Good design takes many hands
29/08/2026
When you look at a Finn Juhl armchair, your first thought is probably Finn Juhl. That’s understandable. His designs are among the most influential pieces of furniture of the 20th century and continue to shape Scandinavian design to this day. Far less visible are the people who craft these designs today—some for decades, often in the same workshop and with a level of experience that can neither be captured in a photograph nor summarized in a product description.
Some time ago, House of Finn Juhl dedicated a series of feature stories to these people. The stories feature a woodworking machinist, a furniture upholsterer, a female cabinetmaker, a foreman, and a tailor. We found these portraits interesting not only because they offer a rare glimpse behind the scenes. They also reveal something about a manufacturer’s philosophy—and about what we look for when deciding which collections deserve a place at holm°.
When people talk about craftsmanship today, they often paint a romantic picture. They think of workbenches, planes, and the idea that as much as possible should be made by hand. The reality in the best workshops is much more exciting.
There, high-precision woodworking machines stand side by side with workbenches where the same tasks have been performed for decades. Both are, of course, part of the same workshop. No one seems to see a contradiction in this. Probably because everyone knows exactly which tasks can be left to a machine and where a trained eye or a person’s experience makes all the difference.
This philosophy isn’t unique to House of Finn Juhl. Manufacturers such as PP Møbler also operate according to the same principle. Modern technology is not used there to replace craftsmanship, but to remain as faithful as possible to a design. Many designs can be manufactured more precisely today than when they were first created. Not because human craftsmanship has lost its importance, but because precision and experience complement each other perfectly. Where machines objectively deliver the better result, they are naturally used. Where a feel for materials, finesse, or years of experience are required, humans take over. Perhaps it is precisely this interplay that is a hallmark of truly good furniture.
The people featured in *House of Finn Juhl* talk surprisingly little about it. Rasmus tells the story of his uncle in Sweden, who sparked his passion for woodworking. Egon has been upholstering furniture since the late 1960s and speaks about his work with a calmness that likely comes only after half a century of professional experience. Maibritt assembles the pieces of furniture where experience is still more important than speed. Lars has headed the machine shop for decades. Faeiq brought his experience as a tailor from Syria to Denmark. Christo found his way from South Africa to a Danish furniture workshop. Their life stories could hardly be more different. What they have in common is a natural ease in handling their craft—one that could hardly be staged.
Perhaps that is precisely where the true value of these stories lies. They show that good design never arises solely from an extraordinary concept. Between a sketch and the finished piece of furniture lie countless decisions—some made by a machine, others by a person. What matters is not who makes them, but that they serve the original design and carry it forward with the same care.
That’s probably one of the reasons why, when selecting our manufacturers, we look beyond just designs, materials, or well-known names. A company reveals a surprising amount about itself through the people who work there and the way they talk about their work. In our view, those who are willing to use modern technology where it improves a product—without losing sight of the knowledge and experience of their artisans—are making precisely the decisions that will sustain good design for decades to come.
In one of the portraits, Egon is asked what he particularly enjoys about his work. He speaks neither of design icons nor of collector’s items nor of international success. He simply says that every detail must be just right. After more than fifty years in the same profession, this statement sounds surprisingly unspectacular. Perhaps that is exactly where quality begins.
House of Finn Juhl's Workshop
in Vejen, Denmark
Wooden components
at the workshop in Vejen
Rasmus
One of the experienced woodworking machine operators in Vejen.
Egon
The experienced upholsterer carefully prepares a seat for upholstery.
Maybritt
Finn Juhl's Fireplace Chair takes shape in Maibritt's hands.
Lars
The foreman in the machinery department of the furniture workshop in Vejen, Denmark
Faeiq
His daily tasks range from precise cutting to meticulous sewing and upholstery work.
Christo
The carpenter carefully glues together the wooden components that will form the frame of Finn Juhl's 108 chair.
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Anna Berg
Interior Design Lead
The founder of holm, Anna Berg, was born in Sweden and has been running holm for 20 years. As Interior Design Lead, she is responsible for all our interior design projects.