Marimekko print designer Lotta Maija: “By removing the kitchen, we gained a separate bedroom”—Peek inside her compact city home!

The framed purple floral piece is an original gouache painting called Twinning, which Lotta turned into posters for her online shop. Next to it is the original painting for Marimekko’s Tuulahdus print. Lotta is wearing Marimekko pants featuring her Tuulahdus pattern.

Lotta brought the Hakola velvet sofa from her previous home. The coffee table was handed down by her boyfriend’s grandparents. The sisal mat is from Ikea. The Arabia candleholder is one of Lotta’s most treasured finds. The tablecloth pattern, Palsta, is her own design for Marimekko. Above the sofa are her boyfriend’s photographic art and Lotta’s risograph print.

Lotta Maija, you graduated as a textile designer and also work as an illustrator. How did you get started on this path?

During my bachelor’s studies at Aalto University, I got to do two internships abroad: first at a weaving mill in northern Italy and later in Japan. Between my bachelor’s and master’s studies, I worked as a freelance print and illustration designer and as a visual designer for a Finnish furniture brand. I started my master’s around two years ago, majoring in Contemporary Design, where I’ve also explored ceramics and glass. Last fall, I moved back to Japan after getting a student exchange spot at Tama Art University. It felt wonderful to return to my second home on the other side of the world. After coming back from Japan, I took a short break from my master’s when I started working at Marimekko as a textile designer.

The kitchen is a natural part of the living room. The cabinets are from Ikea, and the countertop is handmade. Wooden furniture brings warmth to the décor. The dining table is a find from Denmark, mailed to Finland in parts by her boyfriend. The chairs were purchased secondhand, then refurbished or reupholstered by him.

The framed painting is by Lotta Maija. The small brush, mortar, and ceramic dishes are souvenirs from Japan. The tiles are from the K-Rauta hardware store, and the range hood is by Francke.

The couple loves bringing back mementos from their travels, many of which are everyday kitchen items.

Tell us a bit about your home!

This is our first home together, and we renovated it ourselves. My boyfriend also renovated his previous apartment and was looking for another place to fix up. I had no prior experience, but thanks to his guidance, I got excited about renovating and learned a lot. The layout needed a makeover to suit our needs. We realized that by removing the old kitchen, we could create a small, separate bedroom. We shifted the wall slightly and placed the kitchen in the living room as an open-plan kitchen. The dining area also fits nicely in front of the kitchen.

Her boyfriend, who trained as a carpenter, designed and built the bed and the fixed cabinets. The bedspread featuring Lotta Maija’s illustration was created with Slowdown Studio. The sheets are from Hay. The wall lamp was designed by the couple, and the artwork is by Jennifer Lipkin. The former kitchen’s cold pantry is a fun detail and provides extra storage.

The couple decided to move the kitchen into the living room and turn the old kitchen into a bedroom. Lotta Maija’s studies in Japan inspired the curtain solution that replaces the door. The genuine silk kimono is also a souvenir from Japan.

Where do you find inspiration?

I’m interested in creating compositions and observing organic shapes. In the summer, my phone fills up with pictures of flowers, where the stems, buds, and petals reveal intriguing movement or form. My studies in ceramics and glass have opened up new ways for me to create objects in my own style.

Lotta Maija’s style is colorful and recognizable thanks to its fairy tale–inspired floral motifs. She draws and paints her prints and illustrations by hand using gouache or markers.

Textiles bring color into the home. The green fabric is Lotta Maija’s Kasvio design for Marimekko.

“Mostly, I paint and draw by hand using gouache or markers. I usually scan my hand-drawn sketch and continue working on it digitally on my iPad. Over time, my brushstrokes and use of color have become recognizable. My style includes bold, flat color areas and a lack of perspective.”

How do your styles blend together?

I love color, and my previous homes have been very colorful. My boyfriend, on the other hand, prefers white and wood and is the more minimalist of us. I enjoy combining wood with color, so I think our styles mesh well. Light-painted walls provide a good backdrop for wooden surfaces, furniture, and small decorative items.

The hallway closet features a shelf up by the ceiling, perfect for storing accessories. The old coat rack was purchased secondhand. A fixed sisal mat was installed on the hallway floor.

Her boyfriend made the bathroom countertop and cabinets to fit precise measurements.

You favor secondhand finds. Which ones are your most treasured?

My most memorable finds definitely come from Japan. While living there, I loved browsing different antique markets, where you can often discover fascinating objects like trivets made in the traditional Japanese style, old kimonos, and ceramics. Once, I found an Arabia candleholder at an antique market. The seller had bought it in Finland and brought it over. I felt compelled to buy it and bring it back to Finland. Another piece that holds special meaning is the table my boyfriend bought while living in Denmark. He disassembled it, mailed it to Finland in pieces, and reassembled it here.