Anu and Manu Rekola first stepped into their home and were met by a staggering odor at the door. The previous resident’s pets had used the entire downstairs as a bathroom.
“The house was in worse shape than anything we had ever seen before. We decided to buy it almost on the spot,” Anu says.
This single-family house, built in 1913, is located in Klaukkala, Southern Finland. At the time of writing, it was home to Anu and Manu Rekola as well as their children Peppi, 15, Max, 10, Lukas, 8, and Louna, 1. The house has ten rooms plus a kitchen, totaling 360 m² (3,900 ft²). New residents now occupy the home.
The living room’s Christmas tree is lavishly decorated in an American style. Louna admires the ornaments in her father’s arms.
The ornaments crafted from a sheet music book were made by a friend. The heart-shaped decoration was purchased at a craft fair.
The estate’s history goes back at least to the 1500s, when, according to church records, it was owned by Reko Laurinpoika. In the 1700s, it served as a cavalry estate from which men were sent to fight in Germany. It became a farm in the early 1900s.
“We named the main building of the estate Lounatuuli House. I was pregnant with our youngest child, Louna, at the time.”
When Anu and Manu bought the house from an estate, the main building, protected by the Finnish Heritage Agency, was abandoned but still standing, while the other buildings on the property had been demolished. As with many old homes, some repairs carried out in the 1980s had caused damage to the house.
“This is the third house we’ve renovated, so we knew what to expect in terms of workload. We did most of the work ourselves.”
“Many thought we were completely crazy to take on such a huge project.”
Renovations began as soon as the Rekola family got the keys to the house.
“During the renovation, we found antique and dark wooden furniture treasures second-hand. Old furnishings suit an old house.”
During the renovation, all surfaces on the ground floor were exposed down to the logs, leaving only the frame, windows, and tiled stoves. To eliminate the smell, the floor was opened and replaced entirely. At the same time, in-floor heating was installed. The upstairs only needed a surface renovation.
“Many people thought we were downright crazy for starting such a massive undertaking. But when you already have some experience, a desire for challenges, and a love for old houses, this is the perfect choice,” Anu says.
During the long and demanding renovation, effective teamwork and working together were essential for Anu and Manu.
“We take immense pleasure in seeing the results of our own efforts. We move toward our dreams in life.”
After the interview, the family fulfilled their dream by heading out to travel the world. New inhabitants now look after the home.
A striking tiled floor was installed in the guest entryway. The elegant curves of the spiral staircase are highlighted by black paint. Family photos hang in a neat row on the wall.
The comfortable sofas are from IKEA’s Stocksund collection.
“We move toward our dreams in life.”
Relaxing by the fire is a true delight. The tiled stove is in its original condition. The old dresser was found on second-hand online, and the rug was purchased from Jotex. A photo wallpaper from Rebel Walls adorns the wall. All the home’s wall and ceiling moldings are Manu’s handiwork.
Delicacies are an essential part of the Rekola family’s Christmas. This sweet table decoration was made from old books, velvet ribbon, and Christmas ornaments.
A short spruce gains the right grandeur for a large space when placed on a pretty table.
Anu found a small cabinet for 50 euros and eventually it became a full-wall display case. The lower cabinets, customized with decorative trim, were bought at IKEA, and the glass panels were ordered to exact measurements. They also needed several meters of glued laminated board.
The dining chairs are covered in light-colored slipcovers.
When the collapsed cellar was torn down during the renovation, there was just a pit where the kitchen now stands. The sliding doors were made from two old panel doors and a sliding mechanism. The wood-burning stove is original to the house; only the range hood was added.
“We named the main building Lounatuuli House. I was then expecting our youngest child, Louna.”
The kitchen cabinets are from IKEA. The ceiling light and chairs were purchased second-hand online. A photo wallpaper from Rebel Walls brightens the back wall.
While waiting for Christmas, you can savor the atmosphere with treats and evergreen decorations. The fabric napkins were gifted to Anu by a friend.
The library is Manu’s favorite spot. The chairs and sofa were purchased second-hand online, and the table was found at a flea market.
Books are important to the entire family, and the couple designed and built the wall-length bookcase together.
“We take tremendous joy in seeing our own handiwork.”
One of the family’s Christmas traditions is to create a slightly different arrangement every year, and Anu really enjoys putting it together.
The home’s English décor style is also visible in Louna’s room. The wooden bed is on loan from a friend. The bed canopy is from an online second-hand store, and the rug was purchased from Jotex. The wall color is Tikkurila’s Shantung.
Anu got the idea for the bed canopy from Pinterest. The wallpaper was an impulse buy at a hardware store in Tallinn. The original tiled stove features a stunning two-tone finish.
The old riding estate’s exterior was also beautified when Anu and Manu had it painted with Virtanen’s Four Oils paint. They chose shade 316x from Tikkurila’s Old Colors chart.
