From teardown to treasure: how a pink wooden villa stole their hearts
Finnish Henna and Marttijaakko’s first encounter with a dilapidated house destined for demolition was love at first sight. The journey of the pink wooden villa from an over one-hundred-year-old teardown to the Mikkiläs’ beloved home is like a fairytale.
Henna and Marttijaakko's first encounter with a rough, abandoned house was love at first sight. That feeling has endured for 25 years, during which their family has grown, and the house has evolved along with them. The old home's ambiance has been preserved through a personal approach to décor and a relaxed mindset.
Henna, how did you find this idyllic home?
As a young couple in the 1990s, we lived in a dull company apartment and wanted something more unusual for our home. By chance, we heard about a house in such poor condition it was slated for demolition or renovation before being rented out. The owner warned us to stay away because it was in terrible shape. Naturally, we went right away. The door was open, and inside we found the house in a sad state, with crude drawings on the walls. We fell in love on the spot.
For us, a home is more about atmosphere than about material things.
At first, the idea was to create two apartments in the house, but we wondered if one could be larger for extra space. Eventually, the owner said, “Go ahead and sketch out what you have in mind.” We did just that. Then we began figuring out whether we could afford to rent the whole house, while the owners considered if it would make sense for them and if they could find other tenants in the future. It all worked out beautifully, and now we’ve happily lived here for 25 years.
What stories does this house and its rooms hold?
Over the years, this house has seen a lot. It was once a coachman’s quarters, with the adjacent brick building used for carts and carriages. Later, it served as a public health nurse’s office and a child health clinic.
The entire interior was rebuilt before we moved in, and the layout reflects our wishes: one open space for the library, living room, and kitchen. We could have had more input on selecting materials, but we’re not too particular about those details. We admire people who plan every aspect, yet for us a home is more about atmosphere than about material things.
How has your home worked for you through all these years and life stages?
Not too well! For instance, we have only one small bathroom, and there haven’t always been enough rooms for everyone. We didn’t want to lose our beloved library when our twins—now grown and on their own—were born. They only got individual rooms as teenagers, when we divided the larger bedroom.
This kind of living does require a certain mindset and outlook on life, maybe even a bit of bohemian spirit.
Our children have always been close, and we’ve spent a lot of time together as a family. For example, they did their homework at the kitchen table. They didn’t even have desks in their own rooms. Their Lego creations and other games spread across the kitchen and living room without needing to be tidied away each night.
From a family-bond perspective, it’s been wonderful. We’ve never had yelling or tantrums in line for the bathroom—just a gentle knock on the door. I’m sure it helped us all grow. This kind of living does require a certain mindset and outlook on life, maybe even a bit of bohemian spirit.
Is this your forever home, even though the children have moved out?
We never plan too far ahead, but we’ll stay as long as the landlords allow. They’ve been amazing all these years, and we won’t leave unless we have to. We’re not bothered by whether we own our home or rent; we simply can’t imagine a lovelier way to live.
