Pia Erlund’s dream villa in Finland: “This house brings peace to my restless spirit”
The idyllic countryside with its charming villas captured Bypias entrepreneur Pia and John Erlund’s hearts during their temporary stay in a rental in Kirkkonummi, Finland. At just the right moment, an old log house fulfilling all their desires came on the market.
The enchanting charm of the village, the intriguing architecture of the old, grand houses, and the narrow country roads lined with majestic trees bring to mind the Swedish countryside or southern France. When Bypias entrepreneur and fashion designer Pia Erlund, 53, and Bypias CFO John Erlund, 57, found themselves temporarily living in a rental near Sjökulla Manor, they were completely enchanted by this area in Kirkkonummi.
Then, a property that perfectly matched Pia’s dreams came up for sale: a yellow, grand, old log house from around 1914 reminiscent of Pippi Longstocking’s home. It boasted a mansard roof and tall paned windows. The 350-square-meter home had plenty of rooms, but each of the ten rooms served a purpose.
Pia was ready to buy the house immediately, but John wanted to ensure the house was in good condition and built with quality materials first. The renovation proved to have been expertly done, so John gave his approval, and it was a done deal.
“Our home brings me happiness every day. As I drive home from work, my mind shifts into a meditative state, and I find myself smiling with contentment,” Pia shares.
Pia, what draws you to the countryside?
Our work life is a whirlwind from dawn until dusk, often seven days a week. That’s why we yearned for a home surrounded by peace and tranquility. I adore the purity of the countryside; human imprints aren’t all over the place, and the scattered settlement leaves ample room for nature. My dream has always been an old, yellow villa with a mansard roof—and such a place appeared before us as if by magic, perfectly situated in the countryside yet close to the capital city.
What kind of renovations were needed to make the house suitable for you?
Here’s the amusing part! We’re not the renovating type, and we knew orchestrating a major renovation would be too taxing. The house took me by surprise: everything felt just right from the start. The previous owners renovated the entire house with such precision that there was nothing left for us to fix. We found this almost too easy, so we ended up removing the wallpaper from a couple of rooms as a kind of ritual to mark the house as our own.
How does your work as a fashion designer influence the style of your home decor?
Visual aesthetics greatly affect my mood, which is why I take charge of decorating in our family. Luckily, John shares my taste in colors and atmosphere. I don’t really follow interior design trends because I have a strong personal style. I sometimes admire the vibrancy and boldness of artists and their use of shapes and colors, but I prefer my own environment to be calm, earthy, and casually bohemian. Although I appreciate colors, I like to be surrounded by soft, cozy hues.
On the beautifully worn, rustic table, there is a rotating selection of items that inspire Pia. The heavy mirror is genuinely old, and the table lamp is from an antique shop.
On the open shelf in the living room, a collection of rustic items is contrasted against a freshly white backdrop.
What types of interior design choices do you usually make?
I prefer natural fabrics; I usually go for linen and hessian. Roughly patinated wooden surfaces make me purr with delight. I love large and heavy furniture and I’m not adept at making delicate arrangements. Our work takes us to picturesque locations worldwide, and I’ve fallen in love with European antiques, old gold-adorned mirrors, and grand crystal chandeliers. These elements add some flair and contrast to our serene decor, because tranquility doesn’t have to mean dull.
How do you like to spend your time at home?
We are true homebodies. Whenever possible, we choose to spend our free time at home. It’s important for us to be able to unwind and do whatever we please. Although, I often find myself being struck by inspiring work-related ideas while at home. Even working from home feels like a luxury. As I cherish cleanliness and the house is so large, we use a cleaning service. It’s wonderful, and also essential for being able to manage our workload. It leaves us time to enjoy good food, listen to music, or simply relax and read. Every once in a while, we invite our adult sons over for a long Sunday lunch. My favorite spot in the house is the veranda with its stunning views of the lake through the paned windows. This house brings peace to my restless spirit. Our home is our sanctuary.
Pia only wears clothes from her own collection, as they are exactly what she expects from her clothes: easy to care for, comfortable, and long-lasting.
The laundry room is located near the guest room and the sauna area. There is plenty of hanging space, as Pia likes to hang her clean clothes slightly damp on a rack, where they smooth out on their own. The wallpaper was chosen by the previous owner.
The views from the living room extend to the lake through the French doors of the veranda. The veranda is Pia's favorite room, as it offers stunning views and plenty of light in all seasons. The chairs are Cobello by Sika Design.
The lawn area in the yard is large enough to be used for golfing, but Pia and John already have other plans for it.
Do you have any plans for your large garden?
We thrive when we have some kind of project going, even at home. The yard and garden will be a significant endeavor in the near future, as nothing has been done to them as of yet. Our house once served as a dining hall for a nearby manor, so the garden hasn’t received much attention in the past. Our vision for the garden is a large lawn sloping towards the lake with a swimming pool and a lakeside sauna complete with a dock. The bottom of the lake at our shore is also in need of dredging. After that, we’ll begin the planning of a spacious outbuilding. Every so often, we sit on one of our terraces and sketch out the placement and design of the buildings we have in mind. We don’t want anything to constrict the views, as there’s nothing more relaxing than sitting around, gazing at the lake. Dreaming is an essential part of my planning process, and it’s what makes it so enjoyable.
