Today’s home tour comes to you from Finland, where interior designer Joanna Laajisto has created a beautiful lakeside retreat.
When you think of Nordic cabins, you probably think of rustic spaces that are lined with wood inside and out. This one is different. Designed for Joanna’s own use, it’s sleek and very stylish. Yes the wood is there, in the black-cladded exterior and beautifully grained oak floorboards, window frames and cupboard doors, but here it’s paired with smooth grey walls and lots of clean, contemporary lines.
It’s a mix that’s particularly evident in the kitchen, where minimalist wooden units sit alongside grey marble worktops and a long open shelf. I love the way the window provides a glimpse of the trees outside, and the way the freestanding island unit echoes traditional country kitchens but with a modern twist.
The open shelves continue in the living room, where they’re stocked with a few treasured ceramics and provide a stunning backdrop to the dining table. Leather, sheepskin and wool add texture and cosiness to the otherwise airy space, and the furniture is a wonderful mix of vintage and contemporary pieces. The sofa is a secondhand Yrjö Kukkapuro design, while the lounge chair was created by Ben af Schulten for Artek in the 1980s. The coffee table is Joanna’s own work and is made from untreated, environmentally-friendly accoya MDF. She also designed the ‘Lumme’ floor lamp, which takes its name and shape from waterlilies; it was conceived especially for the cabin but is now available to buy via Finnish Design Shop, and I can see it working beautifully in a wide range of settings.
The master bedroom is a calm, clutter-free space where furniture and accessories have been kept to a minimum, ensuring the focus is squarely on the watery view outside. The bedside table is another of Joanna’s designs and forms part of her ‘Airisto’ collection. Originally developed for Villa Airisto, a B&B in the Turku Archipelago, it’s also available from Finnish Design Shop and consists of versatile asymmetric pieces in natural and stained-black ash. The second bedroom, meanwhile, consists of simple bunks with ingenious roll-out trays for storage.
Last but not least is the bathroom and sauna, where the wooden floors are replaced with warm red brick laid in a striking herringbone design. They look fantastic against the textured grey walls, minimalist glass shower enclosure and contemporary white sink, and add another note of character to the cabin.
What do you think? I’d happily escape to such a beautiful hideaway – in fact I don’t think I’d ever want to leave!
Photography by Mikko Ryhänen for Residence, and found via Studio Joanna Laajisto
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