Guests gathered amongst the Nikari collection and forest landscape of HALTIJA.

On Friday evening, ahead of Saturday Indesign 2026, KFive opened the doors to HALTIJA for an intimate celebration of Finnish design, friendship and 25 years of KFive.

For one evening, our Sydney showroom became a little corner of Finland.

Friends, collaborators and members of Sydney’s design community joined us for the first look at HALTIJA, an installation inspired by the Finnish forest and the folklore of the Haltija, a guardian spirit believed to watch over places and objects.

Created for Saturday Indesign, HALTIJA transformed our Surry Hills showroom into a forest landscape, bringing together the natural materials and craftsmanship of Nikari, iconic Marimekko textiles, Australian design by Helen Kontouris, and sculptural works by Broached Commissions.

Nikari’s Periferia KVJ3 stool, set amongst the moss and forest landscape of HALTIJA.

From Finland to Sydney

The evening was made particularly special by the arrival of Johanna Vuorio, Owner and CEO of Nikari, and Jenni Mikkonen, who travelled from Finland to join us in Sydney.

Our relationship with Nikari is one built on shared values: a respect for natural materials, craftsmanship and furniture made with the intention of lasting for generations.

To welcome Johanna and Jenni into HALTIJA, surrounded by Nikari furniture and a room full of people from Australia’s architecture and design community, felt like a fitting way to celebrate that relationship.

Helen Kontouris, Marika Haromo, Johanna Vuorio, Erna Walsh, Jenni Mikkonen and Lincoln Perdrisat at the opening of HALTIJA.

25 Years of KFive

Friday evening was also a moment to mark 25 years of KFive.

Since 2001, KFive has been shaped by the designers and makers we represent, the architects and designers we work alongside, and the many friendships and collaborations that have grown around the business.

Rather than a formal anniversary celebration, we wanted the evening to feel like KFive: good design, good food, a martini or two, and a room filled with people we have been lucky enough to work with along the way.

**Left:** Erna Walsh, KFive, with Jenni Mikkonen of Nikari.
**Right:** Johanna Vuorio, Owner & CEO of Nikari.

Throughout the evening, guests moved through the forest, discovering Nikari furniture amongst trees and moss, the Petra Collection by Helen Kontouris dressed in Marimekko’s Unikko, and works from Broached Commissions.

But more than anything, the evening was about people. Old friends, new conversations and a design community gathered together in the forest.

Martinis and Finnish-inspired bites served throughout the evening.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, and to all those who helped bring HALTIJA to life.

We hope, for a few hours at least, we transported you to a little corner of Finland.

And that was only the beginning.

HALTIJA continued the following day for Saturday Indesign 2026, with our Forest to Form conversation and a full day celebrating Finnish design, timber and craftsmanship.

Photography and film by Yasmine Ke.