Suvi's Beautiful Modern Home on Finland's West Coast

Hei, Kuinta voit? ('hi, how are you' in Finnish I hope!). It's Friiiiday - woohooooo! I always find it so hard to concentrate at the end of the week, don't you? (it could be the thought of a G+T on ice just around the corner!). Tomorrow we're heading to the family cottage a little further up the coast where I'm hoping to take some long walks (the nature is beautiful up there). A girl after my own heart on the nature front is Suvi Melender-LÃ¥gland who lives on the beautiful West coast of Finland with her husband, children, Daniel and Fiona and two cats. Suvi's inspiring blog Valkoinen Harmaja and instagram feed features snapshots from her modern Scandinavian home peppered with intermittent pictures of the incredible nature that surrounds it. Let's take a peek inside Suvi's world!

Rocking chair, Round mirror: Save / splurge, Kähler Omaggio vase.



How would you describe your style? 
Modern scandinavian with a cosy twist.



What's your goal when it comes to decorating?
I want to create a timeless interior, which I spice up with small trendy items. Interior trends can be seen in textiles and smaller accessories.




Would you say your home is fairly minimalist?
I am not a minimalist in the strict sense. It is important to me that home feels cosy and inviting - not too styled.


Can you spot the TV?! Maybe my greenhouse make-over last summer might give you a clue?! It's the Samsung The Frame disguised as art!

If you had to pick one Finnish designer who would it be?
My all time favourite Finnish designer is Alvar Aalto.


I love Suvi's bedroom, it's so pretty! There's something about the combination of dusty pink bedding (this one is similar) against the St Paul's Blue by Jotun Lady wall colour. It also helps that one of my favourite lights (the Formakami by &Tradition) has also been thrown into the mix (remember it from this home?). 


The bespoke headboard has been painted in the same St.Paul's blue as the wall and doubles up as a shelf - such a clever idea when space is of a premium. I think I prefer this to the wall mounted shelf, there's something cosier about it, what do you think? Suvi has shared the DIY instructions here (in Finnish but the pictures are helpful!).

Do you have any tips for anyone looking to bring Finnish style into their home?
Use (Finnish designers) Aalto furniture and Iittala and Marimekko. Keep everything simple and minimalistic.


And finally, where would you recommend people to visit in Finland?
I would recommend spending time in nature - it is very inspiring! Beautiful areas in Finland can be found around the coast (we are just starting to build our summer house by the sea and the nature is so beautiful there!) as well as the East side where there are thousands of lakes. Lapland is a great place to visit in the winter. Visit Finland shares some great tips!



Thank you so much for inviting us into your world Suvi!

You can see more of Suvi's home over on her blog and instagram feed. I also featured her sitting room back in 2014 (it's gone through quite a big transformation since then!).  

In case you missed it, I shared another Finnish home earlier on in the week here - both homes have opted for blue in the bedroom but the one from earlier in the week has a surprising twist!

And finally, if you're looking for a simple way to incorporate Finnish style into your home, Suvi suggests adding a Finnish design piece, and one of these beauties are a great place to start:

5 Finnish Design Classics That look Great in Any Home





1. Artek A331 Beehive 2. Oiva teapot by Marimekko 3. Aalto Stool in Birch 4. Aalto vase 5. Block light

If you're into bold and bright patterns - Marimekko sells some really funky fabrics both for the home (check out this bedding!) and to wear (this skirt is pretty!). And of course, no mention of Finnish design would be complete without the Moomins! Who doesn't love the Moomins?!

Right. I think that's it from me for the week! I hope you have some great plans for the weekend! See you Monday campers!

Niki

All photography © Suvi Melender-LÃ¥gland
My Scandinavian Home posts include affiliate links. 

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12

An Inspiring Finnish Home With an Element of Surprise

It was such a long while since I featured a Finnish home, wasn't it?! I have absolutely no idea why since I love Finnish style. In fact, one of the highlights of my second book The Scandinavian Home was that I got to visit Finland for the first time and photograph two inspiring homes. Naturally both had saunas (they are such an integral part of daily life that there are said to be more saunas in Finland than cars!) - but with one being in the countryside and one in the city the two styles were very different. The home of interior design and lifestyle blogger Sini Liikala, her husband and two children reminds me very much of the second place we visited. It's modern, bright and minimalist with a beautiful, large open-plan living space.  But it also harbours an element of the unexpected...

In the kitchen, sleek, white kitchen cabinets from Finnish brand Topi Keittiot  (IKEA sells similar) are broken up by a black mat faucet and sink (both Tapwell) . The shelves above are laden with ceramic and glassware including the classic Oiva Stoneware Teapot* by Marimekko (loving the gentle silhouettes).

I like how Sini has combined marble (the large square tiles are from Tarratinta) with wood flooring to create a distinct kitchen zone and add a lorry load of warmth! I'm not sure if you're thinking what I'm thinking: how about stubbing a toe in the night?! On closer inspection however, it looks like the wood floor has a soft gradual edge. The oak bar stools are from Hay and the lights are the Artek A110 pendant (FYI!). 






 "I think our home is quite a typical modern Finnish house. Nowadays people like to build modern houses with big open spaces, large windows and minimalist shapes. Although, I still think our home is quite unique and looks like us."




The family dining area includes some real Scandinavian classics including the Artek beehive light and wishbone chairs. I like how the inclusion of a black chair balances the dining area with the black door behind (US readers - check out Target's budget friendly look alike!). The white storage cabinet in the background (and below) is by Finnish brand Lundia.






"The best thing about our home is that we have a big open space which incorporates a kitchen, dining room and living room. It means we can all be together as a family but there is still enough space for everyone to do their own things if needed."



Despite the open space, Sini has created a cosy spot for the family to relax (I bet it's even toastier when the fire's going!) using layers of textiles (including a Beni ourain rug), plants and a raft of new nordic design pieces such as a pink Ferm Living Plant Box (I've got my eye on that, how about you?!) and the Around coffee table.

"I think that the best interiors come with time, and years bring different interesting layers to it. I usually buy furniture that I hope will last decades and tell the story of our home to our visitors."

 "Every interior guide says that all the rooms should be in 'perfect harmony' with each other to create a complete look. I am quite a 'safe' decorator who loves neutral tones but I wanted to have one room with a completely different look." 


To achieve the darker look,  Sini covered the back wall with bold floral wallpaper from Ellie Cashman Design (if you have the time you must check out this insta feed!). The rest of the room has been painted in Stiffkey Blue from Farrow & Ball. A rattan pendent from Bloomingville, and an IKEA bench and cabinet add a soft, light touch to the overall look.

"I really love our bedroom because it's like going to a completely different land! It's dark and kinda romantic and that's what I like in a bedroom. People are always so surprised when they enter the room! They're like "wow! this is awesome!" it's not what you'd expect from our home when you look at the other rooms. And that's why I love it so much, it's my hidden flower garden."



"We have black window frames so I figured black doors would go well with them. I also wanted to add an 'edge' to the interior since most of our walls are white. I have not regretted them, I love them!"


Thank you so much for inviting us into your home Sini! Love that you have broken the design rules and followed your heart - that's what makes a house a home - don't you think?

If you'd like to know where more of the items give me a shout in the comment section below and I'll do my best to help. Sini is also great at tagging her images over on instagram, so you can always check there too (and see more of her home over on her blog!)!

If you fancy taking a peek at more homes in Finland today, how about this home in a converted factory,  a living space where old meets new and the calm Finnish home of Anna Pirkola. Yup, the Finns know what they're doing when it comes to interiors!

A little bit of Finnish trivia for you too - did you know that when a baby is born in Finland they are given a box which includes every single item thing they might need for the best start in life? The box itself is designed to be slept in too! You can find out more about what it contains and why they provide it here (it makes for a fascinating read!).

Have a lovely day all!

All photography © Sini Liikala shared with kind permission. 

*My Scandinavian Home posts include some affiliate links.

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18

Revisting Minna's Serene Finnish Cabin

February huh?! This month always has me dreaming of summer in Scandinavia where time stands still and everyone revels in the 24 hours of daylight (I read a quote the other day which said 'nothing in nature blooms all year round, why should you?' and I realised this is simply not my time to bloom!! Is it yours?! If not, come on a virtual adventure with me to summer in the Finnish archipelagos and the beautiful rural cabin of Minna Jones. I've totally shared it with you before (here - and before it was rebuilt here) but was excited to see Minna recently captured it in a new light with Pauliina Salonen for Asun magazine. Any excuse to share it again in all its clean, serene, minimalist glory, right?! Prepare to dream!





As I wrote in my book  The Scandinavian Home: Interiors inspired by light, cabin life in Scandinavia is about switching off from the stresses and strains of everyday and going back to basics. By keeping the space clean and clutter-free it's said to be easier to relax and enjoy the simple things in life like the forest outside (or the fabulous safari daybed and beehive pendant light!). 
















  

What an incredible cabin? Could you imagine spending a summer here? I'm sure even the most stressed among us would find their inner calm!!

I love how Minna has chosen only a handful of items, meaning the beauty of each piece stands out even more. Here's a quick shopping guide to recreate your own Finnish retreat!
GET THE LOOK
 
 
1. Lampe Gras Model 214 Wall Lamp
2. Normann Copenhagen - Tablo Table
3. Antiqued Nickle Steel Round Mirror
4. Knoll Bertoia Diamond Chair with Seat Cushion
5. Artek Chair 69 - Orange Lacquered Seat
6. Artek A331 Beehive Pendant Light
7. Fringed rough linen blanket
8. OGK Safari Daybed
9. Knoll Bertoia Side Chair with Seat Cushion

I have visited Finland several times (see my design guide to Helsinki here) and it's a wonderful country! In fact, I dream of spending an entire summer there. Potentially somewhere remote - like this little cottage on it's own island (with a little boat for getting around!) or this one with a view over the Baltic sea. Wouldn't that be wonderful?!

What does your dream summer look like?

Have a lovely day!

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Old meets new in a beautiful Finnish home

Feeling super excited this morning as I'm off to Helsinki this afternoon for Finland's largest design fair - Habitare along with Decor8, Monsters Circus, Trend Stefan and Home for Soul among other bloggers. So fun! (Keep an eye on Instagram stories for updates!). This calls for a Finnish design post, don't you think? And beautiful Finnish homes are never hard to find (as you can see from this archive!). This lovely apartment belongs to Maija Rasila - interior architect and blogger for Avotakka magazine. Pihkala focuses on modern Scandinavian design and the renovation of her 100 year old house - where white and subtle shades of grey and blue provide a backdrop for design classics and vintage finds for a clean, calm aesthetic.  Let's take a peek....












Photography: Maija Rasila / Pihkala.

Such a lovely space, don't you think? So fresh! If you follow Maija's blog you'll see how the house is becoming more and more cosy as each layer is added (even though it's in Finnish she always adds a short summary in English at the bottom of each post).  I write a lot about taking your time to decorate a home in my book The Scandinavian Home - I think it's a vital part of transforming a house into a home. What are your thoughts on this?

Get the look from Maija's lovely home: Sitting room - Artek Beehive light, Menu afteroom lounge chair, Tisca rugDining room - Eames chairs, art by Juhani Melender. Bedroom - William Morris wallpaper, Mantis sconce, white bed linen set. Hallway: Morris & co wallpaper.

If you'd like to see more Finnish homes today (hey, I'm in!), you might want to take a scroll through this archive (if this home comes up first simply got to the next) - Yup, those Finns really do know a thing or two about design! Can't wait to see more at the fair!

You can keep up to date with Maija's latest projects over on her blog and Instagram.

Right.... better finish packing, I've got a flight to catch! Weeeee!

Have a lovely day!

PS Happy to see my tips on 'how to get Scandi-style on a budget' in Ideal Home magazine this week!

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