This story is truly inspiring—a woman with a modest income, raising her young son alone, rented a run-down 1920s house and turned it into a cozy home with her own hands.
She had plenty of reasons to give up. A difficult divorce, limited savings, no job, no property, and no credit history (a big drawback when looking for a rental). But she managed to take control of her life and break free from a streak of bad luck. How did she do it, and what came of it? Let’s dive in.
The house we’re visiting today.
“I was determined to find a small house after my divorce. Apartments weren’t even an option. First, the rent was almost the same. Second, we have a dog who’s used to living in a house,” says Kaisa. “And third, I wanted to have some animals and start a small garden.”
Eventually, Kaisa found a rental listing for a small 1920s house on the outskirts of Oulu, Finland’s fifth-largest city.
The house looked rough—outdated interior, peeling wallpaper, sagging floors, an overgrown yard. But the rent was so affordable that dozens of people showed up to see it.
A quick note: In Finland (and many other countries), landlords often hold open house-style viewings where multiple potential tenants visit at the same time. The owner then selects the tenant they prefer—often based on appearance, social status, or financial stability.
Kaisa and her son on the doorstep of their new (but old) home.
Kaisa knew she had little chance of securing the rental. Landlords usually prefer a stable couple with a solid credit history over a single mother without a job.
“I realized I needed to stand out, so I wrote a letter directly to the landlord,” Kaisa recalls. “I was honest—I told them I was a single mother and probably not their ideal tenant. But I also wrote that if they gave me a hammer, I would breathe new life into this house, make some renovations, and be the most hassle-free tenant they’d ever had.”
The next day, she got a call—the owners had chosen her.
Kaisa painted the floors, replaced the backsplash, and brought in furniture and appliances. The old kitchen cabinets (on the left) have been there since the 1950s—she just raised them a bit and painted them olive green.
Interestingly, the retro kitchen setup was completed with simple IKEA dressers that more or less matched the style. Can you tell the difference? Look closely at the photo above.
For the kitchen’s interior, Kaisa chose wallpaper with a recognizable print from William Morris & Co. But the real star of this room is the antique wood-burning stove, which is still in use.
Kaisa did almost all the renovations herself to save money. But one thing she didn’t compromise on was the William Morris wallpaper. In the living room, it covers one wall, perfectly complementing the furniture and rugs.
The house has both wood-burning and electric heating.
In winter, the stove in the living room is fired up almost daily.
Kaisa’s small bedroom is decorated in rich but calming tones.
The child’s room is just as cozy. Kaisa’s son picked out the wallpaper and bedspread himself. The bed (dating back to the 1960s) was a gift from the neighbors.
That little elephant? Kaisa brought it back years ago from a trip to India.
The yard has transformed too—it’s full of life, with chickens roaming freely and potted plants everywhere.
Moving into this house wasn’t just a challenge for Kaisa—it was also a fresh start. She needed to prove to herself that she could manage life on her own and take on home renovations. But it also led to something bigger: Kaisa opened a small shop in the shed on her property, selling ceramics and vintage dishware.
People walking by Kaisa’s house see this little sign. Her home-based ceramics shop is open just a couple of hours a day.
Kaisa’s story is truly inspiring. Even though she rents this house, her journey has been so remarkable that a local magazine wrote about her.
She has now lived here for five years. Step by step, she’s making this house her own, hoping that one day she’ll be able to buy it along with the land it sits on.
