Inherited cottage convinced this blended family to move to the countryside—no shortage of color or surprises here!

Any cherished place is something you want to share with someone you love, but it can also be nerve-wracking. That was the case for Hede, who wanted to show her new partner Juha the old inherited cottage she had bought. The old building was in rough shape and overflowing with stuff. Even the yard still resembled a jungle.

The worry turned out to be unnecessary. Deeply in love with her, Juha also fell for the old house and immediately saw its potential.

At the cottage, cleanup work was already underway to turn it into a pleasant summer place. The property originally belonged to Hede’s grand-aunt Tyyne. Tyyne lived in the house nearly until she was 100, and after her passing, Hede’s mother inherited the property. Hede was already familiar with her grand-aunt’s place, as it lay in her childhood surroundings. She soon bought the property from her mother.

When Juha came into the picture, the couple began renovating the cottage together. The plan was for their five-person blended family to spend as much time there as possible.

The additional outdoor space that comes with rural life was a welcome change for the family, which includes large pets along with the children. The three dogs love the fenced-in yard.

“We thought we’d split our time between the Hattula cottage and our apartment in Helsinki so we could both continue our careers in the capital area,” Juha says.

Plans, however, changed. When the municipality of Hattula put the neighboring lot up for sale, the Ravantti-Vestos were immediately curious. They wanted to expand their yard to the adjacent lot so the sighthounds would get even more space to run.

However, the municipality required a building on that lot, so Hede and Juha started looking at the bigger picture. After some consideration, they decided to build a year-round home right next to the cottage. Their growing fondness for Hattula, nurtured by time spent at the cottage, led them to move to the countryside for good.

“We’ve never regretted the move for a second. Now we can live our daily life in a place that means so much to us, and our children also get the chance to put down roots here. The cottage is a real gem that shaped our bond with this landscape,” Juha says.

The cottage now serves as the detached sauna for the main house, and there’s also a hot tub in the yard. Both Hede and Juha love hot and cold therapy, and the options the cottage provides feel luxurious to them.

“It’s the best when we’re soaking under a starry sky in ice-cold water,” Hede says.

Candles and mood-fitting music add to the atmosphere.

“We always hang out in the sauna lounge before and after our steam. Even the dogs relax happily in its cozy darkness.”

Aunt Tyyne’s cottage sees many other uses, too. In summer, the family’s younger members often stay there for longer stretches, and the summer kitchen is in frequent use.

Over the years, the cottage has been fully renovated, inside and out. The couple did most of the work themselves. They wanted to honor the structure’s history and keep original features, so they also refurbished the old windows.

While reworking the windows, they seized the chance to enlarge the living room opening. They replaced the old window with patio doors, so the inside now seems to continue outdoors.

They’re both fans of 1950s design, which has inspired many choices for the cottage.

“When space is limited, small details matter. In a small area, even painting the baseboards the same color as the walls instead of leaving them white can make a big difference,” Hede says.

They also updated the cottage’s electricity in a style that fits: the outlets remain true to the originals, and the wiring is dark cloth-covered cable.

Decorating is simpler because Hede and Juha share similar tastes in interior design.

“Our projects usually begin with us brainstorming together, then Juha draws up the final plan. Often, ideas grow from one small element, like a particular wallpaper or a piece of furniture,” Hede says.

Plenty of fun surprises now await in what used to be Aunt Tyyne’s cottage.

“We wanted to bring a few bold features into the space, like the Catalina Estrada tiger wallpaper and some floral prints,” Juha says.

This visually oriented couple often discovers wonderful finds in unexpected places, like the Fargo Vintage store and the Metsänkylän Navetta barn store.

“If one of us sees something the other might like, we text each other right away, and sometimes we’ll buy it on the spot. If we don’t find what we’re after, we hold out until we do,” Hede says.

Heavily influenced by 1950s design, they’re not afraid of color.

“Aunt Tyyne also used color and played with it boldly, just like we do,” Juha says.

“We’re drawn to a palette that’s somewhat dark and misty, but we never let it get gloomy. You’ll find it throughout the house.”

They jokingly named the cottage’s color scheme after a musician.

“Lulu Rouge’s sound fits this vibe perfectly and really captures the cottage’s spirit.”

Aunt Tyyne’s cottage was also a source of inspiration when they chose materials and colors for the new main house next door.

“We really love this old cottage—it’s like the mother of our new home,” Juha says.

While the family’s main house is modern in terms of technology, the old house is still nearly as simple as ever: water is carried in from the well, and there’s an outhouse.

“We like a homespun touch, a bit of simplicity, and a slow rhythm,” Juha says.