5 × monochrome homes—“My loved ones were initially horrified”

1. Bright blue was a different choice for Irene

Irene Naakka renovated it entirely in blue. She chose bright blue because she wanted something different but serene. “I am never going to live with the same decor and colors for 20 years. I most enjoy planning and putting together the apartment. I have ADHD, and I get dopamine from variety. Once I finish decorating, I quickly start to get bored,” Irene says.

The kitchen cabinets are painted in the Tikkurila Ara shade.

Irene is delighted with her carefully collected dishes that match the décor.

2. This black home didn’t become gloomy after all

Asta Vehviläinen was tired of her white home and decided to go for something completely different. She chose a shade of black from the paint chart and used it throughout her home. She even put her old dishware into storage. Gold and moss green bring warmth to the black interior. “My loved ones were initially horrified by the change and warned that the house would be gloomy and dark. But their fears proved to be unfounded,” she says.

In the kitchen hangs a “matriarch painting” created by her younger sister, depicting Asta. The dramatic gold frame is an important part of the décor. The black renovation is complete except for the ceiling.

The large gold mirror in the living room is Asta’s greatest treasure.

3. Green items always find their way to Riitta

Riitta Raitala has decorated her home, Villa Ketola, entirely in green. Her love for the color began with moss-colored corduroy pants back in the day. “Green is still one of my favorite colors, and I find every shade of it beautiful. It’s wonderful to pair them with my other favorite color, pink, or just the right shade of lilac. I also love combining green and turquoise,” she says.

In Villa Ketola’s yard stands a gazebo with art made from recycled materials by Riitta Raitala hanging from the walls and ceiling.

Her green-hued vase collection is a true collector’s dream. “The green and turquoise patterns are incredibly beautiful.”

4. Pink from the baseboards on up

Meja Hynynen’s home reveals a soft, pastel-hued world behind a pink door: everything from the baseboards to the ceiling, from the bathroom tile grout to the toilet bowl and the bedroom’s wall-to-wall carpet is pink—even the insides of the closets. “Light pink and pink have been my favorite colors since childhood,” she says.

Interior designer Meja Hynynen decorates with secondhand finds.

This 1950s-style kitchen made by Aina-keittiöt was designed by Meja. She chose the same shade as on the ceiling and walls so the kitchen would look embedded. The tube-shaped range hood came from Klarstein’s online store. The 1960s side table and 1980s mirror are from the Tori marketplace.

5. Yellow is Elisa’s favorite color

Yellow has always been the favorite color of Elisa Luomaranta’s since childhood. During her teenage years, she fell in love with retro pieces. Both are clearly on display in her family’s current home: yellow wallpaper, yellow vintage light fixtures, and colorful retro dishes. She also renovated the kitchen completely in yellow.

Elisa’s yellow kitchen was custom-built by a carpenter.

Yellow retro dishes are part of the home’s style.

Take a peek at Maria’s Barbie-pink home as well! [in Finnish]

Maria Palo-Järvinen has decorated her entire home in her power color, a bold shade of pink. “I’m always dressed in pink, and my hair has been pink for years. Even Christmas here is pink, right down to the Christmas tree.”