Bistro food with modern Carelian vibes, made from local ingredients – that’s the concept of Local Bistro, a restaurant in the heart of Joensuu, Finland. Of course, this needs to show also in the interiors – so the interior design agency Nurkanvaltaajat created the overall design for an interior where rough, unfinished wood material creates a warm and rustic atmosphere.

When we started working on the project, we knew immediately what material to use. Log rafting is an integral part of the history of the Joensuu area, and we had bought planks that had actually served as the walls of a loggers’ house, situated on the banks of river Pielisjoki. When the house was dismantled, the thick wall planks were saved and used for a warehouse floor until that warehouse was demolished as well and the planks were put into storage in 2004.

The planks are more than 100 years old, and we were happy to find a batch that was big enough to make 14 tables, 40 square meters of wall cladding, a 7-meter room divider, a bar counter and a kitchen counter. Artisan blacksmiths from Taidetakomo Tulikiila made the metal parts for the counters, room dividers and two of the tables.

All the furniture pieces were treated with clear matt wax to preserve as much of the rustic feel as possible – and share a piece of local history for the visitors every time they step in to enjoy the local delicacies.