New Zealand meets Finland in a vibrant Helsinki home: “We love Finnish design”
Claire and Sarah, who moved to Finland for work, have found an interior style that stands out with Artek, New Zealander earthiness, and bold color choices.
Home: A two-room apartment in a 1940 building in Helsinki’s Töölö, 64 m² (690 ft²).
Living here: Sarah Moore and Claire Gilray, along with their whippets Onni and Manu.
“After we moved, it took a while to get used to the Finnish quiet.”
Claire, how did you end up living in this home?
We moved from New Zealand to Finland in 2017, when my partner Sarah got a job in Helsinki. Sarah arrived around May Day, while I followed at Midsummer when the city was completely deserted. So, our first impressions of Finland were from opposite extremes.
After the move, it took a moment to get used to the Finnish quiet. On the other hand, what initially felt distant became important to us over time. Nowadays, we appreciate honest conversations and the calm pace of everyday life.
We rented for a long time before deciding to buy our own home. At the same time, we fulfilled our longtime dream of having two dogs. Above all, we looked for a place with the charm and soul of an older building. We instantly got a good feeling about this home.
“We wanted to create a home that feels alive and full of energy.”
What did you do during the renovation?
We had to start the project with the bathroom because of damage there. Guided by intuition, we chose a greenish-hued tile. That sparked our enthusiasm to boldly bring color into the rest of the home. Sarah comes from a family of builders and is skilled at all kinds of renovation work. Once we got started, we couldn’t stop.
We wanted to create a home that feels alive and energetic. Even though we took a mostly intuitive approach, we believe our choices turned out perfectly. It shows the value of trusting your inner voice.
“We love Finnish design and are collecting pieces that we plan to take back home with us one day.”
What do you think about Finnish interior design?
Finnish homes often highlight white surfaces and minimalist aesthetics. That’s very different from what we were used to back home. New Zealand style is a true melting pot of diverse influences, with decorative Māori design as the biggest and most important source of inspiration.
Still, these two cultures share similarities, like the love of using wood in interiors and an appreciation for light. In New Zealand, homes tend to be spacious with open floor plans. We especially admire how Finnish interiors combine old and new in a timeless way—family heirlooms and modern purchases blend seamlessly.
We love Finnish design and are building a collection we plan to someday take back home. Artek is, of course, especially dear to us.
What creates the atmosphere in your home?
I notice every day how my mood brightens when I walk through our front door. We’ve incorporated feng shui principles into our interior. Appreciating natural light and maintaining a connection to nature are crucial to us, and they seem to link the design worlds of New Zealand and Finland perfectly.
We made a Bagua map of the apartment, dividing the home into nine areas that represent different parts of life, such as health, creativity, and relationships. For instance, in the relationships corner, we placed soft lighting and calming artwork to foster a sense of togetherness. We created our home with thought and heart, making it a place that simply feels good.
