Finnish Eurovision commentator Mikko Silvennoinen rides a tram to his tiny cottage—take a peek inside!

In the yard of their pale allotment garden cabin, everything is turning a lovely shade of green. Overly cutesy lace curtains are nowhere in sight; instead, both indoors and outdoors boast a sleek, uncluttered look. Their 13-year-old rescue whippet, Lupu, loves digging around near the hostas. On chilly days, though, this comfort-seeking pup prefers observing Mikko Silvennoinen’s gardening pursuits from inside the cabin.

“I take more of a trial and error approach: I see what grows and what doesn’t. The most important thing about this place is that we can come here to relax and invite friends over. It’s the heart of our social life,” Mikko says.

The allotment garden cabin has belonged to Mikko and his partner Asmo Noronen for about twenty years. They first discovered it just next door to their home, after their balcony became overcrowded with pumpkins, crops, and hanging gardens. One deal fell through, but the second time they succeeded through quick action. Mikko and Asmo were strolling around the allotment garden area with their young godson when they overheard a woman mentioning she planned to sell her cabin.

They have a clear division of labor: Mikko handles the yard, and Asmo takes care of the cabin. Mikko trusts Asmo’s taste but teases him about the pale, minimalist style.

“I know our cabin isn’t cute. If Asmo had his way, the cabin would be empty and painted white,” Mikko laughs.

Asmo isn’t into the typical cuteness and pink hues often associated with garden cabins.

“Many people find our cabin brutally stark. I can’t stand overly sweet fuss but want openness, clarity, and tranquility. I like sticking to one color,” Asmo explains.

After the purchase, the cabin looked completely different. It was darker and smaller, although one wall had a rough plank extension. The place was full of old items, which they hauled away by the van load. A seemingly functional fridge turned out to be a fire hazard. Fortunately, Asmo acted fast and prevented a disaster.

About ten years ago, the cabin was expanded to its current size after a careful design process. It grew in the only possible direction and reached its maximum permitted dimensions.

The kitchen is one of a kind, made from leftover pieces of Asmo’s own kitchen collections. No large items in the décor were purchased new. Taisto Kuha’s playful designer lamp originally came from Asmo’s childhood home. A kitchen peninsula neatly divides the main living area from the sleeping space.

“I have a bad habit of spotting design finds in dumpsters because people throw them away. All our dogs have learned to stop at dumpsters, too,” Asmo laughs.

Both are inspired by the spectacular gardens of the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Denmark. Mikko has tried to create layered green areas in the yard.

“Instead of just flowers everywhere, we wanted lots of varied greenery. We’re not quite at Louisiana’s level, since I’m attempting something similar in only two square meters (22 sq ft),” Mikko jokes.

The yard has climbing hydrangea, peonies, and a few plaster and concrete sculptures Asmo cast as a student at the University of Art and Design.

Mikko also wants to grow edible plants. His newest point of pride and experimentation is the herb bed behind the greenhouse. The garden is never finished. Mikko seldom buys anything new; instead, he gets seedlings from friends and keeps testing different spots.

“I just feel the need to dig in the dirt. I’m from rural North Karelia, where we had no choice but to weed. And I was already doing business as a kid in the 4H club: I grew, cultivated, and sold the wrinkled rose around local villages—now it’s declared illegal.”

Mikko still has one remaining dream: adding a water feature to the yard. For 15 years, the couple had a koi pond, but one winter the fish didn’t survive. It was so sad that Mikko filled it with gravel and planted grass. Now they call it the ancient shore.

When it comes to cabin life, Mikko describes himself as a sociable chatterbox who loves gardening, cooking, and good company. Asmo, on the other hand, grew up with a quiet island cabin lifestyle, where you might only hear grouse calling in the distance.

Their cabin season starts with a festive May Day party and ends with an Oktoberfest bash. They hold it late in fall with their cabin-area neighbors, after things have quieted down so they can celebrate without disturbing anyone.

Spending time in an allotment garden cabin suits Mikko and Asmo perfectly: they can have peace and quiet, yet there’s always someone around ready to put the kettle on.

Mikko and Asmo spend plenty of time at the cabin, on both weekdays and weekends.

“Because the cabin is so close, we can head over to grill after work. There’s nothing better than sitting under a cherry tree with a glass of white wine. Not many cabins are accessible by tram,” Asmo says.

Since their summer cabin is near home, their winter getaway is in Playa del Ingles in the Canary Islands. It’s actually an apartment in a multi-story building that relatives also use. As the resident green thumb, Mikko has already created a spurge patch on its balcony.

Friends often drop by Mikko and Asmo’s allotment garden cabin. The best part is that they don’t have to plan months in advance. Hosting is also stress-free because they can organize potluck gatherings.

“We rarely invite friends to our home, but it’s easy to invite them here. If we ever had to give up this cabin, I’m not sure where I’d get together with people,” Mikko reflects.