“You can’t just get rid of everything old or cover it with paint”—Maru renovates her family’s log cabin with care
Finnish interior designer & TV personality Maru Hautala vacations with her family at her childhood summer retreat. The traditional round-log cabin has been updated with black paint. “On an island, I think a simple, easy-to-maintain approach works best,” she says.
Our cabin: A round-log cabin from 1997, featuring 3 rooms, kitchen, bathroom, sauna, and dressing room, totaling 87 m².
The cabin sits on its own half-hectare island. You reach the mainland by rowboat, and in winter, you can cross on the ice.
Who vacations here: Interior designer Maru Hautala, 37, elementary school teacher Jukka, 38, and their two sons, ages 12 and 10.
Follow on social media: @maruhautala @saari.lokonen
Maru, tell us about your cabin!
My parents built the cabin, and it was my childhood getaway. Jukka and I have owned it for three years now.
The cabin has always been well cared for, so we haven’t needed any major renovations. I mainly wanted to freshen up the overall look with new furniture and textiles. We both love exposed wood surfaces and that authentic cabin feel. In my opinion, you need a good reason to paint over the original finishes—you can’t just get rid of everything old, even if it’s from the ’90s, or cover it with paint. Besides, my father had only one request: don’t paint the ceiling, because it’s made from trees from our own forest.
You also rent out your cabin?
The cabin has been a rental since my parents’ time in the early 2000s, so we were already familiar with the process and continued it without difficulty. Most of the summer is usually booked, though we may have a few free days here and there, which is fine because we use the cabin year-round. We spend nearly every school holiday on the island.
Renting has gone smoothly. Our guests are typically outdoorsy, nature-loving people who appreciate the island’s tranquility. The Etelä-Konnevesi National Park is reasonably close and is also a draw. Renting helps make owning a large cabin financially feasible.
We head out to clean and replace sheets and towels after each guest. Luckily, it’s just about an hour’s drive from our home to the cabin’s shore.
“At the cabin, the décor is about simplicity and a subtle color palette. Meanwhile, our home is vibrant and full of color.”
How would you describe the cabin's interior style?
I wanted to brighten and modernize the décor but didn’t want to paint over the wooden surfaces or logs. I also didn’t want clutter. I think simple and easy-to-maintain works best on an island. I’m fond of a Scandinavian feel, so that guided my choices. I replaced the green sofas with a light-colored sofa bed, added a pale rug, and used white bulbs in the fixtures to balance out the wood’s yellowish tone.
You work in interior design. How does designing for yourself differ from designing for a client?
When I design for myself, I follow my instincts and the overall atmosphere. With clients, you have to think everything through carefully and justify each decision. At the cabin, the décor emphasizes simplicity and a subtle color palette. In contrast, our home is bold and colorful, completely different from the cabin.
“I’ve realized I’m becoming just like my mother: I scrub the logs with full dedication.”
What does the cabin mean to you?
It means peace, togetherness, reading, and enjoying a cozy fire. Along with family time, I become an enthusiastic woodworker on the island. I tackle woodworking projects with surprising gusto, rearrange firewood stacks, and appreciate the results. I’ve also found I’m turning into my mother: I wholeheartedly scrub the logs. On the island, everyday busyness shifts into hands-on tasks.
