A field of dreams

Modern house meets family history: “This is our first and last home”

Finns Annika and Simon Vestman stayed in their childhood surroundings in the village of Sokoja. Their dream home was filled with colors they recalled from their travels.

Author Suvi Lahtinen

Images Frida Steiner

September 29, 2025Lue suomeksi

Six years ago Simon Vestman stood in the middle of his family’s field. He was there at his grandmother’s encouragement, looking out at the serene landscape in the village of Sokoja, which has a population of about one thousand.

“Our longing for more peaceful surroundings was strong. When Simon walked away from that field, it was clear that our first shared home would be built there, Annika Vestman says.”

At that time, the couple was still living in a rental apartment in downtown Kokkola, but Simon’s parents and grandparents lived in Sokoja, and Annika’s parents were also close by. The extended family land offered plenty of space for the young couple’s new home. It suited them well to stay near their relatives, since Simon works for the family business and everyone gets along. It was as if the perfect location in the middle of the field had simply been waiting for Annika and Simon.

“We chose the house from the Kreivitalot collection quickly. We didn’t even consider other options, because just like the lot itself, this house was exactly right for us. Our quick decision-making is also evident in how we chose the blueish-gray exterior color. I decided on it in the hardware store in three minutes, and we both still love it,” Annika says.

Annika Vestman lighting a candle for a festive table setting. — In Annika’s opinion, a home’s décor becomes more timeless and personal when items have their own story and meaning, instead of just being trendy pieces. And the price doesn’t have to be high, as Annika believes you can find amazing solutions on a wide range of budgets. You can follow Annika on Instagram @annikafestman.

A dining set in the spacious kitchen-living area. — The combined kitchen-living area is an impressive 50 square meters (about 540 sq ft).

“It’s wonderful to sit at the kitchen table at five in the morning with a cup of coffee while watching the young foxes romp around. The best screen time.”
Annika Vestman

A festive table setting. — “I really got excited about fixing up and decorating our home only after we moved here,” Annika says. The dining set is from Asko.

White kitchen cabinets and a subway tile backsplash. — Annika enjoys cooking, but sometimes Simon surprises her with his own variations, like the time he made pasta sautéed in white wine. The white cabinets were purchased from Huusholli Keittiöt in Kokkola.

A kitchen rack with chef Kape Aihinen’s cookbook and a travel radio.

Annika and Simon appreciate the home’s wide hallways and the airy feel created by the high ceilings. They love the view of the fields and forest through the windows, which are over five meters (about 16 ft) tall.

“It’s wonderful to sit at the kitchen table at five in the morning with a cup of coffee and watch the young foxes romp around in the snowdrifts beneath the nearby old barn. The best screen time,” Annika says.

Annika and Simon have traveled together in 16 countries, and the interior of their home was inspired by the colors of warmer places. Even during the construction of their home, they knew they didn’t want a light-toned house. In fact, there are no white walls anywhere except in the entryway, and those are covered in photos and posters.

“We wanted each room to be a space where creativity lives, and where we can change the color of the walls whenever inspiration strikes. For example, while we were in Bali we were especially inspired by bright colors, so we filled our home with hues that bring us joy,” Annika explains.

They’re expecting a new addition to the family in the spring, and it’s important to Annika that their home be a safe haven for their growing family.

“I love the peacefulness of our home and the village of Sokoja. Simon’s sister once said that everyone should live in a place that you never want to leave for vacation. That perfectly applies to us, because we feel so good here. This is our first and last home.”

Even during construction, Annika and Simon knew they didn’t want a light-toned home. There are no white walls anywhere except in the entryway.

Annika and Simon’s living room walls are agate gray. — Annika says she often finds great deals at affordable prices. That suits her well, because she frequently comes up with new ideas at a quick pace. “I don’t want to buy anything unnecessary, so I’m patient enough to wait for the right piece of furniture or object,” Annika says. The rug was ordered from Ellos.

A large yellow sofa in Annika and Simon’s living room. — The couple purchased their large yellow sofa from Veke. The walls have a shade reminiscent of agate gray, painted in Tikkurila’s N500. Annika’s decorating philosophy is that people tire of white, so she encourages others to embrace color.

The living room’s oversized yellow sofa. — When you step into Annika and Simon’s home, you’re greeted by a stunning view through the windows. Their Finnish-made Linnatuli fireplace is painted in Tikkurila’s Keskiyö Y498 shade. The coffee table was purchased from Ellos. “The best part of our home is the person I get to share it with,” Annika says.

A glossy globe on the living room side table.

The “New beginnings” artwork on the entry hall wall. — Important to Annika: She had long admired artist Maria Ruoti’s work and hinted about it to Simon just before she turned thirty. Simon remembered and commissioned the piece “New beginnings” as a birthday gift for Annika. The entry hall wall is painted in Tikkurila’s yellow shade N303.

The entryway’s striped wallpaper and wooden sofa. — The striped wallpaper was ordered from Ellos, and the worn old wooden sofa is Simon’s great-grandfather’s former bed.

A collection of framed pictures on the wall.

Annika and Simon’s bedroom painted in blue. — Annika boldly painted the bedroom walls blue because colors bring her joy.

A half-circle–painted wall in the bedroom. — Annika painted a semicircle on the bedroom’s headboard wall as soon as inspiration struck. Now, however, she’s already dreaming of William Morris’s The Brook wallpaper, depicting deer roaming a leafy forest.

Annika and Simon’s bedroom. — In Annika’s opinion, you shouldn’t overthink decorating decisions—just trust your intuition. The lamp is from Clas Ohlson, and the wall art is from Desenio.fi. The headboard was ordered from Jotex, and the bed linens are from Jotex, Ellos, and Rusta.

The furniture in the study was purchased from Ikea and Jysk. — The couple purchased the office chair from Jysk and the shelves from Ikea. The book pages on the wall come from a book Annika once found on a train in New York.

Jungle-themed wallpaper in the bathroom. — The bathroom fixtures were purchased from Huusholli Keittiöt in Kokkola. The wall features Cole & Son’s Savuti wallpaper, inspired by one of Africa’s most famous national parks.

“A testament to our quick decision-making is how we chose the house’s blueish-gray exterior. I decided on it in the hardware store in three minutes.”
Annika Vestman

Annika on the house terrace. — Annika and Simon’s single-family home was completed in 2017. It’s located in Sokoja, in the rural municipality of Kokkola. The house has three bedrooms, an office, a kitchen, and a utility room, totaling 162 square meters (about 1,740 sq ft). Their cats—Roger, Rainer, and Ruth—also live there. They’re expecting a new family member in spring 2023.

A modern Ostrobothnian house by a field in the village of Sokoja. — Annika and Simon enjoy the calm of their quiet rural village. The single-floor house is also reserved for a potential second floor. Next on their plans are a strawberry patch, a kitchen garden, plus a hot tub and an outdoor sauna.

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Modern house meets family history: “This is our first and last home”

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