“We were captivated by the view”—Lotta and Arto’s blended family found their home in a 1960s gem with a panoramic garden window

Lotta loves gardening, so she has invested both in the garden and the interior spaces. She is currently dreaming of a greenhouse.

This house has been the blended family’s harmoniously beautiful home for a few years now. Lotta, the mother of the family, decorates intuitively and thoughtfully, drawing deep within herself. The soulfulness of the home is evident in every detail.

Lotta and her partner Arto wanted their family’s first shared home to have a floor plan that allows everyone to have their own space when needed, even though they spend a lot of time together. Both are drawn to ’60s architecture, and when they found the right house, they quickly decided to buy it. However, they only secured it after a bidding war, finalizing the deal over the phone just as the family was queuing at the Linnanmäki amusement park.

Lotta’s favorite pastimes are cooking together and tending the garden. Both spouses’ love for cooking is reflected in their gift choices; their kitchen gadget collection was recently expanded with a smoking gun.

During the kitchen renovation, they ensured there was enough space for more than one cook at a time. Lotta wanted to preserve the original upper cabinets; their frames were replaced and the doors refurbished. The new cabinet frames are from Ikea, enhanced with fronts by A.S. Helsingö. The backsplash tiles are from ABL, and the countertops are marble.

The kitchen was designed by Lotta. Artek’s 110 pendant lamps provide a contrast to the soft color palette.

My home reveals about me that...

I love decorating our home, and aesthetics are important to me. A curated environment provides positive energy and well-being. As a counterbalance to a busy work life, it’s meaningful to be surrounded by beauty and have a place where the eye can rest. Home is where I recharge, so it needs to be to my liking so I can relax.

I get excited about...

Flea market finds and vintage items. I always have a mental shopping list to which I add both ideas and practical needs. If we need new cereal bowls, I make an effort to find ones that resonate with me in some way. I might also start collecting a particular set of dishes or perhaps colored drinking glasses. I believe I’ve inherited my mother’s passion for flea markets and summer markets because antique events are my number one hobby, and I scour flea markets even when abroad. Most recently, I was inspired in Japan and at the markets there. I brought back ceramics that blend well with Scandinavian design.

You can see through the dining area to the reading nook from the kitchen. The dining table was made by Finnish company 16 juin, which produces custom concrete furniture. The vintage chairs are from Roomage, and the pendant lamp a ’Romeo Moon’, designed by Philippe Starck. The rug is from Anno. The wall color is Tikkurila’s X487 Laasti.

As a decorator, I am...

More thoughtful than impulsive. Decorating our home is a project spanning years and a combination of lived experiences that we update as needed. Even though I prefer items with a history, I like new designs, which are fun to mix with the old.

What makes our home special is...

The living room’s floor-to-ceiling window, whose view captivated us during the house showing. We mentally decided to buy based on that view. From the window, you can see the garden that rises up the hill. We also appreciate that the house has mostly been left in its original condition. The old built-in furniture, the ’60s-style Oregon pine ceiling paneling, and elements like the lights embedded in the stairs make our home soulful.

When you sit in the leather chair in the reading nook, you can see the entire upper floor. This piece of furniture, a family-favorite, was found at Fargo Vintage. The marble table is from Gumbostrand Konst & Form.

The panoramic window in the living room is the crown jewel of the home. The rattan chairs on the terrace by Parolan Rottinki were purchased secondhand. The modern sofa is Hakola’s ’Lazy’. Black leather was chosen for the sofa because it’s timeless and suits the atmosphere of the home beautifully.

A sweet mix of styles: the Chinese sideboard was purchased on a business trip to Shanghai, the Japanese puppet theater dolls were found at an antique market in Tokyo, and the candelabra was brought from New York.

Everyday life is easier with...

Ample storage space. I’m very pleased that drying racks and other unaesthetic items are hidden away. There is a large walk-in closet connected to the entrance hall, which fits coat racks and shoe shelves.

I’m particularly pleased with...

Our kitchen renovation. The original layout wouldn’t have worked for us, so we changed it by removing one wall and closing one doorway. We wanted a kitchen where we could enjoy spending time and entertain guests. We did preserve some of the original elements by refurbishing the old upper cabinets.

The collage in the living room has formed of various finds over the years. Lotta has purchased posters and artworks from around the world, many with old frames. The table is from IKEA’s Stockholm collection, the sideboard is by Doorie, and the rug is Finarte’s ’Dyyni’. The wall is painted with Tikkurila’s 1934.

The ceiling paneling exudes the ’60s. The black leather sofa is by Hakola.

My most beloved treasures are...

Flea market finds from around the world, various statues and sculptures, and my collection of Japanese ceramic bowls. Of course, Finnish vintage utility and art glass items, as well as vases inherited from my grandparents’ cabinets, are important too.

When I have spare time...

I relax by working in the garden. In spring and autumn, there’s more to do, and I love exploring garden shop selections and experimenting with plants. The latest big project was installing an automatic irrigation system. Even daily weeding calms me. My other favorite activity is knitting, which is the best mindfulness activity: a task that requires focus and takes my mind off everyday thoughts. When I knit sweaters, I listen to audiobooks.

There’s an adjoining bathroom in the parents’ bedroom. The original teak built-in furniture was simply cleaned and oiled. The brass wall lights are also original. The floor is tiled with Tulikivi’s marble mosaic. The wall tiles are Italian and were purchased from Kaakelikeskus.

The slatted wall made by Lotta’s father brings warmth to the pool room. In summer, light flows into the space through the skylight, but in winter, the family burn candles around the pool.

Not many people know this, but...

Even though our home looks tidy on the surface, my walk-in closet is a disaster. Arto keeps his own closets in impeccable order, but I’m more carefree, and sometimes there might be some dust bunnies around. Fortunately, they blend nicely into the concrete floor.

Klaus Haapaniemi’s mysteriously captivating ’Equinoxe’ wallpaper in the bedroom is an eye-catching detail. The nightstands were bought secondhand, and the radiator covers that suit the atmosphere of the home were built by Lotta’s father. The linen-upholstered headboard is from Ellos Home.

The best moments at home are made of...

Unhurried days in the rattan chairs on the terrace, enjoying good food and admiring the view and the garden. We appreciate our home and our surroundings. A glass of good wine on a summer evening makes even ordinary days enjoyable, and my motto is: enjoy the little things. In winter, we enjoy the spa atmosphere of the sauna and the cozy dimness. We couldn’t have found a better home for our family. We will enjoy living here for a long time.

The bed in Emil’s room has a frame built by Lotta’s father and painted by Lotta. The wall-to-wall window beautifully illuminates the space. The walls are painted with Tikkurila’s shade M499 Mantteli.

The tiled floor in the entrance is original. The staircase was renovated by removing the cork tiles and grinding and varnishing the concrete. The Ikea cabinet is covered with panels by Doorie.

The house in Haukilahti, Espoo, has 175 square meters of space.