Timeless country charm

Christmas magic in a red log house: “On Christmas Eve, time stands still in the main room”

Meeri and Lauri Tuppurainen are celebrating their third Christmas in the 1940s wooden house they renovated themselves just outside Kuopio, Finland. At Christmas, the main room is filled with the scent of spruce and all things authentic.

Author Ilona Pietiläinen

Images Ilona Pietiläinen

November 14, 2025Lue suomeksi

Meeri and Lauri Tuppurainen’s log house was built in the 1940s using timber from the property. They made an offer on the house at their very first visit, even though they knew they’d be renovating for years ahead. The kitchen was redone from floor to ceiling, revealing the original plank floor and old log walls. They used dozens of liters of paint, but the freshness it brought was worth all the effort.

Home: A log house built in the 1940s in Hirvilahti, just outside Kuopio. It has five rooms, plus a kitchen and a sauna. There is also an old sauna building and a new yard sauna.

Living here: Meeri and Lauri Tuppurainen along with Paavo the dog and Siku the grandma cat. A baby joined the family in October.

Find them on social media: @kiviharjun_tupa1940

A red house in a winter landscape — The previous owner had largely renovated the house. Meeri and Lauri were able to focus on finishing the interior. They didn’t know the village before, but they danced at their wedding in the nearby youth center six years ago.

Meeri throws snow in the yard — For the couple, home is a safe haven and a place to unwind. Meeri and Lauri work hard on it so it will remain valuable for future generations. For Meeri, especially, working on the home is both a hobby and a way of life.

Meeri sits by the campfire with the dog — On freezing days, they light the fire pit in front of the old sauna. At Christmas, they roast marshmallows to enjoy with mulled wine.

Meeri, was a home in the countryside your dream?

Absolutely, and it still is. We used to live in a row house for four years. I’ve always dreamed of owning an old house, and luckily Lauri took to the idea almost immediately. We both grew up in single-family homes, and now our roots have spread to this rural landscape. The best part has been designing an interior to reflect the house’s character.

Meeri sits on the bench in the entryway — In the small entryway, the storage piece also works as a practical bench. Lauri built it according to Meeri’s wishes. It holds all the family shoes inside. The old wooden crates on the wall bring Meeri joy.

A kitchen with a pantry — Meeri had always wanted a pantry, so Lauri built one. The door and frame were purchased from a recycling center called Elävä kauppa, and the home’s color scheme was inspired by the door’s original shade. Some of the lower cabinet doors were replaced with curtains, hiding the home’s recycling station.

A kitchen with a towel blanket in front of the dishwasher — The kitchen was renovated in the early 2000s. Some old cabinets were kept, and others were purchased from Ikea to fill in the gaps. The wallpaper is from Rusta. To soften the look and maintain a vintage feel, Meeri hung a terrycloth blanket from her childhood home in front of the dishwasher.

Smoked reindeer rolls and truffles on the kitchen counter — For Christmas, Meeri makes smoked reindeer rolls and truffles with Geisha, a beloved Finnish chocolate. She places amaryllis casually in old glass jars.

What has been the most challenging part of renovating the house?

Letting go of the “I want it all right now” outlook has been tough. We both dive straight into a renovation before giving it a lot of thought. But thinking can happen during the process, too. Another clear challenge for us was assembling Ikea kitchen cabinets. A few times, we felt like throwing in the towel, but after a short break, we’d put our gloves back on.

The main room with a baking oven and a Christmas tree — Meeri painted the once-yellow baking oven with white masonry paint. The Christmas ham and pastries bake in its warmth. The dining set was found on Facebook Marketplace, and Meeri sanded and painted it in the backyard of their old home. At Christmas, the table is set with white dishes. The trunk table in the living room came from Lauri’s grandmother’s barn. Originally, it was red, but Meeri carefully sanded it back to its natural tone, leaving just a hint of red to show its history.

A wooden sofa in front of the window — There are many beloved objects and pieces of furniture here. One of them is a wooden sofa Meeri bought years ago on Tori online marketplace. It was waiting for the right spot to shine. They call it Sylvi, and it is thought to be from the 1920s.

Meeri in front of the Christmas tree — Every year, a spruce stands in a place of honor in the main room, with its trunk hidden inside a woven basket. Meeri and Lauri have a tradition of making a gift calendar. They don’t buy expensive items for it, just practical things spiced with humor.

Where did you get ideas for your home decor?

We’re all about old furniture. Years of visiting flea markets have produced plenty of finds. Discovering a fresh use for a vintage piece is the best feeling. The wooden boxes on the entryway wall always make me smile. Folk museums are treasure troves for inspiration with this style.

A bedroom with a bench at the foot of the bed — The darkened pine paneling on the bedroom ceiling was first treated with Tikkurila’s Multistop insulation primer, then Teknos’ panel ceiling paint. A perfectly rough element in the room is a bench saved from Lauri’s grandmother’s barn. Meeri bought the bedspread at Jysk.

A dog and a cat on the bed — Grandma cat Siku and Paavo the dog prefer the slightly cool bedroom, and that’s also where the houseplants thrive best.

A curved mirror on the wall — They listen to Christmas music on a speaker Lauri bought, which Meeri placed on top of an old fruit crate.

A Christmas tree in the upstairs loft — The smaller bedroom became more atmospheric once they built a bed alcove themselves. Its decorative silhouette was copied from the Sylvi sofa downstairs. The alcove curtains were cut and sewn from pre-made drapes from Jysk. Meeri bent willow branches to make the ceiling light fixture and topped it with a layer of plant shade cloth. The laminate floor was painted gray three times.

Storage cabinets under the slanted ceiling — Practical storage cabinets tuck neatly under the slanted ceiling in the upstairs bedroom. Meeri hung lightweight curtains behind the doors using wire.

What is the best thing about your home?

Natural tones fit the old-time atmosphere so well. I love green, and you’ll find hints of it all over the house. The old logs are appealing in their rawness. The more signs of life, the more my decorating heart flutters. I think it’s important to make it your own while honoring what’s here.

A low-sloping ceiling in the upstairs landing — Under the gently sloping ceiling, there’s room for a small spruce whose lights serve as a nightlight. We read books and jot down Christmas gift lists in an Ikea rattan chair. The wallpaper is from Rusta.

A window painting made with chalk markers — A chalk marker–drawn Christmas scene greets guests at the door. Meeri suggests using a printed city outline for guidance.

How do you dress your home for the holidays?

A traditional forest spruce is always part of our Christmas. We add old-style candleholders and straw ornaments to its branches. I also gather small spruces, evergreen boughs, cones, and twigs from the forest to use as decorations. Traditional hyacinths and poinsettias are my longtime favorites at Christmastime. This year, I tried growing Christmas lilies, but only one of the four blossomed.

“Folk museums are treasure troves of inspiration for this decor style.”

What kind of Christmas do you celebrate?

This is our third Christmas together in the old house. It has a special kind of atmosphere, and on Christmas Eve, time stands still in the main room. Over the holidays, we visit our parents, so we start celebrating here on December 23rd. That’s when we enjoy the sauna, eat ham, watch a Christmas movie, and treat ourselves by candlelight late into the night. It’s wonderful to spend the traditional holiday in a home surrounded by authenticity.

Sauna benches with a lantern — The yard sauna’s Christmas ambiance comes from linen bench covers, fragrant evergreens, and the glow of oil lamps.

A red sauna building in the snowy landscape

“It’s wonderful to spend the traditional holiday in a home surrounded by authenticity.”

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