A tour of an idyllic Finnish summer cabin

If someone asked me to describe my dream Scandinavian summer cottage, this would be it (you may recognise the idyllic Finnish cabin from this post). Situated on its own island on the West coast of Finland, the lovely owner, photographer and graphic designer Johanna Lehtinen, her husband Jari and daughter Tilda take the 10 minute speed boat ride out to the cabin as often as they can. "We try to use it the whole year round but because of its location there are times when we cannot get there - for example, when the ice is too thick for the boat but to thin for walking or using the snow cat." With no running water or electricity, the cabin is a true back-to-basics experience, where the family spend their time "chilling, playing board games, taking boat rides to other islands, visiting and welcoming friends, fishing, rowing, swimming etc," But most of all it's about soaking up the surroundings - "I love the wonderful sea and nature, and the peace and tranquility that the island brings. It's great to be in such close contact with nature," Johanna tells me. And I can totally see why.

 

Photography / home-owner Johanna Lehtinen. 

Could you image having a wonderful get-away like this to escape to?

I'm not sure I'd ever leave!

Get the look from Johanna's cabin: kitchen - Marimekko teapot and cups, I love the vintage jugs here. bedroom - this vintage shop sells a selection of one of a kind locker units, pick up an old milking stool here and paint it white. And above all else, the details - like Johanna's stacked pebbles, vases of fern and candles in stones collected from the cabin's surroundings. It seems like the best interior decor of all, is waiting on the ground right outside our backdoor (the theme of my first book Modern Pastoral!).

If you feel inspired by Johanna's cabin you might want to check out her latest photography and graphic design projects on her blog and instagram, and also visit her wonderful webshop where she sells her own nature inspired art photography such as Waves and her book Laiturilla, featuring eleven Finnish summer homes by the sea as well as other items (yes, she ships worldwide - woohoo!).

If like me, you're feeling truly inspired by Finnish design today - here are a few other links to beautiful summer cottages and hide-aways: an idyllic Finnish cabin with a sea view, a dreamy lakeside cabin with a twist, and a beautifully simple modern cabin.

Have a wonderful start to the week!

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A lovely Finnish kitchen with vintage finds

I was doing a little research for my second book (so exciting!) last night and stumbled across this beautiful country style kitchen in a house dating back to the 1800's in a peaceful, rural setting in Purmo, Österbotten Finland. The family, who run the shop Lundagård, aim to counterbalance today's growing consumption through recycling and living a greener way of life.  Christian and Aja Lund (the owners) designed the kitchen and built it with the help of a local carpenter.  The space has been furnished with a beautiful mix of antiques and vintage finds for a lovely, relaxed feel where family life lies at the centre.

Photography - Krista Keltanen (shared with kind permission). 

Oh so lovely - whenever I see spaces like this I feel like swapping our modern house for an old one in the country  - one day?!

How about you? 

Get the look: Lundagård sell a beautiful selection of 'old and new, handmade and antique' items. And I also find Etsy a great source for Swedish antiques and Finnish antiques.

You can see some lovely snapshots from life at Lundagård here.

I visited Finland for the first time last month and absolutely fell in love with the country. The people were so friendly, the design shops in Helsinki were wonderful and the countryside was simply stunning (I even spotted my first wild moose!).  One day I dream of going back and exploring the Ekenäs archipelago national park by boat. Imagine?!

Most likely I have been inspired by Finnish cabins featured here on MSH including this log cabin (which has now been transformed into this beautifully simple cabin) and this idyllic holiday home.  Ah, so lovely!

Finland anyone?!

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Beautiful rustic inspiration from Finland

One of the things I love most about coming back from holiday is being able to see your home with fresh eyes (that and my bed!). I always start re-arranging all the furniture, do you?! This time round I've discovered we're missing a lovely armchair and my mind immediately went back to that Finnish shop I linked to earlier on in the week. Casuarina's ethos is 'timeless' interior design - where ethnic meets modern and old meets new and the owners pride themselves on helping you to pick out appropriate products and to design a space that invites you to 'linger and enjoy'.  Needless to say, the inspiration on their website is absolutely beautiful too!

Beautiful, don't you think? And just the type of help I could use right now.

I spy the Z1 cotton lamp and safari daybed - two of my favourite pieces! Source stone washed linen in rose by the metre here. 

A little mid week link love:

Imagine spending your summer at this Danish cabin in Skagen?

The perfect beach towel.

This dark green and brass side cabinet. 

23 wild homes that will make you want to escape civilisation!

A few of my favourite houses (which I snapped in Copenhagen yesterday). 

The perfect Children's room update (with a little tip from me!) - don't forget to use your 15% discount by using the code MSH15 at checkout. 

Have a wonderful couple of days and see you Friday! 

And remember.

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A beautiful and smart tiny one room flat in Finland

The other day a friend and I were puzzling over a small one room cottage with a grey wood floor. We were trying to figure out a way to make it practical and cosy. And then this morning I opened my mail box to find a message from one of my favourite Finnish stylists Laura Seppänen. She's been working on a project with YIT - who have recently launched a new housing solution called 'Smartti' - a flexible solution that combines functionality, adaptability and reasonable prices. Cleverly the apartments have no partition walls, instead dividing the space using cabinets and sliding doors - which provide storage and can be removed according to the owners needs. The Smartti home Laura has been working on is a mere 26 metre square (279 feet square) and - yes you've guessed it - has grey wood floors too - the chances?!  Laura's aim was to decorate the space, on behalf of her client, a local florist, with ecological and organic materials such as wood, cork, rattan and flax and locally sourced items. Green plants bring colour to the otherwise calm tones and neutral surfaces. Perfect inspiration for anyone living in a very small space? Oh and there's a twist to this space too....

Credits: Furnishing and styling - Laura Seppänen / @laurajuulia, photography - Krista Keltanen / @krista_keltanen. Architect - Kanttia for YIT / @yitkoti.

....it's been built inside a shipping container!

Remember this lakeside Finnish cabin made from containers? Incredible!

Get the look - eye eye and atelier CPH prints. Chairs, rug, mirror. Bell jar, AJ floor lamp, string shelves, HAY tray table. Small and large glass water bottle, round chopping board. Shorebird. White linen throw.

If you're looking for more small space inspiration you can always check out my small space archive - who needs a large house when you can do all this in under 30 metres square anyway?!

We're enjoying the last couple of days of our summer holiday here in Sweden (in the rain....*^?&%). and will be back on Wednesday. Until then, have a wonderful couple of days!

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A beautifully simple cabin on an island in Finland

In July many Scandinavians flee the city for cottages and cabins by the lake or sea. I've featured Minna Jones' wonderful Finnish cabin overlooking the West Finland archipelago many times both before and after it's been refurbished, but thankfully for us, Minna's constantly updating the look and feel! The look is simple and pared back with warm natural wood and carefully selected items - which allow the fabulous views out to sea take centre-stage. Could you imagine waking up here everyday this summer?

Source - all images by Minna Jones / Time of the Aquarius, with kind permission. 

Oh so lovely, don't you think?

I'm really hoping to visit a few Finnish islands this August (fingers crossed!)....have you ever been to Finland?

A few items I know and love from Minna's lovely home: sitting room - pick up a similar Beni Ourain rug, Bertoia diamond chair, cork bench. Kitchen / dining: this La lampe gras (how nice is this wall lamp too), bertoia chairs, this is a great source for vintage chopping boards, sinnerlig jug. Outside: sea grass belly basket, off white linen table cloth.

I think this definitely calls for some more Finnish summer cottage inspiration today, don't you?! Here are a couple of my favourites from past posts: an idyllic cabin with a sea view and a lakeside cabin with a twist!

Have a lovely day!

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A magnificent Finnish apartment

Oh are we in for a treat today with this magnificent Finnish apartment! Not only does it have the most beautiful bones - large windows which flood the rooms with light, high ceilings, sculpted wainscoting, and original period features (just look at that ceiling in the bedroom!), but it has also been beautifully styled for sale through Bo LKV by the uber talented Marja Wickman (whose home I once featured here and here). Marja has used shades of grey and white and simple, contemporary pieces allowing the architecture to take centre stage. Unsurprisingly the space was snapped up in an instant (we'll have to be quicker next time!).

Source: Bo LKV, styling Marja Wickman. Found via Nordic Design with thanks. 

Is it worth me asking if you could live here?!

A few items I know and love: Thonet chairs, Cove print by Silke Bonde, ABCD poster - D,  cork bench.

For more beautiful Finnish inspiration it's so well worth exploring my 'Finnish home' archive (if the first home you see is the above one, just scroll passed it).... I know it's not the same as being there in person, but it will transport you to Finland in your dreams if only for a few hours!

Have a lovely day! 

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