‘We have lots of VINTAGE GEMS’

With an eye for a flea market bargain, Fransisca has filled her traditional wooden house with rustic-industrial style

After living in a tiny apartment, having the space to decorate our home for Christmas has been wonderful,’ says Fransisca. ‘Our previous home in nearby Tammisaari was lovely, but tiny at just 42sq m, so we were desperate for more space.

Initially we thought about a self-build and I’d already got excited sketching out ideas for our dream house. Then by chance, I came across our new home online, took a drive and fell in love with the garden, the spirit of the place and all the potential we saw. It was five times bigger than our previous place and also had a big industrial barn that would be perfect for parties. The house was built in 1893 and the former owner had done some major renovations to it, including replacing the roof and redoing the plumbing and electrics. All the big, costly things had already been done, which made things much easier for us.

Enhancing its charm

Although it was in good condition, the style was too modern for us. We wanted to bring the old traditional look back to the house and make it our own. I believe you should always respect the architecture and style of your home as the end result will look amazing. To begin with, we focused on painting the downstairs rooms, including the main bedroom, which is between the dining room and living room. We’re in no rush to finish the house, so the upstairs guest bedrooms, office and bathroom will come to life little by little when we can afford it. I like to take my time planning each room and when it comes to interior materials I don’t like to compromise. I’d rather wait until we have the money to do it right. In the long run it works out cheaper as otherwise you’d be constantly changing things. I’d rather save up and buy one

‘MIX OLDER PIECES IN AGAINST NEWER PURCHASES TO MAKE YOUR HOME FEEL MUCH MORE PERSONAL’

expensive table that I’ll love forever, rather than five cheap ones over the course of a few years.

Creating the look

I love graphic design, painting and photography, so have always had a strong desire to express myself visually. After studying interior design, I set up an agency in 2012, so my home acts as a showcase for my work, too. My personal look is a classic farmhouse style mixed with a few industrial touches. I get my inspiration from the outdoors and the sea so I like to keep things simple and light. More than half of our furniture is old and I love painting or repurposing pieces to fit our style, like the old barrel I use as a