New house, old heart: Christmas spirit fills up the Finnish log home
This Finnish couple dreamed of an old house. When they couldn't find a suitable one, they built a log home reminiscent of a traditional Finnish Ostrobothnian house. Now the warm Christmas spirit can be felt there by the whole family.
A shared passion for old houses and the rural landscape connects Marianne and Esa Rajala. When they couldn’t find a suitable fixer-upper, the couple decided to build something with an old-fashioned feel but that is still new and built to last. The Ostrobothnian look and the enclosed yard were inspired by Esa's roots in Ostrobothnia.
Home: A solid log house built in 2018 in Iitti, Finland, featuring 5 rooms, a kitchen, and an upstairs landing, measuring 245 m² (2,637 sq ft).
Residents: Marianne, age 36, and Esa, age 42, Rajala along with their children Iisa, age 6, and Vilho, age 4, as well as Esa’s children Auri and Toivo.
Marianne and Esa had previously renovated old houses but had never built a new one. High ceilings, natural ventilation, and the atmosphere created by the massive logs are a result of traditional building techniques.
“This home will only improve with age, as the surfaces develop character over time,” Marianne says.
The heart of the home is a large, masonry fireplace with a baking oven and its surrounding living area. The six-person blended family can hang out together in the common spaces or do their own thing whenever they like.
Marianne seeks harmony with colors.
“I feel the need to disrupt the neutral color palette with a sprinkle of cheerful colors. For this home, the bright turquoise doors were the perfect choice,” Marianne says.
“If a space or design choice brings good vibes, you can’t have gone wrong with the decor.”
“The look of these dark-waxed solid logs changes with the seasons. In summer, the contrast between white and dark is refreshing and crisp, while in winter the dark logs create a Christmas feel,” she says.
Marianne’s love of patina, the shining of older furniture, began at a nearby family property from the 19th century. Much of the furniture was moved from there to Rajalas’ new home. Marianne and Esa’s passion for historical homes and for restoring old houses still runs deep. They already have a new dream: to renovate Marianne’s beloved family estate into a new family home.
Interior decoration is close to Marianne's heart.
“If a space or design choice brings good vibes, you can't have gone wrong with the decor,” Marianne sums up her philosophy.
When the house was finished, the family’s Christmas traditions also changed. There's a special feel to gathering with loved ones in a red log house out in the countryside.
Marianne works as an entrepreneur at a local farmer's market, where each year builds up to the Christmas season.
“I am extremely busy in the Christmas season. Thankfully, I don’t have to stress about the holiday meals because I can get all our Christmas delicacies at the farmer's market.”
