with flowers and butterflies in nature. Päiväperho is a common nickname for a butterfly. While the general word for butterfly is Perhonen, Päiväperho is more endearing. I believe it is a necessary 'symbol of living in the present' that can only be seen now. It's good that people can appreciate such 'small moments' in life. (Perhaps it's like cherry blossoms in Japan.) You can see that butterfly motifs have also been one of my main themes over the years, as I have created many in the past," says Heini, who also mentioned that designing interior textiles was a dream of hers. This work expresses her wish for these dreams and hopes to take flight and be carried to everyone.
