Step Inside Maiju's Delightful Home in Vaasa, Finland

I once visited Helsinki in November and was greeted with a sign that said "Nobody in their right mind would come to Helsinki in November. Except you, you badass. Welcome". It's since been hailed as one of the greatest tourism posters ever made! With temperatures hovering around 3 - 4 degrees Celsius in Helsinki this week, they certainly have a point. But there's also a certain beauty to Finland in wintertime, especially if you travel a little further afield. Maiju Saha, husband Janne and three children Paavo (12), Aina (7) and Theo (3) moved to a house in Vaasa on the south west coast of Finland two years ago. Dating back to 1941, Maiju has transformed the house into a beautiful oasis with deep green, blue and grey accents, while ensuring the original features remain intact. The result is a calm, cosy home and a perfect base from which to explore the city, nearby Kvarken archipelago and forests as well as experience the Northern Lights! 

I love this window nook; it looks so cosy and is a great way to capitalise on extra space so that the dining area doesn't take up too much space. The beautiful lamp over the table is a le Klint. 

Maiju designed the kitchen herself and got it built by a local carpenter. The cabinets have been painted in NCS S7005-G20Y and the walls in Tikkurila 'Merino'. 

The dining area has been painted in Jotun 'Tidløs'. The table is from Finnish firm Peltola Oy and the chairs are a mix of Ton Banana chairs and the Nattavaara chair from Jotex (which only appear to be available in black now). 

But my eyes are on that daybed (which Maiju built herself) - what a perfect little spot to chill! 

Source a similar vintage rattan side table here* (I love this plant stand* but since it's vintage, there's only one. Hurry if you're keen!)

Maiju has painted the living room in Farrow & Ball 'Old White' and used neutral accents and a large rattan rug (this one is similar) which adds a load of depth and texture to the space. 

The pretty wallpaper in the stairwell is Arbutus Woad 7 Russet by William Morris. 

If you are as taken by Maiju's lovely home as much as I am,  you might want to follow her delightful instagram @maiju_saw and blog Maiju Saw. Her DIY and ikea hacks are great (can you spot the ikea hack in this tour? You'll find the answer and step by step here - it's translated into English at the bottom of the post). 

It'd be rude not to share a few other Finnish home tours with you today:

A Finnish home in a converted factory

An inspiring Finnish home with a surprise element!

A beautifully simple cabin on an island in Finland

This post has really got me in the mood for a trip to Finland, I hope an opportunity crops up soon! Have you ever been? 

Hauskaa päivan jatkoa! (I hope this means 'have a nice day' in Finnish!). 

Niki

Photography: Maiju Saha, shared with kind permission

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A Beautiful Vintage-inspired Guest House in Reims

I've been writing my regular column for Scandi at Home this morning and it was all about investing in pieces that stand the test of time. And then I discovered Les Pénates in Reims, France on The Socialite Family - a perfect illustration of everything I'd been writing about! A former archive and artist's studio, the building was about to be torn down when Anabelle Bruny and antique dealer Brice Bérard took the reins. The pair lovingly restored the residence, creating a series of guest houses which have been fully furnished with beautiful secondhand finds. I particularly love Guest House One with its white washedwalls and touches of wood and leather which is available to rent both privately but also as a location for film and photoshoots. Did I mention that everything in it is for sale too? I think a trip to Reims might be in order...

Cheeky ending to the tour there!

But isn't this place just so charming?

It just goes to show that if you have the time and patience, hunting for second hand treasures can really pay off! When I was little my Mum used to take us to auctions at the weekends (I remember the huge halls being very cold!) - and she still has many of the items we bought today.

I might just scour the flea markets and antique fairs here in Southern Sweden this weekend... it's something I definitely don't do enough of.

Are you a fan too?

Another thing I'm keen to point out is that this space would actually have been relatively dark had it not been for the skylights, internal glass wall dividers and mirrors - all of which are clever ways to bounce the light around.

Find out more about Les Pénates and book a stay here. There's also a great write-up about the property over at The Socialite Family.

Other French delights:

A relaxed, vintage-inspired home in the French countryside
A charming white and neutral family home in Normandy
A wonderful, relaxed family home in the heart of the Beaujolais wine country

Oh la la!

I hope you enjoyed this tour as much as I did!

Niki

Photograph credits 1,3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 11 - The Socialite Family. 2, 9 & 10 Remodelista. 

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