Why we work with birch plywood — and nothing else

Us & Our Methods

Why don’t we use oil or wax?

All surfaces of our furniture are coated with three layers of acrylic lacquer. After each layer, we carefully sand the surface to make it smooth and even. This allows the next layer to spread more evenly and penetrate deeper into the wood, filling even the smallest pores. The result is a solid, sealed surface with reliable protection against moisture, stains, scratches, and daily wear.

By contrast, oil and wax are applied in one or two layers without sanding. They soak into the wood but don’t fill the pores. The surface remains soft, with open pores that easily absorb moisture and grease. Over time, this can lead to stains, mold, and delamination of the plywood.
We’ve chosen a more time-consuming method — simply because it protects better and lasts longer.

Experiment: Hot coffee left for one hour

We spilled coffee on two plywood samples and left it for one hour.
The top one was treated with oil and wax — the coffee soaked in and left a stain.

The bottom one was finished with acrylic lacquer — the durable coating protected the surface, no trace remained.

Reliable joinery with traditional tongue and groove connections

The strength of our furniture comes from precision-made tongue and groove joints. Unlike screw connections that hold at just a few points, our joints run along the full length of the seam. This greatly increases the contact area and creates a solid, almost monolithic connection — one that distributes the load evenly and stands the test of time. The result is clean, durable construction that needs no extra reinforcement.

Exposed plywood edge. Nothing extra.

We don’t use plastic or wooden edge bands — they can peel off over time.

Instead, we leave the edge of the plywood open and seal it with acrylic lacquer.

There’s nothing to come loose — and the protection lasts.

The natural structure of the wood stays visible. That’s how we keep it both honest and durable.

Baltic birch plywood

In every strength test — bending, tension, or impact — plywood outperforms both solid wood and other wood-based panels.

We use fine-layered Baltic birch plywood from our trusted supplier in Riga, Latvijas Finieris. Compared to thick-layered plywood, it offers greater dimensional stability, consistency, and strength — making it the ideal material for long-lasting furniture.

I work with birch plywood. It’s my core material.

In our small family workshop, we’ve made a conscious decision to work almost exclusively with plywood. This isn’t a compromise or a coincidence — it’s a deliberate choice. We don’t spread ourselves thin across other materials, because we believe that to truly unlock the potential of plywood, you need to dedicate years to it. And only to it.
Over time, we’ve rethought many things. For example, at some point we completely moved away from oils and waxes. We switched to acrylic lacquer — and in doing so, significantly increased the lifespan of our products. These kinds of decisions don’t come from theory, but from daily hands-on experience, when you know your material down to the smallest detail.

I’ve worked with many materials, but always came back to birch plywood.
First, for its strength. Its layered structure makes it especially durable in vulnerable areas like edges.
And second — simply because I love it. Its soft, warm, almost vintage tone. Its quiet, natural texture. This material creates a sense of calm, space, and comfort all on its own.
But plywood isn’t just about aesthetics — it’s also about function.
It can serve as a bold accent or a calm, neutral backdrop. It can be finished with enamel, lacquer, or left bare to showcase the natural grain.
And from our experience, its full functional potential is revealed when paired with HPL plastic — the ideal solution for high-use areas like kitchens, countertops, and work surfaces.

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