TIMBER LAND
IT MAY BE A LOG CABIN AT HEART BUT THIS HOME IN FINLAND ISN’T THE LEAST BIT RUSTIC. WHICH WAS JUST WHAT ITS OWNERS MARJO AND EETU HAD IN MIND WHEN THEY DESIGNED IT
We wanted a home that was cosy and contemporary,” says Marjo of the house she shares with partner Eetu in Mikkeli, Finland. “A timber house that didn’t feel rough and ready but modern.”
“And it had to fit into the landscape,” says Etuu. “The plot was beside Lake Saimaa and surrounded by trees, so we wanted to be able to see all that from inside.” To make their dream a reality, the couple approached Honka, a building company that specialises in log houses that can be customised according to clients’ requirements.
Building a timber house in Finland is not unusual; wood is a traditional building material, thanks to huge amounts of forested land – 70% of the country is covered by trees. The Finns are well aware of the benefits of building with wood: it has a dampening effect on noise, and absorbs moisture, then releases it back into the air as the room dries, which is good for humidity levels, and helps the house to breathe. What was different was the couple’s approach.
A NEW TAKE ON TRADITION
The two-storeyed house with its steeply pitched roof, black exterior, open-plan living area, woodburning stoves and sauna, was inspired by Danish timber architecture, but that was where any notion of a traditional log cabin ended. Inside, Etuu and Marjo used a combination of natural materials – wood, stone, linen, sheepskin – and concrete to create a fresh take on a timber home.
Although the couple had a clear idea of what they wanted, they worked with interior stylist Jonna Kivilahti on paint and material choices. Downstairs, most timber walls were left bare, and the grey of the »
poured concrete floors was complemented by dark grey bespoke wooden cupboards and furniture. LED light bulbs by Tala were hung from the ceiling over the dining area to create pools of light, and are switched off in the evenings when candles are lit. Rattan furniture – a suspended chair, a peacock chair and lampshades – plus woven baskets of plants soften the look of the concrete.
Upstairs, subdued colours were introduced by painting some walls with lime paint, and heaping beds with crisp grey and white bedlinen. The floor of the en-suite was tiled in herringbone patterns and embellished with rose-gold shower fittings by Grohe, and a black granite shelf. “We wanted a hotel-like atmosphere in our bathroom,” says Marjo. The other bathrooms, including the shower beside the sauna, have similarly glamorous fittings.
A NATURAL HOME
The result is a home where the couple can enjoy the natural world that surrounds them. “It feels like nature is part of the house,” says Marjo. “It fills the floor-to-ceiling windows. The big sliding doors in the living area open onto the deck, so we sit there and enjoy our coffee in the mornings, or have a drink in the evening and watch the stars.”
“The setting was the main reason we built the house,” agrees Eetu. “We love being near the water. And we can nip out and pick blueberries from our own backyard.”