Anna and Kevin’s functionalist three-room apartment in Helsinki is full of Josef Frank’s colorful prints: “They make me happy”

When you know what you like, it’s easy to make decisions—whether you’re picking out curtain patterns or buying an entire apartment. Anna and Kevin, who have made Helsinki their home, trust the work of Josef Frank, an originally Austrian designer known worldwide for his patterns.

During the renovation, the old kitchen was slightly modified. The cabinetry used to run to the window, but narrowing it made the space feel fresher. Anna and Kevin replaced the countertops, cooktop, and range hood, and tiled the backsplash. The kilim rug was bought from Carpet Avenue.

Furnishing the home was straightforward. The dining table is close to the kitchen. The Artek table was found on the Tori online marketplace. Anna likes the saddle-woven chairs for their Finnish design and the contrast they bring. On the wall are works by graphic artist Lea Ignatius and artist Stanley Hayter.

Anna, what do colors mean to you?

Colors are important. They add joy and coziness to the interior. I agree with the designer Beata Heuman, originally from Sweden but now based in London, who says “every room should sing.”

The luster glass coffee cups are from the 1980s. The vase is Paper Bag by Tapio Wirkkala.

The Lazy sofa from Hakola fits perfectly under the window. Above it hangs a piece by Veikko Kallinen, which Anna brought from her childhood home. Anna and Kevin first met while working on an international cruise ship. The Käpylä district is just right for this phase of their lives.

The bright striped stool is Pello from Ellos. The palm is planted in a brass pot from H&M Home. The green table lamp is Toobe by Kartell. Anna was initially unsure about the velvet on the Hakola sofa, but it’s been easy to keep clean in daily use.

Anna bought the Lucia candlestick designed by Company for Artek for Christmas, but she keeps it out all year. Kevin received the chess set as a gift years ago. They played it often before the children were born.

How did you get excited about colors?

In 2014, we visited my husband Kevin’s acquaintance Desiree in Paris. She’s an art dealer. We visited, among others, the home of a Vogue photographer. The Parisian homes we saw were colorful and cozy. After that trip, I wanted that same feeling in our own home. As a souvenir from Paris and from Desiree, we received graphic works by the Finnish artist Lea Ignatius and the English artist Stanley Hayter as a gift. They now hang near our living room’s dining table.

The ornate female-head planter is a memento from Kevin and Anna’s trip to Sicily. These planters often come in pairs. According to legend, the young lovers could not marry because the man was Arab and the woman was aristocratic.

They only put up Svenskt Tenn’s beautiful Paradiset wallpaper in the bedroom after living there for a year.

Svenskt Tenn’s Paradiset wallpaper is on the back wall, so it also brightens the view from the living room. The Anna and Kevin pillows are by Spira of Sweden. The windowsills are ideal for indoor plants. The brass planter is from H&M Home.

Where does your love for Svenskt Tenn’s prints come from?

I fell in love with Josef Frank’s prints at a Svenskt Tenn pop-up at the Stockmann department store in Helsinki. Later, I visited their store in Stockholm, which is really inspiring. Svenskt Tenn’s charm lies in their colors and prints: each one is different, yet they somehow go together. We have Frank’s patterns sprinkled around our home—in curtains, pillows, and wallpaper. They make me happy.

Kevin entertains Liam with his stories. The family is bilingual, and Kevin is originally from Ireland. Anna chose Svenskt Tenn’s Eldblomma, designed in the 1940s, for the children’s room accent wall. Its large, bold design goes well with simple, solid-colored surfaces.

The charming swallow mobile is a souvenir from Copenhagen. Flensted mobiles are Danish handmade pieces.

The children’s room has a hand-tufted wool Poppy rug from Carpetvista. The desk chair is Ikea’s Östanö, inspired by an old school chair. All the floors were sanded and painted before they moved in.

You once lived in Käpylä but moved elsewhere in the capital region. Why come back?

We had many good reasons to return. Käpylä called us back with its community spirit and family-friendly vibe. I prefer older buildings over new ones—older places have character. For instance, I love our plank floors. Our old apartment in Espoo was more than 10 square meters bigger, but instead of space, we chose other qualities.

Their home is part of the 1940 Olympic Village, a desirable neighborhood in Käpylä.

The courtyard is brimming with spring flowers—daffodils and tulips bloom in a cheerful patch along with forget-me-nots.

What does Kevin, who’s a head chef, think about your kitchen?

At first, Kevin thought it was too small. But in reality, everything we need fits neatly, and good organization makes it work. Items stay fresh in the cabinets, and we only keep the pots and pans we regularly use in the cupboards. Special occasion dishes can be brought from the storage unit.

Anna thinks green brings freshness and calm to the decor. Her Aalto vase by Iittala is from her childhood home. They have Nappula planters in several colors and sizes.

What makes your home a joyful place?

I love how the sunlight moves in the through-apartment. In the morning, it’s in the kitchen; in the evening, in our living room. I also like being on the first floor, where I see grass, shrubs, and trees, and the landscape changes with the seasons. From the bedroom window, we can watch the birdhouse. In May, we hear the baby birds chirping.