Hasta La Ideas

British designer Faye Toogood has collaborated with Finnish furniture brand Vaarnii to create the Peace outdoor furniture collection, which will be unveiled at Stockholm Furniture Fair.

The collection comprises the Peace Outdoor Lounge Chair and Footstool, which were designed to reference classic wooden garden furniture and made from timber that bears a resemblance to oversized lollipop sticks.

“We started looking at the archetype of classic wooden garden furniture, the Adirondack chair in all its fantastic variations,” Toogood told Dezeen.

“From there we started to work with lollipop sticks to make hundreds of mini maquettes.”

As part of the design process, Toogood used lollipop sticks to create models of the chair as the shape is similar to the form of Vaarnii‘s pine planks.

“We made all models for the Peace Chair with lollypop sticks, in our studio we always start with maquettes and these sticks are the perfect mini pine planks,” Toogood explained.

While the designer has created a number of furniture designs in the past, including a love seat made from a dying ash tree, it was the first time that Toogood worked with Vaarnii.

The brand specialises in pine furniture, which it makes locally in Finland.

“Vaarnii has a similar mindset when it comes to furniture as we do, playful and well-made, characterful and honest, sophisticated and fun,” she said. “Simply a great match.”

“As experts in their field and particularly with their approach to innovative heat-treated pine. This allowed us to further explore outdoor furniture, pieces with longevity in mind.”

The Peace Outdoor Lounge Chair and Footstool were both made from heat-treated pine and were designed more for solitary activities like reading and rest, rather than social gatherings.

The pieces are heavy and sturdy, made to become a sculptural permanent fixture in a garden. The chair and stool were not lacquered or oiled but just heat-treated in order to “age beautifully”.

“We often use raw, honest materials; canvas, clay, wire, paper, card,” Toogood explained.

“These are essential materials for making and pine has similar qualities,” she added. “The pine was incredible, so beautiful, to work with.”

According to the designer rounded, the lollipop stick-like shape of the pine planks also gives the Peace chair and footstool a welcoming feel.

“It brings a softness and generosity – the pine comes in chunky planks, the roundness invites you to sit,” Toogood said.

Vaarnii has previously shown its collection of wooden furniture at the annual 3 Days of Design festival in Copenhagen, where it was showcased at the Tableau gallery.

The photography is courtesy of Faye Toogood and Vaarnii.

The Peace outdoor furniture collection is on show from 6 to 10 February 2024 at A07:12, Stockholm Furniture Fair, Stockholmsmässan, Mässvägen 1, 125 30 Älvsjö, Sweden. See Dezeen Events Guide for more architecture and design events around the world.

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