Thrifted finds al fresco

No to shiny and new, yes to rough edges and real life! Pirre and Marjo’s best thrifted finds end up in the family’s charming outdoor kitchen

Avid thrifters Pirre Alakoski and Marjo Friman furnished their summer kitchen with old items and furniture restored by Marjo. In their covered space, they enjoy grilling, lounging, and hosting summer parties.

Author Elina Kilpinen

Images Johanna Myllymäki

July 10, 2025Lue suomeksi

The garden, including its summer kitchen, was created on a small budget and a lot of hard work. Marjo (on the left) is the main carpenter, while Pirre comes up with ideas. Otto, 9, Sanni, 16, and Siiri, 18, also enjoy spending time in the summer kitchen.

The dining table is built from an old door gifted by a neighbor. On special occasions, plywood boards are placed on top so the tablecloth doesn’t sink into the door’s panels. The mismatched chairs were found online and at flea markets.

The summer kitchen is the heart of the family’s time together. They enjoy outdoor meals whether it’s a weekday or a special occasion. The season begins as soon as the weather allows, and well into late September or early October, Pirre and Marjo linger here in the darkening evenings. Soon, they’ll be savoring Marjo’s homemade caramel cake.

”The family loves spending time in the garden, so they wanted a covered space. That’s how the summer kitchen was born.”

There are electric lights in the summer kitchen, but the family loves candlelight and lights candles in the summer, too. The island is built from old barn boards, and the fridge set into it is Marjo’s grandma’s old model, likely at least 50 years old. It still works well, even though it stays outside year-round.

Pirre and Marjo bought the wood-burning stove before they even started building the summer kitchen. That may have sparked the idea in the first place. The beautiful old Högfors stove is fully functional, and they plan to install a chimney so it can be used. Besides cooking, it would add warmth and atmosphere.

An eco-friendly, homemade feel has shaped the décor. “We don’t want anything polished, new, or glossy, but rather things that are rough, well-worn, and cozy. We used new lumber for the structure, but everything else is old and restored. We also love repurposing items for different uses,” say Marjo and Pirre. Firewood doubles as a privacy screen.

Ikea’s airy light fixtures pair perfectly with the round windows.

The sofa, built from one large pallet and one small pallet, easily separates into a couch and an ottoman. Otto’s domain is the treehouse and the suspension bridge, while sisters Siiri (on the left) and Sanni enjoy relaxing in the summer kitchen or on the patio.

Most of the furniture in the summer kitchen and on the terrace was built or restored by Marjo.

”The couple dreams of eventually building a sauna and hot tub in the yard.”

When Pirre and Marjo bought the house, the yard was empty. The garden gradually expanded outward from the house: first came the terrace, then a patio under the big oak.

The patio bench was built from a door similar to the one used for the summer kitchen’s dining table. The door was cut in half and fitted with hinges in the middle, so the bench folds up for winter storage. The cheerful cushions are sewn from recycled fabrics.

Marjo built the treehouse around a dead willow. Otto scrambles up the rope ladder like a squirrel.

A suspension bridge leads from the treehouse to the tall oak. Painted with leftover colors, it sweeps across the yard like a cheerful rainbow. Otto keeps trying to convince Pirre to climb along with him.

Pirre and Marjo’s single-family home garden covers 1,400 square meters.

A summer kitchen brings cooking and socializing together—check out these 11 ideas and get inspired for your own outdoor kitchen

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No to shiny and new, yes to rough edges and real life! Pirre and Marjo’s best thrifted finds end up in the family’s charming outdoor kitchen

A summer kitchen brings cooking and socializing together—check out these 11 ideas and get inspired for your own outdoor kitchen

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