Finishes & materials
Wood finishes, fabrics and leathers
Every Koivu design is made in one of three woods and finished by hand in the Lahti workshop. Here is how they look, how they age and how to look after them.
Woods
Three woods, chosen for how they age
Birch comes from Finnish forests; oak and ash come from European sawmills. Ask us for the origin of the timber in your order.
Birch
- OriginFinland
- CharacterPale, fine and even grain; the light honey tone deepens a little over the years
- FinishNatural oil, or white oil to keep it pale
- Best forBright rooms and Nordic interiors
Oak
- OriginEurope
- CharacterOpen grain with visible rays and a warm golden tone
- FinishHard-wax oil, matt
- Best forDining tables that are used every day
Black-stained ash
- OriginEurope
- CharacterStrong, springy wood with a clear grain that shows through the stain
- FinishWater-based black stain and matt lacquer
- Best forContrast in light rooms, restaurants and hotels
Surface
Four surface finishes
Oil keeps the feel of the wood. Lacquer gives the toughest surface. All our oils and lacquers are low-odour and safe once cured.
- Natural oilA thin, matt finish that soaks into birch and oak and feels like wood, not plastic. Re-oil once or twice a year; small marks can be sanded out at home.
- White oilThe same oil with a little white pigment. It keeps birch pale and stops it turning yellow in strong sunlight.
- Hard-wax oilOil with natural waxes for a slightly tougher surface. Our standard finish for oak and for every dining table top.
- Stain and matt lacquerBlack stain followed by a water-based matt lacquer. The most hard-wearing option, and the right one for restaurants and hotels.
Upholstery
Wool fabric or leather
The Tyyni lounge chair and footstool are upholstered in the workshop. Choose a hard-wearing wool blend in three quiet colours, or aniline leather that darkens and softens over the years. Covers are removable, so a new colour later does not mean a new chair.
- Moss wool
- Oat wool
- Slate wool
- Cognac leather
- Black leather
Care
Looking after solid wood
- Wipe spills straight away with a damp, well wrung-out cloth, then dry.
- Keep furniture at least a metre from fireplaces and radiators, and expect solid wood to move a little between summer and winter.
- Re-oil oiled surfaces once or twice a year with the care kit that comes with every order.
- Vacuum wool cushions regularly and turn them every few weeks so they wear evenly.
- Leather needs only a dry cloth. It will darken and soften with use, which is part of its charm.
See the woods in your own light
Colours on a screen are never quite right. Borrow a sample set from your nearest dealer, or ask for one with a trade enquiry.