A light TOUCH

A sensitive approach to the decoration of a turn-of-thecentury apartment in Tampere, Finland, has allowed past and present aesthetics to co-exist

Overlooking a secluded courtyard, and accessed via a ight of stone steps, Varpu’s Finnish apartment has an air of peace and tranquility that belies its location. ‘It couldn’t be more central,’ says Varpu. ‘We’re right beside Tampere Cathedral and just behind Stockmann [Finland’s answer to John Lewis].’ Yet in many ways the at feels as peaceful as the rural cottage she and her husband Timo exchanged for the convenience of cycling to work and shopping on foot.

The couple saw the apartment online and were intrigued by the hallway with its glazed doors and smart black and white tiles. But it took a visit to the property for them to appreciate the sense of light and space created by the unusually high ceilings and large windows. ‘I felt the soul of the place immediately,’ says Varpu. She was

‘I felt the soul of the place immediately,’ says Varpu, delighted to discover that, alongside some original details, there were some interesting additions…

delighted to discover that, alongside some of the original features, there were also lots of interesting additions, such as a tiny sauna to the side of the bathroom –‘We love our saunas in Finland!’ – and an impressive bookcase that had been salvaged from an o ce refurbishment by the previous owners. ‘It’s part of the fabric of the apartment now,’ she says.

The kitchen had been installed at some point in the 1960s and the geometric design on the glass panels around the door was hand-painted by an artist who used to live there. With so many lovely details, they decided there was very little they wanted to change. ‘We felt at home here straightaway,’ says Varpu, adding that they simply updated the decor as and when it felt right, refreshing the paint in the bathroom and adding some

With so many lovely details, they decided there was very li le they wanted to change.

new xtures and ings. ‘Our home has evolved with all the bargains we have found over the years,’ Varpu says. ‘I buy antiques that call to me, things I love at rst sight.’ When she can’t nd what she’s looking for, Varpu gets creative. Having searched in vain for an old brass bed, she painted the silhouette of what she wanted directly onto the bedroom wall – a witty and charming touch, in keeping with the decorative pa erns on the glass-paned double doors, which were painted by one of the previous owners.

Varpu is drawn to pieces that bear the marks of the past and is a regular at the city’s ea markets and antiques shops. Almost all their furniture is second-hand or antique. ‘I love rusty, worn out and chipped things,’ she says, explaining that she likes to think about the other families who have used their chairs and gathered around their table before them. ‘I like to think about the stories behind our house and the things we have bought.’

Varpu is drawn to pieces that bear the marks of the past and is a regular at the city’s ea markets.

The Owners Varpu Valkeinen, an entrepreneur in the wellbeing sector, and her husband Timo, an account director, live here with their son, Samuel (19) and their cat, Milli.

The House An apartment in the centre of Tampere, Finland’s third largest city. Built in 1905, the flat radiates from a large entrance hall and comprises two bedrooms, a large living room with a dining area, a kitchen and a bathroom with a sauna.

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE Varpu in the living room, with its little balcony, which enjoys a view over the city; the generous hallway with its double doors and tiled floor was one of many features that attracted the couple to the apartment; the breakfast table in the kitchen.

The kitchen was installed in the 1960s and Varpu felt it needed nothing more than a fresh coat of paint to keep it going. The counter-top shelves, wicker chair and quilt were all flea-market finds. Auction Special 2020 Homes & Antiques 95

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT One of the previous owners was an artist and she decorated the glass panels in the hall doors; Varpu says she has a weakness for interiors magazines, which are stored neatly for future reference; the large bookcase was fitted by the previous owners and Varpu considers it to be part of the main fabric of the apartment.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT The pale green shade that Varpu chose for the bathroom was a colour she had been wanting to use for some time. It has a slightly vintage look that suits the tongue and groove walls; in the master bedroom, where space is a little tight, Varpu painted a headboard onto the wall behind the compact divan. It was also a clever solution to her failure to find a nice old brass bed; Varpu sometimes works from home, and uses this little desk in their bedroom. She made the circular crochet rug.