Piia and Marko turned a 130-year-old school into a warmhearted home: “The place won us over right away”

Despite their efforts, they never came across a the little cottage of their dreams, so Piia and Marko Petäjäjärvi expanded their search to include farmsteads. A photo of an old elementary school on Finland’s Kemiönsaari archipelago popped up on the computer screen, with a showing a couple of days later. They had to see it, even though they weren’t familiar with the island. Piia still vividly remembers their first visit.

“The place won us over right away. When we reached the main hall, the spring light streaming through the enormous windows made me burst into tears. Our search was over. The home belonged to an elderly couple who had lived here for fifteen years. They had kept everything in excellent shape, with even the receipts organized chronologically. Classes ended at the school in 1974.

We didn’t need much renovation. We just refreshed a few surfaces and wallpapered some walls. We also expanded the kitchen by removing a partition leading to a small utility kitchen. We approached everything with restraint, since we didn’t need to redo it all from scratch.

Gradually, we moved more and more of our things from our Helsinki home to the island, and it got harder and harder to leave. My work-related exhaustion even began to subside. In 2009, I decided to make a fresh start and moved to permanently for remote work. For five years, Marko continued working in Helsinki during the weekdays. Then he became an entrepreneur and joined me here. Now we can’t imagine living anywhere else.

I love colors and blending old with new. I don’t really follow trends. Instead, I refresh our home by rearranging furniture. Sometimes I discover small décor items at flea markets, antique shops, or while traveling.

I love cooking, and Marko also takes an interest. Word of my culinary skills soon spread around the island. People started asking if I could cook pea soup for volunteer events. Eventually, I was getting so many requests that I started a catering business.

I encourage islanders to embrace authentic flavors, local produce, and the changing seasons. I preserve our apples and cherries as jams and juices, and sometimes I make liqueur. Wild greens practically send me into raptures.

I’ve toned down my holiday fussing a bit, even though I adore the Christmas atmosphere. On the first Sunday of Advent, we hang star lights in the windows and switch on the outdoor decorations. I listen to Christmas carols, make cards, pour beeswax candles, and craft homemade gifts such as pickled cucumbers and spruce shoot syrup.

Every day in December, Iita and Meeri find a surprise in their Christmas stocking. The moment I say “Christmas stocking,” they rush over. It’s delightful that they remember our little tradition even after a year’s break.”