Nearly 30 years ago, in a small student apartment in Tartu, Estonia, a journey began that I could never have predicted. I was studying dentistry, and in the evenings after long lectures I would return to my apartment, which felt empty and bare—no sofa, no table, just a bed and some books. Since I wasn’t exactly well-off but fairly handy with my hands, I decided to build the pieces of furniture I needed the most. My very first table was crafted with borrowed tools from a stack of oak planks—it turned out both beautiful and practical.

When my friends saw the table, they admired it and said: “This looks like it could last for generations.” I thought to myself—that’s exactly how furniture should last. Soon my friends began asking me to make similar furniture for them as well. I realized that building was no longer just a necessity but a passion—one that I could also share with others.

At the same time, I noticed how many student apartments were filled with cheap furniture made from particle board—pieces that would barely survive the next move. I thought furniture should be something different—like in the old days, when village carpenters built tables and chairs that have lasted, and still last, for generations.

Out of that realization grew a principle that guides us to this day: Timeless and durable furniture conserves natural resources, supports sustainability, and in the long run, is also an economical choice.

As the number of requests grew, I could no longer do everything on my own. I began working with master carpenters in Estonia who shared the same love for wood. The collection expanded, and so did the dream—eventually bringing me back to Finland to found my own furniture factory.

Today, nearly three decades later, Solid Furniture designs and manufactures furniture, kitchens, and interiors for homes and public spaces—and, most recently, prefabricated saunas for customers around the world.

Almost thirty years on, one thing remains unchanged: our passion for quality, durability, and sustainability. Every Solid Furniture piece is built to last for generations—just like that very first table where it all began. It is not only a piece of furniture but part of a larger story, where traditional craftsmanship meets modern sustainable thinking.

By the way, that very same table is still in use—today in my son’s home.

 

Tuomas Peltola