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Henri Judin Shares Furniture That Straddles Minimalism + Maximalism

04.24.23 | By
Henri Judin Shares Furniture That Straddles Minimalism + Maximalism

The furniture collection Henri Judin displayed at SaloneSatellite during Milan Design Week 2023 is searching for something. That something is the exact point that lies halfway between minimalism and maximalism, a place where the design choices aren’t too little or too much. Inspired by the built environment, city, pop art, and plenty of neon yellow, Judin’s collection hits the nail on the head.

“Neon yellow is mesmerizing. Working with the color has brought me memories I almost had forgotten. When I was a child, I loved most the clothes with neon yellow details in them,” Judin shared. “One winter, I got fluorescent yellow ice skates. I was bullied at school because of them as they were different from everyone else’s. But I didn’t care – I felt invincible with my skates. Remembering the joy and the empowerment, I knew I wanted to use the color in the collection. I hope the collection and the colors radiate joy for the people.”

person wearing jeans and a neon yellow sweater sitting on a light wood daybed with light upholstery and neon yellow bolster pillow

Pehku Daybed

Judin’s hope in sharing the collection in Milan is to promote his talents while testing the waters for new collaborations, commissions, and projects. The shared furniture pieces are commercially feasible, featuring a current yet timeless style. With wood as the primary material, each design feels refined but edgy with the addition of bright, saturated colors.

light wood daybed with light upholstery and neon yellow and light grey bolster pillow

Pehku Daybed, Upholstery: Todo Mundo / Marja Laine \\\ Photo: Studiå / Henry Salmi

Judin’s Pehku daybed was created in collaboration with his best friend, Aino Sirje. In fact, it was one of Sirje’s first woodworking pieces and their first project together. The durable structure’s assembly is tucked away inside the wooden birch frame, leaving no visible attachments. Bolster pillows act as backrests when Pehku is placed against a wall and pillows when someone lays down.

light wood daybed with light upholstery and neon yellow bolster pillow

Pehku Daybed

light wood daybed with light upholstery and neon yellow bolster pillow

Pehku Daybed

multicolored coffee table made up of four sections

Baby Sofa Table, Woodwork: Havune / Joonas Sauvula \\\ Photos: Studiå / anni.jpeg

Small but effective, Baby is a coffee table that can’t be ignored. The table’s top comprises four squircle-shaped blocks – each a different size and color. Each of the four pieces sits atop its own ellipse-shaped foot. Judin notes that he would love for Baby to grow into a table collection to suit more purposes.

multicolored coffee table made up of four sections

Baby Sofa Table

rounded light wood and upholstery sofa

Tube Sofa, Woodwork: Seppo Auvinen, Upholstery: Todo Mundo / Marja Laine, Fabric: Lauritzon; Orsetto 012 \\\ 
Photos: Studiå / anni.jpeg

Traditional made modern, the Tube sofa and Tube chair borrow elements from wooden spoke-back designs and combine them with voluminous, round shapes. Interesting and comfortable, Tube’s seating is a good fit for both homes and public spaces.

rounded light wood and upholstery sofa

Tube Sofa

rounded light wood and upholstery sofa

Tube Sofa

rounded light wood and upholstery armchair

Tube Chair

neon yellow and light wood cabinet

Bunker Cabinet, Woodwork: Havune / Joonas Sauvula \\\ Photos: anni.jpeg

You definitely won’t miss the eye-catching Bunker cabinet. With bold neon yellow, it’s somewhat balanced by a wooden base of drawers. Of course that’s intentional, with the design play of proportions and contrast making it all the more interesting. Judin was inspired by a brutalist concrete building called Bunkkeri that lives in the Jätkäsaari neighborhood in Helsinki.

neon yellow and light wood cabinet

Bunker Cabinet

neon yellow and light wood cabinet

Bunker Cabinet

blue, orange, and neon yellow dining chair

Pappagallo Chair, Woodwork: Seppo Auvinen \\\ Photos: anni.jpeg

Last, but not least, is Pappagallo. The wooden spoke-back dining chair takes from both modern and traditional design, resulting in a colorful piece of seating that Judin compares to a parrot.

blue, orange, and neon yellow dining chair

Pappagallo Chair

two blue, orange, and neon yellow dining chairs

Pappagallo Chair

To learn more about Henri Judin, visit henrijudin.com.

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she's likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.