A large, bright kitchen-dining area was created by tearing down walls. The layout was planned around the windows. A dining table made by a friend, Louis Ghost chairs, and the Big Bang pendant lamp by Foscarini add to the sense of openness.
The entryway certainly makes an impression—it’s an intense shade of blood red. A new chapter began in Mikko Manninen’s life in fall 2023, when he returned to Finland after living in Mexico and other countries for a few years. Before he left, he sold his home in Helsinki’s Ullanlinna district and put all his furniture into storage. Once back, he found a new home in the lively Kallio neighborhood near Hakaniemi Market Square.
The passionately red color in the entryway nods to the Latin lifestyle dear to Mikko and the Spanish phrase dar a luz, which literally means “to bring into the light.” It refers to giving birth, the moment when a newborn leaves its mother’s womb and sees the light.
Having worked in interior design and design products for a long time, Mikko has traveled extensively in Latin America and even lived there. In his decor and carefully selected pieces, Finnish design meets the cultures and countries of Latin America.
Mikko has used the colors that matter to him boldly yet in a refined Scandinavian manner. He found inspiration nearby in Ville Relander's Hakaniemi Market Hall–based restaurant, Kirsikka. Its interior was designed by the Koko3 design office, whose Aino Brandt Mikko consulted during the renovation when choosing the bedroom wall color. Eventually, they went with a cumin-like yellow for the walls.
resident Mikko Manninen, 46, a sales professional in the design field.
home A 1937 apartment building in Helsinki’s Hakaniemi. The home measures 64 square meters.
In the spacious open kitchen, it’s easy to cook with friends. The island countertop is made of blue Durat, a Finnish, responsibly produced material. Mikko chose this rainbow-like shade to complement the oak and tie in with the home’s other colors. The long wall of cabinets hides the refrigerator, a breakfast cabinet, storage, and a cleaning closet. Appliances are by Miele. The painting is by Anna-Kaisa Hartikainen. Herbs thrive in a terracotta pot under natural light.
The original plank flooring from 1937 was retained during the renovation. The boards were reinstalled with modern soundproofing underneath and painted light gray. Their glossy finish amplifies the room’s light. In this home, windows in multiple directions bring in more brightness and a sense of space. In the one-bedroom apartment, there's no large seating area or TV, since the living room isn't the most important space for Mikko. Some furniture and older rugs are inherited. The Italian sofa and sideboard came from his previous home, and the sofa is topped with Klaus Haapaniemi cushions.
From the stairwell, you enter a spacious entryway. Opposite the front door is the living room window, which brightens this windowless space. Several red tones from Tikkurila were used here: M326 on the walls and M423 on the ceiling. The entry rug is a flea market find.
The carpenter built the kitchen in oak. Deep blue countertops and the dishwashing “altar” add a striking touch.
Mikko planned the kitchen together with Helsinki-based carpenter Juhan Mikonen. Artek’s A330S Golden Bell pendant lamps fit right in from his previous home, since brass is the chosen metallic accent for the new kitchen. On the dining side of the island, cabinets store tableware and cookbooks. The red rug originally belonged to Mikko’s grandparents. The deep blue wall color is 033 Jules by Laura Seppänen for Cover Story.
Behind the row of cabinets, there's space for technical systems, so some cupboards were made less deep. The shelves house cookbooks and glass collections. The carpenter already knew how many meters of shelving were needed for tableware. Mikko has a large selection of dishes from his years at Iittala and Arabia, later Fiskars Group. His love for glassware, however, started when he was a little boy and his godmother gave him a shoebox full of Iittala Aarne cocktail glasses.
The kitchen is made of oak, with a bold shade of blue as an accent. The countertops and “dishwashing altar” are finished with Finnish Durat. The sink and faucet are brass, both by Grohe. Mikko managed to get a pink handle from the special order range for the faucet. The breakfast cabinet houses small appliances, tableware, spices, and appealing everyday objects. The ceramic pitcher on the counter is by Teppo Honkala.
Mikko values good food and drink. He loves discovering new ideas and flavors when he travels. There's always a bottle of sparkling wine in his fridge, and there's always a good reason to open it. Mikko often buys peonies from a trusted florist at the nearby Hakaniemi Market. The painting in the kitchen is by Anna-Kaisa Hartikainen.
While renovating, Mikko spent time in the apartment and noticed how the morning sun rises beautifully from the opposite end of the home, so he placed the bedroom there. When he wakes up, he can see Hotel Torni. Bedding and textiles bring more color. The floor lamp is the Senator by Lisa Johansson-Pape, which a friend found for Mikko at an antique auction. The armchair was built by his grandfather. The wall color is AV3 Helga from the Avotakka by Cover Story collection.
A key detail is how the bathroom’s red tile floor color continues into the entryway’s terracotta-toned baseboards.
The bathroom is next to the red entryway, so one small yet important detail is the way the red tile floor carries over to the entry’s terracotta-colored baseboards. The bathroom walls feature two different tiles from ABL, with a narrow tile that transitions where the shower area begins. Mikko designed the mirror and vanity with carpenter Johan Mikonen, who built them. The Durat countertop has a soft brick-red shade. The shower wall is by Hietakari.
Grohe’s brass shower and faucet suit the space. The pink figurines on the shelf were purchased in Mexico at La Lagunilla’s Sunday market, one of Mikko’s favorite spots. They’re from the 1968 Mexico Olympics, and their color inspired the pink ceiling.
On the windowsill sits a hand-painted icon that is very close to Mikko’s heart. It’s the first thing he would rescue in a fire. It was painted for him by a caregiver in his childhood after his mother passed away. His mother found the small painting at a flea market. The candleholders are by Iittala.
This Helsinki apartment, built in 1937, measures 64 square meters.
