Heidi and Jani Kaljunen’s new home on their family land was completed ten years ago, but it has the spirit of a century-old house. Heidi Kaljunen is enchanted by the design and materials of older houses.
Heidi would have liked an old wood-burning stove in the kitchen, but the chimney created complications, so she had to relinquish that dream. A solution was found by uniting old and new: a brand-new induction cooktop was installed inside the nonfunctional wood stove. The logs for the kitchen’s log wall came from a house slated for demolition. They were sawn into panels and attached to a partition-wall frame.
Heidi and Jani Kaljunen live here with their children Eetu, 18, and Arttu, 17, and Puntti the dog. The family’s house was built according to Jukka-talot’s Miljöö collection, but Heidi adapted the details to the existing floor plan.
Heidi shares about the family home:
"When you’re looking for old building materials, you need plenty of time. You have to be ready to grab any opportunities that pop up, even at short notice.
A local sawyer built the kitchen wall from the logs of the demolition house. All our doors were found secondhand. Most of them turned out to be the same size, and by good fortune they matched the building authority’s guidelines, so they didn’t need altering.
I appreciate older houses’ floor plans and wanted an open living room-kitchen concept for us.
Our glass veranda was designed in a traditional style. Its windows opening in different directions offer the perfect spot to take in the sunset. I think the veranda might be my favorite place!
The entryway floor is checkered. A sisal rug prevents dirt and slush from getting tracked in. All the doors in this house were rescued from a nearby demolition.
"I’ve always been an aesthete and a visual person. For me, decorating is not just a job but a way of life."
Heidi Kaljunen
In the kitchen, residents walk on Timberwise’s oil-waxed plank flooring. An aged cupboard from Romuritari serves as a kitchen island. A corner cupboard, in keeping with the feel of the house, stores dry goods. The knife block made of books reminds Heidi of when she worked in a bookstore. The small lamp by the window comes from a shop in the Strömfors ironworks area.
The family’s dog, Puntti, naps in the bright kitchen-living area. The leather sofa from Ikea is practical and timeless. The zebra-print armchair is from Heidi’s friend’s shop called Retrotikki. The black stool is vintage, and the rug was picked up at a flea market. The footstool and clip lamp are from Ikea.
The tiled stove was taken from an old house and arrived in banana boxes. The mason and his wife lived with the Kaljunen family for a week while this lovely kakluuni was installed in its new home.
I love how the colors of our home vary from one room to another. Although the style is layered, it’s still controlled layering. What matters most is keeping track of the overall look.
Over the years, our interior has been more abundant and traditional, but these days I pare down on items. Still, our style is definitely not minimalist.
Decorating shouldn’t be something you just power through, nor should it be too serious or feel forced. With it, you can boldly express your own personality, because your home and the things you choose to fill it with are a form of self-expression.
I’ve always been an aesthete and a visual person. Decorating is not only my line of work but my lifestyle. I believe home décor reflects who we are as people. It says far more than just which colors or materials we like.”
The planks in Eetu’s room were dried before installation to form the wooden wall. The bed frame was assembled from euro pallets. The E lamp was taken from an old sign. Vintage wooden crates on the wall function as storage units.
In the upstairs landing, an old metal cabinet from a nearby factory serves as storage furniture.
Heidi gathered much of her cheerful quilt collection herself, and some were received as gifts. Old painter’s ladders lean against the wall.
The showstopper in Arttu’s room is the green Atomi wallpaper from Tapettitehdas Pihlgren ja Ritola. The main color recurs in the textiles and posters. The rug is from H&M Home.
"When you’re searching for old building materials, you have to latch onto any chance that comes your way."
Heidi Kaljunen
Heidi thinks the best part of being an interior designer is being part of clients’ changing life situations and important decisions. That’s what décor is, too—life in flux and its cycles! The home office wall sports Cole & Son’s Palmtree wallpaper.
The bathroom décor is classic. Heidi felt overwhelmed by color, so the tub’s former pink shade gave way to black, yielding a serene result. Notice the delightfully whimsical string lights on the wall, decorated with hair rollers!
"Decorating shouldn’t be a chore, too serious, or stuck on like an afterthought."
Heidi Kaljunen
The best “screen time” is the view through the veranda windows. The veranda is Heidi’s favorite spot, as it looks onto Lake Saimaa. The sofa and the rattan plant stand came from Heidi’s friends.
The plank floor is painted a light gray with Betolux. The wall clock was gifted by Jani’s mother, and the rattan chair is also an heirloom from Jani’s family. The armchair was bought from Retrotikki, and the floor lamp is by the Swedish brand AH Belysning.
The Kaljunen house, built in 2012 in Lappeenranta, is a 180-square-meter detached home with five rooms plus a kitchen, sauna, lakeside cottage, and lakeside sauna. It was constructed on a hill for the lovely lake view and peaceful setting. Heidi and Jani planted the cherry and apple trees they received for their 40th birthdays in the yard.
Heidi loves garden work. She picked some thyme from the roadside, and it has spread widely in the yard. “It has become a beautiful purple carpet that draws in bees and butterflies. Sometimes it’s like a scene from a storybook,” Heidi says.
Follow Heidi on Instagram @heidi_livinki.
