Less clutter, more charm: Anna-Maria’s small two-room apartment keeps only what truly matters
When decorating her new small two-room apartment, Anna-Maria Arjasto drew inspiration from both the yellow Tamara Aladin vase she received from her mother and the 1960s aesthetic. The renovation focused on bringing in more light. Limited space prompts you to rethink your relationship with possessions.
Entrepreneur and content creator Anna-Maria Arjasto, 39, loves Helsinki’s Hakaniemi Market Square and the surrounding area because they teem with life and experiences. Her previous home was also nearby.
Anna-Maria is used to living with limited square footage, which makes her think carefully about possessions and ownership. This compact way of living means bringing in only what is truly important and necessary. That principle shapes her new home.
Before moving into a 1961-built apartment building in Helsinki’s Kallio district, she renovated her place to let in more light. She achieved this by opening the pathways from the entryway to the living room and then to the kitchen, allowing light to flow freely. In addition, Anna-Maria wanted storage solutions that would look as streamlined as possible.
Anna-Maria has lived in many bright white apartments. For this home, she wanted soft shades and looked to the colors of 1960s homes for inspiration.
The renovation nods to the early 1960s architecture, and that era appears in touches throughout the decor. Anna-Maria explores different decades’ design styles with curiosity and likes the idea of someday combining their best elements, as long as they suit modern needs and aesthetics.
“I’ve learned not to get too attached to walls. Each home has taught me something new about my preferences, as well as about functionality and the special features of various eras. For me, a home is never finished; it’s always a work in progress.”
The kitchen doors, designed by Anna-Maria herself and manufactured by Arkken in Salo, are oak-veneered, and the countertops are natural stone.
In her new home, Anna-Maria is especially pleased with the kitchen, which is both visually appealing and highly functional. Seeing her vision take shape motivates her during renovations.
Anna-Maria chooses everyday dishes on a whim, collecting them from various sources. Some come from flea markets, others from her mother’s cupboards, while some are souvenirs or former photo shoot props. She’s discovered especially intriguing pieces in Portugal. Lately, she’s been drawn to handmade ceramics in terracotta or dark green. She strives to avoid buying new dishes from chain stores.
The linen sheer curtains are from Eurokangas, the dining table is the Aino model by Pohjanmaan Kaluste, and the chairs are from the classic Ton 14 series. Among her most cherished dishes are those she received from her mother, including Tamara Aladin’s Tornado-series vase made by Riihimäen Lasi between 1970 and 1976. Its yellow hue influenced the color scheme in her home.
“For me, a home is never finished; it’s always in a state of flux.”
The cream-white Cover Story 008 Sylvia paint highlights the different wood tones in the space. It also complements the sofa from Kustom in Tampere and a table lamp that brings back memories of Anna-Maria’s years in France. The coffee table is from Hobby Hall, and the three largest artworks were purchased at Bukowskis.
One of Anna-Maria’s most surprising finds is a two-tier brass table. She stumbled upon this ornate treasure in an antique shop in downtown Hamina. The price was so good that she had to buy it. It’s from a completely different style world than the Dwell armchair by Danish designer Hans Olsen’s design, which Anna-Maria pondered for years before purchasing. Yet together, they make a striking pair.
Anna-Maria has many lovely dishes, books, and magazines, but she doesn’t want them lying around creating clutter. She reined in her treasures by adding a display cabinet and arranging some items on its shelves. The black-framed, white-interior Bloomingville cabinet also plays a key role in the decor, offering a strong contrast to the predominantly light, softly colored surfaces.
Anna-Maria factors in environmental concerns when decorating. Whenever the opportunity arises, she pops into flea markets and antique stores.
Anna-Maria factors in environmental concerns when decorating. Whenever the opportunity arises, she pops into flea markets and antique stores. The teak chest of drawers in the entryway was auctioned at Bukowskis, the stool is from the Takara Nord interior shop in Tallinn, the table lamp is by By Rydéns, and the glass fruits come from Olds Cool vintage. The porcelain lion is from Mongolia, and the fish ornament is a souvenir from Slovakia. She found the poster at Olkkari. The walls are painted in the Cover Story shade i01 Eeva.
The metal railing on the balcony felt unwelcoming to Anna-Maria. She also wanted more privacy and a cozy spot to wind down. Her solution was to have a carpenter install partitions made of wooden slats. The rug is the Louhi model by Veke, and the armchair is the Coon by House Doctor.
Anna-Maria approaches different decades’ decor styles with curiosity and hopes to someday pick the best of them all.
Anna-Maria has lived in many bright white apartments. For this home, she wanted soft shades and looked to the colors of 1960s homes for inspiration. The bedroom features Cover Story 022 Evelyn, a milky coffee brown with a hint of pink. Rattan also evokes the ’60s. Both the headboard and the floor lamp came from Tori, and Anna-Maria replaced the lampshade with one that fit her preferred aesthetic. A Louis Poulsen VL45 Radiohus pendant lamp brightens the room. Rescue dog Sulo also likes to lounge on the bed.
Designed in 1933, the brass-framed F.A. 33 mirror by Danish brand Gubi still looks timeless. Its substantial size makes the small room feel much bigger. AYTM’s gold-tinted Concha hook pairs perfectly with it. The 1960s Moroccan Boujaad vintage rug is an Etsy find, and the bedside lamp reflected in the mirror came from Takara Nord in Tallinn.
When renovating, Anna-Maria focuses on materials she can enjoy for years to come. The bathroom continues the same style and color scheme as the rest of her home. Vertically placed, light-reflecting tiles, a wide mirror, diffused lighting, oak veneer cabinets, and gold-toned accents form a unified whole. The tiles are from Laattamaailma, the cabinets by Arkken, and the countertop is Tulikivi’s Calacatta Arni terrazzo. The wall lamp is Torrano by Globen Lighting.
Anna-Maria’s home is a 1960s apartment in Helsinki’s Kallio neighborhood, with 44 square meters (about 473²).
