Minimalism? No, thank you! Discover the lavish redesign of a century-old Helsinki apartment

How does natural light flow from one room to the next through the large-paned windows? What might life have been like in an apartment more than a hundred years ago? These were some of the questions interior architect Maria Husell pondered as she got to know this city apartment, which a family returning to Finland from Sweden wanted to renovate into their home in Helsinki’s Punavuori district. Husell also examined the layout, surface materials, and the changes made to the apartment over the years in various renovations.

In this 190-square-meter home for a family of four, the original room layout and separate kitchen, as well as the impressive panel doors, remain. The parents worked closely with the interior architect, sharing many ideas and a strong vision for their new home’s décor.

The foyer doors still have their original glass accents. The beveled-edge mirror, about 150 centimeters in diameter, was custom-made. The floor is covered with natural stone tiles from the Finnish Tulikivi.

The family is fond of a classic and abundant Swedish décor style. Maria, how does that show in the home?

The mother found plenty of inspiring interior ideas on the Swedish real estate website Hemmet, compiling images of homes with dark, earthy colors, wooden furniture, relaxed seating, and lots of textiles. She was firmly against the minimalist Scandinavian style dominated by white surfaces.

What changes were made to the apartment?

The kitchen and bathrooms were renovated most recently, but no other renovations had been done in 30 years, and asbestos was found in many places. The original parquet floor had to be replaced because it was too damaged to restore. It was a major project: the slanted floor needed to be leveled and raised by four centimeters. The white, high-gloss cabinets and black countertops from the previous renovation were removed, as they didn’t suit the old, classic apartment. No changes were made to the bathrooms.

How does Swedish interior style differ from Finnish?

In Finland, we tend to simplify, while Swedes like to add richness. The mother made interesting observations about Swedish decorating, like adding decorative moldings to the ceiling. Swedes also favor tall baseboards and various kinds of wall paneling. We used those ideas here.

The Estonian company Timbermeister built the wall paneling and shelving unit designed by Maria Husell, with a wine fridge integrated into the lower cabinet. The cabinet’s mirrored doors and the paneling are the same height. In the middle of the shelving is a painting by Gor Avetisyan. The sofa covers can be machine-washed.

The living room’s walls and ceiling are painted with Farrow & Ball’s Down Pipe No. 26. The inner ceiling molding is original, and the molding around the top of the walls was added in the renovation.

How do you furnish large, tall rooms?

Furniture and rugs should be generously sized. In a tall room, a sofa that’s too small can look like dollhouse furniture. You can also accentuate a room’s height. Here, the low, wide sofas make the living room seem even taller. You can test furniture and rug measurements at home by marking them on the floor and walls with painter’s tape.

How did you choose the paint colors for the rooms?

We chose soft gray-tinted tones for the bedrooms, dining area, and kitchen. By contrast, the living room was painted entirely dark, including the ceiling. The dark color highlights the ceiling moldings and creates a calm feel, while also contrasting with the white wainscoting. If the ceiling were white, a room higher than three meters might feel restless. You can paint the ceiling in a standard-height room too, but pay special attention to lighting if you plan on using dark colors.

The three-meter-long oak dining table was made by Vikens Hantverkeri. It’s paired with Vitra Wire chairs, and pendant lights from the Flos IC S1 collection. The herringbone parquet is by Timberwise.

Keep the look airy by pairing a sturdy dining table with slender chairs and a cluster of small pendant lights.

The TV room’s sofa set is by Melimeli. The floor lamp is by Morosini. A photo by Blaise Reuterswärd is positioned so that it’s visible from both the living room and the bedroom. The ceiling features the Vertigo pendant light by Petite Friture.

A door leads from the kitchen to the office. The impressive marble floor was installed by the previous owners. The breakfast cabinet’s interior stands out thanks to its wooden finish. The wooden cabinetry by Lidhults have the same shade as the dining room walls. The doors have brass handles.

The widened doorway makes the kitchen feel more spacious. The countertops are quartz. The open shelving in the recess keeps the family’s cookbooks within reach, and an old china cabinet holds their glassware. A Bumling pendant light hangs overhead.

This home has a lot of art. What should you keep in mind when hanging paintings?

A good guideline is to hang a painting so its center is at eye level. When hanging art, consider the room’s height, the proportions of the furniture, the height of the doorways, and the moldings to keep the look flowing and balanced. A tinted wall can highlight and frame artwork. A neutral wall color lets you move art around easily to different rooms, but you can also pick a shade inspired by a favorite piece of art.

How was storage handled in the long, narrow kitchen?

The family planned the kitchen with a Lidhults kitchen designer. A floor-to-ceiling cabinet was placed along the end wall surrounding the doorway to save space. The stove and sink area, along with drawers and upper cabinets, are all on one side. If both sides had cabinets, the room would feel cramped, since you pass through the kitchen to reach the office. The father suggested adding a window seat with large storage drawers underneath.

How should you protect the original materials in an old apartment?

Regular upkeep is crucial. If the old parquet floor gets water damage, it should be fixed right away. Wood is a living material, and the longer you wait, the costlier repairs become. If damaged pieces must be removed, you might not be able to find matching parquet anymore.

Generous Roman blinds were hung in the bay so that the curtain track reaches all the way to the side wall. The radiator covers were already in the apartment. The bench is by By Crea, and the pendant light was purchased in Sweden.

The bedroom dresser is from Superfront and is topped with an inherited painting.

Part of the parents’ bedroom was sectioned off as a walk-in closet. The lightweight partition wall can be removed if necessary.

The wardrobe frames are from Ikea, with doors made by Timbermeister.

The bunk bed is from Futonontan. The ceiling features a Les Volières pendant light.

Illustrator Alexandra Forss painted a charming mural on the children’s room wall. The narrow table is from Bella Luna, and the chairs are from Ikea.

The bathroom and sauna share a single color scheme. The space includes two vanity units with Durat countertops.

This apartment building, built in 1909, covers 190 square meters and is located in Helsinki’s Punavuori district. A family of four, including two preschool-aged children, lives here.