A family passionate about fantasy movies and games wanted to decorate their new home in a way that reflected their tastes. In the dull-white rectangular basement, they envisioned a special area for the father to both work and play. They wanted the decor to evoke a fantasy world. To help with the project, they enlisted interior designer Minna Haapakoski.
She divided the space into three distinct sections. Upon entering the man cave, visitors are greeted by a life-sized suit of armor standing beneath a moss ceiling. The father’s workstation is on the opposite wall. Passing under a vaulted arch, you step onto a raised platform meant for lounging, gaming, and watching TV.
Enter through the secret door! The man cave is accessed through a soundproof door concealed behind a wall mirror. The mirror opens on one set of hinges and the door on another. To position the mirror at a realistic height, rather than directly on the floor, the door was raised by the height of a step as well. The entire space is soundproof, which required designing a completely new ventilation system.
In the center of the room, there is a raised area for playing on the PlayStation or watching movies. The platform is at a comfortable sitting height, so you can use its edges as seating, as well. The walls and ceiling of the lounge area are paneled with Huliswood’s pinewood panel, behind which an indirect, dimmable LED light is installed. The floor is covered with wall-to-wall carpet from VM Carpet. Secondhand chairs were purchased for the workstations from Tavara Trading. The green throw from Lapuan Kankurit is made of Finnsheep’s wool.
This is how the space looked before the renovation:
The cave has also become a favorite with the children.
Esa Riikonen created the brick patterns on the wall using restoration mortar and painted them to look deceptively authentic.
Next to the suit of armor, a branch juts through the wall, evoking an abandoned knights’ castle. The moss ceiling brings a touch of greenery to the workspace. The stabilized moss is attached to a peat acoustic panel affixed to the ceiling, and it requires neither watering nor care. During stabilization, the living moss is treated with glycerin to preserve it, and it will retain its vibrant green hue for years.
At the far end of the room is another workstation for the mother. All lighting fixtures in this fully soundproofed space are dimmable, allowing for versatile lighting adjustments.
The man cave has also become a favorite spot for the children, and the entire family often gathers there to play board games. The renovation was rewarding for the designer, as well.
“It’s not often you get to design something so unique and out of the ordinary. I found it incredibly inspiring to truly indulge my creativity,” says Minna Haapakoski.
At the far end of the room is another workstation for the mother.
The concrete walls and floors, as well as the arch, were all handcrafted by Esa Riikonen, who makes unique stone-like surfaces. The surface of the arch, which resembles stone, was fashioned with restoration mortar. The desks were designed by Minna Haapakoski and made by Priimakaluste.
Along the back wall are oak shelves supported by chains, designed by Minna Haapakoski. They provide a place for the family to display their cherished items.
The renovation was carried out by Runtu Works.
