Inside the stunning transformation of Jannika B and Toni Wirtanen’s loft home—the kitchen got a blue-green shade and the exposed walls reveal the building’s history

As musician Toni Wirtanen, known from the band Apulanta, opens the front door to the visitor, a small, fluffy Pomeranian named Tuire darts into the hallway. Tuire is thrilled and runs excitedly in figure eights across the expansive 200-square-meter living room.

“Tuire always gets excited when guests arrive,” Toni says.

Singer-songwriter Jannika B and Toni, along with their six-year-old daughter Martta, have lived in their two-story loft home in Lahti for a couple of years. They have just completed the downstairs renovation, with the main changes being a new kitchen and a light microcement floor poured over the existing tiles.

“The previous owners’ modern black kitchen and black tile floor were too dark and not really our style. We opted for a microcement floor because it didn’t make sense to tear out a perfectly good tile floor. We donated the black kitchen to a new home,” explains Jannika B.

“I provide practical help when it comes to our interior design, but my wife decides on the big picture,” Toni continues.

When the couple dismantled cabinets that were on the window wall, they discovered a hidden doorway that was once used for taking timber out to the garden shed. Inspired, the couple decided to install glass double doors in the same spot, bringing more natural light into the kitchen.

“I was constantly lifting Tuire out to the backyard through the window and thought how much easier it would be to let the dog out through a door,” notes Jannika B.

Since their home is a 1930s furniture factory protected by the Finnish Heritage Agency and converted to residential use in the 2000s, they had to apply for permission for any changes to the building.

“They came over to review our plans. The Finnish Heritage Agency appreciates efforts to highlight the original structures,” says Toni.

Typically, designing a new kitchen begins with selecting materials, style, and colors, with appliances considered later. But for Jannika B, it was the opposite.

“One morning while cooking oatmeal, I realized I was pregnant. My first thought was that I wanted a giant stovetop, large enough to cook for the whole family and the new baby at the same time,” she recalls.

Now, a 90-centimeter-wide Miele stove is integrated into the 3.60-meter-long island from the A la Carte collection. Valuing local production, the musician family chose Novart, a manufacturer based in Nastola.

“We like to know how our furniture is made and who makes it. It feels good to get personalized service,” notes Jannika B.

The kitchen’s contrasty backsplash features natural quartz from Ylämaan Graniitti. The light stone countertops are from Italy.

“We simply couldn’t find stone countertops light enough locally,” explains Jannika B.

They chose cabinets in the same blue-green shade as the velvet sofa in the living room.

“I love strong colors. A white kitchen can be gorgeous, but it’s not for me,” says Jannika B.

The couple’s preference for authentic materials is evident in their furniture: brass lamps, glass tables, and pieces crafted from various types of wood. The sturdy dining table in the dining area was left by the previous owners—a 12-person plank table made by a carpenter from an oak tree felled in the neighborhood.

“A big dining table is the best because I love to cook and host get-togethers for our friends,” says Jannika B.

Furnishing such a large space is challenging because furniture and rugs need to be sizable enough not to appear dwarfed in the expansive, high-ceilinged room. Jannika B received interior design assistance from her neighbor, interior designer Inkeri Halla-Aho.

“Our children attend the same daycare, and we’re both from Ostrobothnia—I’m from Kokkola, and Inkeri is from Pietarsaari,” notes Jannika B.

The downstairs is divided into zones using colorful 12-square-meter wool rugs. In a musician’s home, rugs are also important for acoustics, as large spaces can easily echo. Wool rugs effectively protect the microcement floor from dents as well.

“The floor scratches as easily as parquet,” observes Jannika B.

The microcement had to be installed twice because the coating was uneven the first time. The smell of the lacquer was so strong that the family couldn’t live at home for a month.

The abundant rugs and brass details in the furniture reflect Jannika B’s enthusiasm for the Art Deco style. She upcycled an old sideboard to match the style by adding gold-colored squares to the doors using tape. Even the Interface velvet sofa, made in Toni’s hometown Heinola, got a new look with brass.

“This sofa model originally comes with black legs. We had the brass legs made in Salo, and they were attached at the factory in Heinola,” explains Jannika B.

Tuire jumps onto the sofa and curls up next to Jannika B. It's time to take a nap.