“Sometimes I think it’s completely crazy that this house is ours”—inside Heidi and Josef’s playful wooden home in Åland

The whole family together. Heidi and Josef, with Billie and Elvis, have lived for five years in the 1934 wooden house in Åland.

A small greenhouse, sheets blowing in the breeze, and a cherry tree filled with fruit. On the other side of the red fence is a world of its own. Built in 1934 near the Mariehamn city hall, this wooden house is home to two interior design professionals: interior architect Heidi Eklund and furniture designer Josef Marnell, together with their children Elvis and Billie with them.

The couple owns the entire house but lives downstairs with their family, while the upper floor is rented out. Heidi is a Mariehamn native who returned to Åland after 20 years, most of which she spent in Stockholm and on Sweden’s west coast. Josef is from Uppsala. Both studied Carl Malmsten’s school to become furniture carpenters.

“We fell in love during a study trip to the Milan furniture fair,” Heidi says with a grin.

Rounded shapes pop up all over Heidi and Josef’s home. The wall-mounted light in the living room is Alma by Wästberg. The spotted vase on the coffee table is by Emelie Thornadtsson. Cushion and throw, H&M Home.

The living room has a charming bay window. The Pigkammaren wallpaper by Boråstapeter was there before they moved in. The plush coffee table is from Jotex.

The papier-mâché dog in the living room is a keepsake from their years in Stockholm. It stood in a local shop’s window for ages without a price tag. They call him Bruno.

The couple’s plans definitely did not include buying a house in Mariehamn and leaving Stockholm. But that’s how things turned out. They found the house by chance in 2016 and mostly used it as a summer place at first, but it kept drawing them in. Five years ago, they moved here for good.

Playfulness is the main thread running through this home, reflecting bold color choices in wooden interiors that spark joy in every corner.

“Even though we both work with interiors, we don’t take ourselves too seriously when it comes to our own home,” Heidi says. “We want it to feel comfortable above all. The kids can play freely, and the cat can sharpen its claws on the sofa.”

“We’re not into luxury or glossy surfaces,” Josef adds. “We prefer a more down-to-earth style.”

Heidi praises Josef’s knack for interior design.

“Mixing objects is the key to decorating,” Josef says. “That’s what makes a home feel cozy. We have a bit of new and plenty of old. I don’t like renovating everything at once, because it often ends up looking too brand-new and sterile.”

Aside from the living room, each space was updated one at a time. The living room wallpaper, however, stayed.

“I never would have chosen damask wallpaper for it, but somehow it works,” Heidi says.

In the spacious entryway your attention is drawn to the wooden floor painted in a bold oxblood red. This is yet another example of wooden house design ideas for families seeking both function and flair.

“The painter asked us more than once if we were certain before he got started,” Heidi recalls.

The oxblood red entryway floor really stands out. The chair was made by Josef’s grandfather, who worked as a carpenter in the Kiruna mine. Mirror, H&M Home.

Yellow IKEA curtains separate the entryway from the children’s room. This chair is a vintage Bruno Mathsson classic called Ingrid, reupholstered in a jungle-print fabric. Mirror, Jysk.

“It’s not always a picnic living with an interior architect,” Josef admits. “After the renovation, Heidi thought the bedroom walls were ‘the wrong kind of yellow.’”

The living room has several eye-catching features, including two pink armchairs.

“Those chairs cost 20 euros at a flea market, and I hauled them home on a cargo bike,” Heidi laughs. “I love pink. It wouldn’t surprise me if we one day paint the living room ceiling in a rich, old-fashioned pink.”

The poppy-red Ile lamp by Inga Sempé for Wästberg gives the bedroom a bold accent. The cork bench is from Ilse Crawford’s Sinnerlig collection for IKEA. Bedspread, Afroart. Cushions, H&M Home.

In the parents’ sleeping area, linen curtains replace closet doors. The bench is upholstered in Kvadrat fabric by Raf Simons. Polka dot cushion, Jotex.

In Billie’s tiny room, the loft bed is built into the closet. Underneath is the perfect nook for reading and hanging out.

Even though Heidi is an interior architect, she’s far from a design snob. The latest addition is the round pink terrazzo table in the living room from Jotex.

“It’s kind of like a clumsy elephant in the middle of the room,” Heidi jokes.

And yes, they do shop at IKEA. Ilse Crawford’s 2015 Sinnerlig collection for IKEA is dear to Heidi’s heart. The breakfast cupboard is stocked with jars from the line, and there’s a cork bench in the bedroom.

“I regret not buying the daybed from the Sinnerlig collection.”

When Sinnerlig hit the market, Heidi was on maternity leave and lined up outside IKEA to be sure she could get a few pieces.

Heidi made the base of the kitchen table in her student days. The round top, crafted by a carpenter, is finished with a leftover piece of linoleum. The counters are terrazzo, and the tiles are from Toniton. The chairs are by Massproductions. The Semi pendant from Gubi was bought secondhand.

The kiosk-like opening in the kitchen adds light and a playful touch. The tiles are from Toniton. The round, pale blue Clamp tray is by Navet. In the background is artwork by Emilia Ilke. Originally, they wanted red-and-white striped tiles, but the plan changed—leaving a circus vibe.

A convenient window seat is a comfy spot to lounge. The striped fabric feels fresh and timeless.

A lace curtain filters soft light into the bathroom. Glossy, pale gray tiles from Kakelspecialisten. Faucet by Tapwell. The towel rack is a flea market find.

They’re both particular about materials and even admit to being “material nerds.” Josef loves wood, while Heidi adores terrazzo and linoleum.

“Terrazzo is cheaper than natural stone and comes in a wide range of shades, from neutral to candy colors. Plus, it’s very durable and has been used in Mediterranean countries for centuries,” Heidi explains.

When Heidi talks about linoleum’s qualities, it sounds as though she’s describing a family member: it’s durable, quiet, and warm. It’s also self-healing, so scratches disappear on their own, she points out.

The next project is all about the garden. They dream of building a summer kitchen by the terrace, a pergola, and a greenhouse of old windows. Heidi loves diving into new projects, while Josef often hits the brakes.

Even though they adore this old wooden house, they both yearn for a small seaside cottage where they could slip straight from sauna to sea.

“I’d rather have a cottage than a bigger house,” Heidi says. “We do need one more room—a guest room—but maybe we can manage. There’s a sauna and bathroom in the basement, so we could build a guest room there.”

“Sometimes, pedaling home, I still think it’s wild that this house is ours. That we actually live here,” Heidi says.

The greenhouse is a little oasis in the garden where geraniums thrive. The wicker furniture is a flea market find.