Wood-fired sauna, refreshing dips, and Lapland wilderness: step inside a Pello log home
“I’ve collected design classics for years—all our new home needed was art.” Restaurateur Antti Kuha and his partner Jaana value beauty, tranquility, and order in their new log house. In summer, they keep all the windows open so the rush of the river can be heard indoors.
Apassionate fisherman from Rovaniemi, Finland, Antti Kuha and his partner Jaana know how to appreciate the beauty of everyday life. They both work from home, and at the end of the day they unwind in the warmth of the sauna, savoring the calm of their home and the surrounding nature.
Five years ago, Antti began looking for a small cabin in Pello, along the Tornionjoki River in Lapland. He wanted a place to spend the night and store his boat. After mentioning his cabin search to local folks, he was offered a fishing cabin that was larger than he’d initially planned on. It ended up becoming a year-round home for Antti and Jaana, rather than just a base for fishing trips.
In summer, the thunderous sound of the Tornionjoki River carries through the home’s open windows. Deer wander along the riverbanks, and Sweden lies on the opposite shore. Although salmon fishing is discouraged in order to strengthen the population, the river still yields other fish: grayling, whitefish, perch, and burbot.
It’s only 500 meters (about 1,600 ft) from the house to moose-hunting grounds, and you can hunt hare simply by crossing the road. If Jaana ever wants to trade snowshoeing for skiing in winter, there are 70 kilometers (about 43 miles) of trails available right outside their door.
“We are both passionate about the wilderness and love being surrounded by nature, sometimes in extremely harsh conditions without any connection to the outside world. Our home in Pello is the perfect base for us,” Jaana says.
Residents Restaurateur Antti Kuha, his partner Jaana, and their dachshund Martta. Instagram: @anttikuha.
Home A log house built in 2020 in Pello, with 192 square meters (about 2,070 sq ft). The property also includes a sauna building and a tractor and car garage, which has an electric sauna and a guest wing attached.
Your new home was built with respect for tradition. How so?
Antti: The previous owner wanted to build a copy of his family’s old homestead here in Pello. The logs were brought from Punkaharju, where the trees were felled and dried for two years to prevent them from cracking or sagging. There isn’t a single joint in the frame, so the logs above the living room window span over 13 meters (about 43 ft).
What was the house like at the time of purchase?
Antti: When we bought it, only the roof, exterior walls, and windows were in place. That turned out to be a stroke of luck, because it allowed us to design the house entirely around our own needs.
Jaana: The upstairs was an open, unfinished space. We briefly considered leaving it that way, but since we both work from home quite a bit, having comfortable and functional work areas separate from the bedroom was especially important. So we decided to partition the space.
What else has been built on the property since you moved in?
Antti: The aim was to create a yard that would be right for a house like this. The plot was just sand and had no natural vegetation to preserve, so we decided to plant lawn. We wanted the yard to be a place for relaxing, with cars and tractors entering from the back. I absolutely love mowing and yard work. In autumn, I can’t wait for the snow, so I can do snow clearing.
Jaana: We frequently have guests, and we want to offer them a place to stay overnight. Besides the guest room in the main building, we built a separate guesthouse with an electric sauna for those nights when we don’t have time to heat up the wood-burning sauna. The fireplaces are truly essential in winter. Luckily, the underfloor heating in the main building is efficient enough that if we burn two loads of wood in the masonry stove, the house stays comfortably warm all evening. In the summer, our favorite spot is around the outdoor fire, which overlooks the river.
How did you come up with the interior design for the main house?
Antti: I’ve been collecting Finnish design classics for years. We already had enough in storage that we didn’t need to buy any new furniture for this house—though we found we did need some art.
Jaana: We both appreciate beautiful objects and especially a sense of order. We’ve cleared out anything superfluous. One small, playful detail in the décor is the differently colored dining chairs, which add a touch of whimsy.
The wooden bedhead frame is clad with leftover floorboards and tongue-and-groove paneling, then waxed in an oak hue. It’s wired for reading lights.
But this isn’t your only cabin project?
Antti: No, it’s not! I’m a restless soul who always needs a project to pour my energy into. I love working with my hands. Every now and then I have to sell one place to fund the next.
When the yard at our Pello home was done, I bought the next place that same week on the shore of Lake Inari, which has fantastic fishing. From Rovaniemi, it’s 300 kilometers (about 186 mi) by car, then 60 kilometers (about 37 mi) by boat. Gradually, we’re moving deeper into the wilderness. These days, I enjoy being in nature more than traveling abroad.
I’ve run the Kauppayhtiö restaurant in Rovaniemi for 19 years and have traveled worldwide learning about different food cultures, so I know which standards to aim for. Tourists in Lapland almost always want to taste reindeer—except for the British, who don’t want to eat Santa’s pet. We give them a chance to try reindeer in a familiar form: a burger or pizza.
A small dining table in the sauna allows you to cook and dine right there. “When we have a sauna evening with our fishing buddies, we often cook dinner at the same time and enjoy it in our bathrobes.”
