While some dream of escaping from the provinces, others without much thought exchange city life for a peaceful existence far from skyscrapers, noisy highways, and perpetual rush.
Today, I want to tell you just such a story.
A few years ago, a young family from Helsinki surprised all their friends by deciding to move to a provincial town in the south of the country. It seemed that in the capital of Finland, they had everything—an apartment in the center, good jobs, prospects for career advancement, many friends…
But Satu-Marja and her husband Ville didn’t even doubt their decision. They really wanted a secluded life away from the big city. In the end, they chose an old wooden house built in 1900.
— My parents and sister live nearby. I always wanted to come back to these places. I was lucky that my wife didn’t mind my fixed idea, — says Ville.
However, the deciding factor was the children—the spouses were expecting their second child (they already had a daughter at that time). Living with this composition in a 2-room apartment wouldn’t be very comfortable, and Satu-Marja and Ville didn’t want to get into another mortgage.
The house’s area is 1722 square feet. Agree, much more spacious than a standard two-room apartment! If you want to, you can make yourself a separate office or a home library.
The veranda is not insulated, so it is only used in the summer. In other seasons, it’s quite cold here, but the spouses sometimes heat a mini stove, which stands next to the wicker chair.
Shall we look inside? Let’s see how the family has organized their life away from the big city!
The house is furnished modestly but tastefully. There are many used items here that the spouses bought second-hand through the local online flea market.
The things may be random, but they go well together. Look at how textiles, a plush sofa, and a lamp from a sale look good against the wallpaper.
The spouses were lucky—the house was old but sturdy. The previous owner took good care of it and shortly before selling it, did major repairs. He fixed the walls, roof, all communications…
— We could move in here right away and gradually do renovations to suit ourselves, our tastes, and interests, — says the head of the family.
While the children are small, the house seems too big. But in a couple of years, the girls will need separate rooms.
An overview of the living room. This is the favorite place of the whole family. In the evenings, they light the fireplace here, read books, drink hot tea, share important and not-so-important news with each other…
There are almost no new things in the house. And this is not accidental—Satu-Marja prefers to save money rather than spend it on furniture (after all, you can buy very decent and inexpensive items second-hand).
The kitchen was renovated by the previous owner (wooden floors and wallpaper—his choice). But the internal window from the kitchen to the veranda was made by the spouses themselves, it wasn’t there before.
Did you notice how many bright objects there are in this house?
— I get very attached to things. And if I buy something, it means that these things will become part of the house for the rest of my life. Furniture, accessories, and other items are something more than just purchases for me, — says the lady of the house.
Each spouse has their own separate room for relaxation and creativity. This is what Satu-Marja’s workshop looks like. The young mother loves handicrafts and making something with her own hands.
In this room, Satu-Marja deliberately made white walls. Against their background, bright objects look harmonious, not flashy.
These are ordinary shoe boxes that Satu-Marja covered with wallpaper scraps. Now they store all sorts of little things.
This is what the bedroom looks like. Pay attention to how the hostess has placed accents. Bright wallpaper (only on one wall), salmon-colored curtains, a small floral blanket on the bed (by the way, the mistress of the house crocheted it herself—with a hook)…
Interior details. Notice how the trailing plants echo the green wallpaper in the mirror’s reflection.
An overview of the bedroom.
Children’s room. This patchwork blanket Satu-Marja sewed during pregnancy—as a gift for her daughter. Such details always touch me for some reason…
— We are driven by the idea of preserving the old good. Cracked paint and uneven floors don’t bother us, it’s part of life. However, we want to take care of this house so that it remains strong even a hundred years from now, — says Satu-Marja.
God willing, they’ll succeed.
A pleasant home, isn’t it? It seems that the family made the right choice by moving here from the capital’s two-room apartment…
