4ROOM – Continuing the Tradition of Estonian Light Manufacturing

The predecessor of 4ROOM Interior OÜ under its current name is Estoplast, which was founded in 1959 and was greatly respected by many Estonians. However, the production and technologies of that time, as well as the markets, differ significantly from today.

What has changed and what opportunities 4ROOM currently offers to its clients is discussed in more detail by Anne Jaanus, the head of 4ROOM's representative salon.

Following in the footsteps of a great enterprise

„Estoplast was a large company with over 1200 employees, but 4ROOM operates on a somewhat different scale – nevertheless, our reach is still international. The Estonian market is important, but today we cannot manage without exports," explained Anne Jaanus. „The key to our company's success is certainly perseverance, finding our own niche, and the desire to constantly develop," said Jaanus, and added that the team is always important – 4ROOM's people are passionate and hardworking, and their mission is to continue Estonia's lighting fixture manufacturing tradition. „The field is diverse and constantly changing, so it will never get boring. Some members of the production team have more than 15 years of experience, which I consider a sign that they enjoy the chosen field," pointed out Jaanus. The cooperation with chief designer Tarmo Luisu has lasted almost 20 years.

Tailor-made solutions according to client needs

4ROOM's long history gives the company incomparable experience. According to Anne Jaanus, their own niche was found long ago: they start from the client's needs, offering them a tailor-made solution. 4ROOM offers its product buyers a very exciting solution – customers have the opportunity to assemble their own light fixture. „Ideas are often reached through cooperation with the client. So it is with us. We mapped out the needs of our customers and listened to our clients' wishes and ideas. This made it clear that just as people have different needs at different life stages, so do all homes," said Jaanus, adding that conveyor solutions do not offer suitable options for everyone. „At 4ROOM, a customer can choose between the size, color, shape, purpose, and lighting characteristics of the light fixture (how much and what kind of light the fixture emits). Through this, you can create exactly the light fixture you need and that suits your home and your taste," explained Jaanus. But what makes homes different? „In addition to the physical characteristics of the rooms themselves (room size, finishing details, ceiling height, window size and location, location relative to cardinal directions, etc.), the home's lighting needs are also affected by life stage," said Jaanus and gave examples of different homes – homes where small children grow up who are mostly near their parents and play on the floor, families with school-age children, couples, pensioners, multi-generational families living together, etc. „All these aspects affect the functions of the rooms, and based on these functions, the rooms also need different lighting."

Over a million combinations in the selection

Of course, today we cannot overlook the issue of environmental sustainability, which 4ROOM also keeps in mind. „The ability to create or combine your own light fixture is by nature environmentally friendly. For example, if you have a floor lamp whose shade or base gets damaged, thanks to the system we've created, you don't have to throw away the entire light fixture and thus add to the world's waste, but you can come to the salon and order only the part that needs to be replaced – whether it's the shade, cord, socket, or lamp base," said Anne Jaanus, and added that 4ROOM can also make a new shade for light fixtures from other manufacturers. Such an operating principle can be used with all product families, according to Jaanus. 4ROOM has a so-called permanent collection and special solutions. „Both product groups are used by both private and business clients, such as interior architects, office managers, and real estate developers. Thanks to the great possibility of combining, we find a solution even for the most demanding client," said Jaanus and pointed out that they have over a million combinations in their selection. „We have more decorative models, but there are also those that really light up very well," joked Jaanus. „Namely, there's a common saying about light fixtures that some are beautiful and others provide light. Models where these two aspects are harmoniously represented are slightly fewer, but such models have been deliberately created in the production of the last couple of years or so."