001 stool, pine

Vaarnii's 001 stool combines familiar geometric shapes in a pleasantly surprising way: the legs are made of rectangular pieces of pinewood and the seat is shaped like a circle. Designed by Fredrik Paulsen, the stool may look stiff and angular, but, believe it or not, it is surprisingly comfortable to sit on! The elegant stool serves perfectly not only as a seat but also as a side table in the bedroom or hallway.

In addition to the brutal design language typical of Paulsen's design, there is another element favoured by Paulsen heavily present in the chair: pinewood. According to the designer, the natural knots and grain of pine form fascinating patterns that are downright “psychedelic”, and they look best on large surfaces – hence the bulky design. Pinewood also ages quite beautifully due to the oils and resins that naturally occur in the wood, turning into a rich honey colour as the wood is exposed to UV rays.

Fredrik Paulsen

Vaarnii is a Finnish design brand that launched in 2021. In their design, the brand draws on traditional furniture, which, in the past, used to be made using local, abundant materials. Inspired by this notion, Vaarnii's furniture is also based on practicality and locally available materials – the brand's first collection is crafted in Finland, mainly from Finnish pine wood.