“You could buy my home”—a neighbor’s suggestion turned Sandra and Jockum’s life upside down for a moment

“You two could buy my home once I can no longer manage living in a wooden house,” the friendly neighbor lady casually remarked to Sandra and Jockum by the shared lilac bush. A few years later, in the summer of 2021, this half-serious idea turned the young couple’s life upside down.

“We usually make decisions with our heads rather than our hearts, but when we got the chance to use the shareholders’ redemption on this apartment, we ended up calling the bank. Our home at the time was lovely, but we were drawn to the idea of creating a place that truly reflected our style, down to the most foundational materials. We also wanted a new project to dive into at this stage of life, and this apartment gave us plenty to do. We lived next door during the renovation until March 2023, when we sold our old home and moved into the unfinished space.”

The house was designed by Karl Johan Sahlberg in 1905. It originally had nine stove rooms. The outhouses were in a separate courtyard building, and there was no running water. Potatoes were stored in the cellar, and fish was dried in the attic.

The wooden sofa in the kitchen is perfect for morning coffee, a midday nap, or catching up with friends. The high ceiling suits the impressive wall clock, which was saved from the landfill. The rug is from Ikea’s bargain corner, and the wooden sofa is a Facebook Marketplace find.

An old cabinet from Jockum’s family fits the room’s over three-meter ceiling height. The Artek 91 table was found on a Facebook Marketplace. The tablecloth is from Marimekko, and the chairs are from Veke.

Almost everything in the apartment was stripped away except for the exterior walls, then we began rebuilding. It was especially exciting to discover the original plank floors, plus some brick and timber walls. We have to admit we didn’t fully realize how huge this project would be, especially with no prior experience. Our lifesaver was our fantastic project supervisor, John.

Sometimes, while working nights, Jockum would send lengthy emails about everything from framing walls to insulation, often overanalyzing. John always replied patiently and guided us along the way. We also owe a huge thank you to our family and friends; without them, this project would have been a lot harder. We’re lucky to have so many wonderful people in our lives.

We kept small pieces of the layers of history uncovered during the renovation. Luckily, the little mouse living in one nook is quite laid-back. The old nautical chart shows the Turku archipelago.

This home is all about good food and good company, so the kitchen was a priority. In addition to an induction cooktop, Jockum also wanted a gas range and two ovens.

A wine cabinet and an island with seating for a glass of wine were important to Sandra. The cabinets are from Parma-keittiö.

At first, the guiding theme of this interior design project wasn’t clear, but as the work continued, it turned out to be green. We seem to have green surfaces in almost every room except the sauna and bathroom.

When we were selecting building systems and insulation, we considered comfort, practicality, eco-friendliness, and what would suit an old house. A friend once described our style as warm, homey, and welcoming. We love mixing old and new in ways that delight both eye and mind.

We believe a home will feel cozy when it’s furnished with pieces that have stories—occasionally amusing ones. For example, Jockum carried a kitchen table he found on Facebook Marketplace all the way across town on his back. Renting a van seemed pointless and expensive in his stubborn mind.

Woodtool built the new stairs to Sandra and Jockum’s specifications. The surface-mounted electrical cables remain visible.

The skylights were the only features in the apartment that didn’t need renovating. Sandra crocheted the granny square blanket herself, and the rug was purchased when Jockum’s family lived in Norway.

They removed the heavy plaster from the masonry, revealing the skilled craftsmanship of the original mason. Some support beams had been varnished, and Sandra spent a lot of time sanding them. The dark shade, similar to the original color, was made with instant coffee and water. Instead of trim, they used thick rope. The wicker chair is from Ikea.

They found the trunk at the now-closed Wanhan Wallankumous store. Grandpa built the sailboat for Jockum’s fifth birthday. The sea is significant to this scout couple. Jockum also trained as a sea captain, though he now works on land.

This is a map of Turku. One of the first summer jobs Jockum’s mother had was coloring in city blocks at her father’s photography shop. The old Leica camera was a gift from Jockum’s grandfather, and the ceramic seal was made by his grandmother.

A wooden house’s courtyard is the home’s second heart, and many of our neighbors could be called friends. It’s wonderful when a preschooler next door takes your hand because they want company picking currants, or when there’s always someone around for coffee or ice cream, or to lend sugar or even a hair dryer. Hearing children playing and seeing a cat or dog in the yard makes it feel extra cozy.

We’re glad we went along with our neighbor’s suggestion. This is our dream home for now, and it would take a lot to make us move away. Naturally, it would be fantastic if someone added a shoreline nearby for a convenient morning swim.”

There’s a small but cozy guest room in the attic. The lace bedspread was made by Sandra’s great-grandmother, and the pillow covers are from H&M Home and Kui Design.

They wanted real wood for the ceiling and floor in the fully renovated attic. All surfaces were treated with products from Virtasen Maalitehdas. The lace bedspread was made by Sandra’s great-grandmother, and the pillows are from Ikea. The table lamp was a housewarming gift from friends for the couple’s first home together. The wallpaper is Nocturne by Boråstapeter.

Using a pocket door instead of a regular one gives the small restroom on the middle floor a little extra sense of space. The plant-themed wallpaper was an impulse buy at Rusta, and the mirror was a lucky find at Bauhaus. The vanity is from Ikea.

You get to the sauna through the laundry room. The space was designed to include a fridge, so cold drinks are always at hand. The cabinets are from Ikea.

One of our happiest moments was finishing the sauna, after completely overhauling the cellar, installing new plumbing, and rebuilding the floor from scratch.

Originally, the home was made up of two stove rooms, combined in the late 1980s or early 1990s to meet modern needs. A rag rug on the stairs is a familiar sight in a wooden-house neighborhood. All surfaces were painted with products from Virtasen Maalitehdas. The bulletin board is from Granit.

Sandra and Jockum are eagerly decorating their little patio. Across the yard, a raised bed produced a generous crop—about 30 zucchini from just two plants.