“Better to go big than hold back” is Anna and Olli’s motto—their new stone house looks like it’s from the ’70s

Anna and Olli spent a long time searching for a reasonably priced plot in the familiar neighborhood where they grew up and eventually found a lovely hillside lot. They wanted their house to have a timeless, streamlined look inspired by the ’60s and ’70s.

Anna and Olli’s home sits in a leafy, nature-filled area with excellent transportation connections. There’s a swimming pool in the front yard, and the sun loungers and umbrellas are from Vepsäläinen.

Anna and Olli truly came back home after Olli’s work in Spain ended, building a house where they both grew up in Helsinki’s Länsi-Pakila neighborhood. The house was completed just as the family moved to England for work, but now they’re back in Finland. Their years abroad have shaped the couple’s interior style: light, subdued Scandinavian design isn’t quite them. Instead, their home bursts with color, varied surfaces, and intriguing details.

The architect chosen for the house was Hilla Rudanko, who had known Anna since childhood in the same area. Hilla’s concept appealed to the couple’s strong vision. In her plan, the windows were large but not overwhelming, leaving plenty of unbroken wall space for art. Downstairs, the couple wanted a sauna area with its own scenic bar—ideal for unwinding and hosting guests.

“As a local, Hilla knew the area and its challenges. Now the house is wonderfully tucked away. We wanted a ’60s–’70s look that’s timeless and streamlined. We were charmed by Hilla’s ideas on windows, natural light, and how the light flows through the space,” Anna explains.

The house has two floors, with the upper floor serving as the main level, accessed from the sheltered front yard. Anna especially loves the entrance with its large windows. The furniture is by BoConcept.

This painting by Pentti Meklin from the 1980s especially appeals to Anna and Olli.

What was it like to live and grow up in Helsinki’s Pakila?

Olli: Growing up here was great—plenty of space, with nature and sledding hills nearby. My parents moved here in 1978. Anna and I went to the same schools and recognized each other by name and face.

Why did you want to return?

Anna: We never really left; we just went elsewhere for a while. We were young, in our early twenties, and wanted to see more of the world.

Olli: I got a job in Spain, and we wanted to try living abroad. Luckily, Anna was accepted to a local university. Work brought us back to Finland. In Pakila, we have friends from our childhood and school days. Now those same friends pick up their kids from the local daycare or school. My sister lives right next door, and Anna’s parents are close by in her childhood home in Paloheinä.

We discovered the kitchen through social media and Kitchens by Paul. It is the first kitchen in Finland by Swedish top kitchen designer Paul Badran. The kitchen even includes two built-in wine cabinets. The countertops and backsplash are by Tulikivi, while the brass-toned small appliances are by Smeg.

Olli enjoys spending time in the walnut-veneered kitchen. They didn’t want a white ceiling here, so it was ordered in a special custom color that matches the kitchen design.

Olli calls the everyday dining area the “bistro.” They found an Eero Saarinen Tulip dining table at Bukowskis, and the chairs were designed by Warren Platner in 1966. The paintings are by Cris af Enehielm. The ceramic floor tiles were ordered directly from Florim in Italy. The ceiling is a Siparila Vire panel in a custom shade.

What is your decorating style?

Anna: We believe it’s better to go all out than hold back. We love the ’60s–’70s look, and also the ’80s “exaggerated” era, especially in art. We’re not into small decorative pieces; our taste shows in surface materials. Our vision is strong, and we move quickly—once, we picked the paint colors for our summer home from my phone screen while the painter was waiting. We chose our bathroom vanity tops for this home in ten minutes based on what was available right away. We delay decisions as long as we can and then make them fast—that’s our method!

Olli: We like big paintings, bold colors, and especially representational art. We try not to buy anything new if we can find what we need at auctions, which is more sustainable. We once bought our everyday dining set at an auction during a restaurant dinner, accidentally bidding on a small coffee table first before finally getting the right-sized table.

In the living area, the sofa and coffee table are from Vepsäläinen, and the armchairs are from an auction. The painting is by Timo Ryhänen.

The spacious dining area adjoins the living area. The Calligaris dining set was bought new from Vepsäläinen. On the wall is Emma Ainala’s piece Snow White Lies. The marble column was ordered from a Swedish marble workshop found on Instagram.

How have your years abroad influenced your style and approach to decorating?

Anna: We’ve grown bolder. Still, we aimed to build and decorate a timeless home, something that could have been built in the ’70s or now. We wanted a house that resembled no one else’s and didn’t echo anything too familiar. We avoided obvious trends and did our own thing.

Olli: We’ve seen many different styles. In Spain, we lived in a fantastic ’60s house with water features, like fountains. In southern Europe, it’s common to use a lot of marble or glossy tiles. England influenced certain details here, like door handles, door stops, and electrical outlets.

The sofa and coffee table in the living area are from Vepsäläinen. The painting is by Timo Ryhänen.

Did you bring any furniture or items from your previous homes when you moved?

Olli: While we were building, a water leak in our temporary storage ruined many of our old items and artworks.

Anna: We moved here from a much smaller apartment, so we needed more furniture. The only older piece we have is Grandma Sinikka’s chest, and that’s headed for our island cottage. While living abroad, we stayed in furnished apartments, so all our own things fit in one suitcase. The tableware from Zara Home is pretty much the only item we brought back from Spain.

The downstairs bar-lounge is Olli’s domain, inspired by hotels. The countertops are from Tulikivi and were made from leftover pieces of the famous Kämp bar in Helsinki. The open shelves are perfect for storing bottles. Olli travels a lot and always brings drinks back as souvenirs.

Your favorite spot in the house?

Olli: I love the kitchen and the everyday dining area. I also enjoy my downstairs “Olli’s bar.” After a sauna, I like to go down there, gaze outside, and savor what we’ve created. I think about everything we imagined during the build. Now I’m grateful for all that effort and stress.

Anna: I often pause in the dining area to admire my Mother’s Day gift: Emma Ainala’s painting, which always offers something new. My favorite view is at the entry, where you can see inside through the big window. It feels wonderful to come home.

The en suite bathroom connected to the primary bedroom is heavily inspired by ’60s–’70s hotel style. Anna and Olli worked with Lasitehdas to design the illuminated mirrors. The showers, faucets, and sinks are from Tapwell.

These eye-catching tiles were ordered from Florim in Italy. The showers and faucets are by Tapwell.

From the sauna’s large window, you can see the private backyard. A Harvia steam automation device sits on top of the stove. The benches and wall panels are made of heat-treated aspen. The sauna area also includes Vire paneling.

The parents’ bedroom has a calm feel. Natural light enters the adjoining dressing area through the windows. The painting is by Tapio Itävaara, and the bedspread is from Balmuir.

There’s a swimming pool in the front yard.

This detached home is 385 square meters.