About Us

We are a boutique furniture design, manufacturing and consultancy company based on the Gold Coast, Australia and in Fiskars, Finland. As a family business built on the tradition of furniture craft, we design and manufacture furniture, homewares and accessories, and provide furniture restoration and consultation services. We also hold furniture restoration courses in Australia.

With our combined experience in furniture we promote excellence in all aspects of furniture design, manufacturing and after sales service. Our craft-based approach to design is strengthened by a critical perspective of sustainable material culture and we stand by our commitment to high quality, small-scale production. Our innovative projects are realised through this connection between Lasse and Helena's practical application of craft skills and Nora's cross-disciplinary design and research experience.  

History

Lasse Kinnunen began his career as a teenager in his parents' furniture company in Finland in the 1960s. During this time he worked with antiques and modern furniture and learnt the traditional skills of woodworking, french polishing, restoration, upholstery and furniture making. A move to Australia led to the start of a furniture manufacturing and restoration company with wife Helena, which has evolved and expanded with the years of experience to this furniture design, manufacturing and consultancy company. Lasse was awarded the Queensland Smart State Designer of the Year in 2006, and currently works between Australia and Finland.

Helena Kinnunen has been working alongside Lasse for over 40 years in Australia and Finland. Her hands-on knowledge of fabrics, leathers, pattern making, sewing and upholstery complement Lasse’s skills, together developing Deka's evolving collection of furniture and unique furniture pieces for clients. Helena’s management of client projects ensure that each project is of high quality, is delivered within budget and on time.

In addition to working together on client projects Helena and Lasse have developed a series of popular furniture restoration and upholstery classes which are regularly held at their Burleigh Heads workshop.

Nora Kinnunen graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering (Mech) and began her career as an aeronautical design engineer designing structural modifications and repairs for helicopters and fixed wing aircraft, with her work expanding into project management. Following the move to her family’s furniture company in 2000, Nora’s cross-disciplinary approach to design has included all aspects of furniture design, client consultation, retail and project management, and exploration of sustainability issues in the interiors industry. Since completing a Master of Design Futures in 2010 she has worked in trans-disciplinary teams on projects in the fields of craft, climate change adaptation and architecture, and as a researcher and sessional teacher at Queensland University of Technology, where she has worked at the School of Design and the Engineering Faculty.  Her broad interest is in education and design for sustainability as she works as a redirective designer and independent design researcher.