A two-room hideaway in Hanko: “This lifestyle has brought freedom, memories, and new friendships”
Tuomas and Anna’s compact vacation home in Hanko is just like the seaside town itself: relaxed yet refined. In just under 50 square meters, everything you need fits perfectly. The shades and materials reflect the surrounding wooden villa and maritime scenery.
A second home in Hanko, Finland, feels like a pause from life’s hustle and bustle for Anna Ritakallio-Mäkelä and for Tuomas Mäkelä. It’s a place where time slows down, the sea scents the air, and everyday rush falls away. As entrepreneurs at real estate company Bo LKV, they’ve renovated dozens of homes, but this two-room apartment in downtown Hanko is special: their own haven to unwind and recharge.
While the building itself isn’t a favorite of this couple, who love old wooden houses in Hanko, they found a reasonably priced apartment in an excellent location. A renovation turned it into a place they love, and the view of the wooden houses is beautiful.
This bright, compact two-room home encapsulates the essence of their family vacations: a leisurely pace, togetherness, and aesthetic pleasure. The interior unites Scandinavian clarity, carefully chosen materials, and details that tell a story. Sandy tones, wood, and a maritime vibe tie the spaces together. Every element was planned with care to maximize the limited square meters. The result is warm-toned, stylish, and inviting—like the perfect summer day in Hanko.
residents An entrepreneurial couple at Bo LKV, Anna Ritakallio-Mäkelä and Tuomas Mäkelä, and their daughter Aida. Instagram: @tuomasmakela.
Vacation home A two-room apartment in Hanko, built in 1988, located right in the city center on Bulevardi. It measures 48.5 square meters (about 522 sq ft).
You have several homes, which makes for a somewhat unconventional lifestyle. Could you tell us about it?
Tuomas: We have many beloved second homes, where we spend both daily life and free time. Our home in Turku is the family base. Often on weekends, we either head to our cottage for peace or to Helsinki to see friends. We actively rent out our second homes whenever we’re not using them. This lifestyle has brought us not only freedom and memories but also new friendships.
Anna: Making this lifestyle possible has demanded perseverance and hard work—and we’re still doing it. However, we strongly think from a real estate investor’s perspective: a second home has to produce returns; otherwise, we won’t buy it.
You have a knack for restoring apartments to look amazing. How do you succeed?
Tuomas: We have renovated dozens of apartments together over twenty years. Most of them were done with the same careful approach we’d use in our own home, even if they were going to be sold or rented out.
Anna: Experience has taught us so much, but we’ve also made mistakes along the way—and still do. Renovating apartments and houses always involves many variables, and not everything goes exactly as planned. Those errors were probably our best teachers. Our eye and skills have improved with each project, and we follow the industry passionately in our work as well. We leave the actual contracting to professionals. For the Hanko home, we also worked with interior designer Jasmine Kanerva, although we often handle our remodeling designs entirely on our own.
How would you describe your interior style?
Tuomas: Our style evolves with each home and over time, but one common thread remains: Scandinavian design, understated elegance, and intriguing details. We love mixing old and new. Anna’s flea-market finds bring personality and stories into our spaces. The best part is witnessing the signs of life in these objects, whether they’re vintage treasures, travel souvenirs, or heirlooms.
What did you hope to achieve with the design of this second home?
Anna: We wanted a space where our family can feel comfortable and relax. The apartment is rather small, so it’s not sized for overnight visitors—it’s primarily for our own needs. We aimed for an atmosphere where relaxation meets refinement, something we think reflects Hanko’s spirit as well. The colors and materials come from the surrounding landscape: the maritime feel, wood, and sand tones are all here. The end result is compact but cozy—an invitation to slow down.
Striped bedding in the bedroom evokes thoughts of the sea. Light, white curtains, sandy tones, and warm wood surfaces create a fresh summer-villa mood.
What makes this place special for you?
Tuomas: We love the apartment’s mood and location. Everything is close by—beaches, restaurants, shops, and tennis courts. Our absolute favorites here are the oak-veneered kitchen with a breakfast cabinet, and the bathroom with a sauna.
Anna: Having a sauna and the chance to cool off on the enclosed terrace feels like an everyday luxury. In the fall and winter, it’s wonderful to open the sofa bed in the living room and curl up under a blanket as a family to watch a movie.
The goal of the bathroom renovation was a timeless Scandinavian look, achieved with wooden surfaces, clean lines, and neutral large tiles.
What makes for a perfect vacation day in Hanko?
Anna: A perfect summer day begins with a laid-back breakfast—avocado toast, pan con tomate, and good coffee. In the morning, we play tennis or padel, then shower and head to Makasiini or Bryggan restaurant for lunch. In the afternoon, we ride our bikes to one of Hanko’s many beaches or shores with a blanket and a good book. In the evening, we enjoy a long dinner with friends so that both adults and kids have fun. Spontaneous meetups with acquaintances often happen during the day, or sometimes we simply relax together as a family. That’s Hanko at its best for us.
