Master Upholsterer Anu-Riina

In the hands of master upholsterer Anu-Riina, vintage design furniture is given a new life. Over the years, she has reupholstered everything from Egg Chairs and Togo sofas to Ateljee sofas , pieces that require not only solid craftsmanship, but also an understanding of their structure, design language and history.

Anu-Riina became a specialist in reupholstering design furniture almost by accident. As a young upholsterer, she had planned to specialise in automotive upholstery. It seemed like a field that could offer a secure livelihood.

While studying for her vocational qualification, Anu-Riina trained under upholsterer Pertti Ojalainen. Ojalainen worked as a subcontractor for Avartes and upholstered, among other things, prototypes by Yrjö Kukkapuro. At first, many of the design classics seemed rather strange to Anu-Riina. Working with them gradually changed the way she looked at furniture. Little by little, both her taste and her plans for the future began to change.

Later, as an independent entrepreneur, Anu-Riina would return to Ojalainen whenever she came across a particularly challenging upholstery project. She would pack up her things and head over to learn more.

“Our minds worked in the same way. Ojalainen was a problem solver and always looked for better ways of working. Together, we came up with many solutions,” Anu-Riina says.

Ojalainen became both a friend and a mentor, with whom Anu-Riina could share her interest in solving the challenges of upholstery and learn about the particular characteristics of many design classics.

There is plenty of room for other types of furniture alongside the design classics. The window of the Johanna Gullichsen store features vintage cinema seats from a cinema in Lapua, reupholstered by Anu-Riina in Doris fabric. From time to time, she also enjoys traditional upholstery work using materials such as seagrass. The slower pace and layered way of working are more forgiving and gentle.

From Apprentice to Master

Anu-Riina has never thought of craftsmanship as something that can ever be complete. After her vocational qualification, she completed a further professional qualification, and then went on to complete her master upholsterer qualification, specialising in modern design furniture.

Experiences abroad have also broadened her expertise. During an Erasmus exchange in Belgium, Anu-Riina studied many Italian and Central European design classics. She was particularly fascinated by the abundance of materials available: fabrics, different types of foam and other materials needed for upholstery. Weaving mills and manufacturers were close at hand.

Passing Knowledge On

Alongside developing her own skills, sharing knowledge with others has become increasingly important to Anu-Riina.

As furniture production has declined, the tacit knowledge and understanding of materials accumulated by older generations of craftspeople are also at risk of disappearing. Craftsmanship is more than technique. It is years of experience, knowledge of materials and structures, and an understanding of how to approach different pieces of furniture.

Anu-Riina is currently considering different ways of teaching and passing on her knowledge. “It’s frustrating when I see talented young people, but no one can develop their skills alone.”

Choosing an Upholstery Fabric Requires Knowledge and an Eye for Detail

Anu-Riina appreciates all kinds of materials, from leather to textiles. The only requirement is high quality.

“Upholstery takes a lot of time, and it isn’t inexpensive. I want my customers to get a high-quality result. Besides, poor-quality materials are also difficult to work with. The material needs to be suitable for its intended use, so not every material works for every piece of furniture.”

Anu-Riina always aims to choose a fabric that works with both the customer’s style and the character of the furniture. At its best, a fabric can enhance the value of a piece and bring out its design language. There is no need to be extremely faithful to the original upholstery, either. In Anu-Riina’s view, a little rebellion can sometimes be just the right thing.

Anu-Riina never stands still. Every new thing she learns leads to another question and another challenge.

“Whenever I learn something new, I already have the next challenge in mind.”