A dream house by the lake – Fall in love with the unique Villa Valo

Almost every window of the house gives a stunning view of the nearby lake. Water and nature are constant companions at Villa Valo, where the atmosphere changes with the weather and seasons. Take a home tour with Design Stories!

Ornäs Näyttely dining table
The set of Ornäs’s large Näyttely dining table and chairs plays a central role in family gatherings. The sizeable wool rug is by Tisca, and the Panthella and PH 5 Mini lamps are by Louis Poulsen.

WATERSIDE LOT and proximity to nature were the most important criteria when Heli and Janne Ylönen were looking for a place for the home of their dreams. At some point, Janne happened to come by an ad for a spacious hillside lot on sale by Lake Vesijärvi in southern Finland – at a suitable distance from the workshop and store of Fasetti, a Finnish furniture company run by the couple.

As fate would have it, another interested party managed to snatch the lot before them, but through a series of coincidences, Heli and Janne ended up owning it a few years later, anyway.

Ornäs Näyttely dining table in oak
On the side of the lake, the facade is all windows. Changing with the weather and seasons, the views from the house are sweeping, and when its is dark, the city lights of downtown Lahti are visible on the horizon.
Ornäs Rialto lounge chairs in the living room
The second floor of the square-shaped house is open space, with a lounge set at one end. The soft wool rug by Tisca ties together the set, consisting of comfortable sofas and Ornäs’s Rialto lounge chairs and Caravelle console table. The Panthella table lamp is by Louis Poulsen.
Vitra Akari pendant lamp
In the lounge area, there are floor-to-ceiling windows on two walls. Being partial to symmetry, the residents have created a sofa set with two Flexlux sofas facing each other. The Akari lamp is from Vitra’s collection.
View to the lake Vesijärvi in southern Finland
The location and landscape are an important part of the home.

As it usually is with good things, finding the right lot took time. Dreaming up a perfect home is no quick feat, either, as reconciling preferences, habits and eventually available square footage is something that should be done without rushing. Heli and Janne had been thinking about their dream home for a long time, learning all kinds of things about themselves, spaces and house building by living in many different homes.

“We’d already been testing our ideas and ideals in practice – and even learned something. We wanted, for example, a sufficiently large and functional kitchen and utility room that would be easy to care for. We also wanted a kitchen island with two water outlets as well as a sauna with a view of the lake and benches wide enough for lying down while bathing,” describes Janne.

A spacious hallway and stairs leading downstairs
The spacious hallway is connected to a staircase leading downstairs to the children’s bedrooms and the sauna and utility room. All storage furniture is made at Fasetti’s workshop.
Vintage Ornäs Meloni lounge chair
Everyone entering the house is greeted by a stunning view. The fireplace in the middle of the lounge area is often used just for the ambiance. The Ornäs Meloni lounge chair is a vintage find, restored at Fasetti.
Ornäs Näyttely furniture
The dining set, made up of Ornäs’s Näyttely furniture, is located conveniently by the kitchen. The most beautiful dishes are kept in Ornäs’s glass cabinet.
House on a hilltop
The dark building located on a hilltop blends in perfectly with the natural surroundings.

WHILE LIVING in their previous homes, Heli and Janne had learned what they needed space for and what was not that important to them. Friend of the family, architect Irmeli Kujala, worked closely with the couple to transform their wishes into a timber-clad hillside house that blends in with its surroundings. The house was given the name Villa Valo.

The two-story house is spacious, and the rooms seem to be both connected and separated by different functions. The kitchen is large, as is the bright utility room downstairs. There are no spaces without purpose or use.

The family designed their dream house based on their needs, preferences and values.

The bedrooms in the house, designed for a family of five, are also spacious. Even though two of the three children have already moved out on their own, Heli and Janne do not feel that the house is too big. When the children visit with their partners, there is plenty of room for everyone. The house has ‘space for being social’, as the architect has put it.

This lakefront home in the countryside is a dream come true in many ways. It offers a peaceful place for spending time as a family, counterbalancing the couple’s challenging, busy and interesting work that is highly demanding yet extremely rewarding.

Artek K65 chairs
The wall of cabinets includes a breakfast cupboard housing all necessary appliances and utensils. The black K65 chairs are from Artek’s collection.
A black kitchen island top
The family like to cook, so it was clear from the start what the kitchen would be like: a large island in the middle of the space, with two water outlets and a cooktop at one end.
Entrance to a dark house on the hilltop
The plants on the entrance-side of the house soften the edge of the front patio. There is an outdoor kitchen to the right. The fireplace area, used a great deal all year round, is located at the end of the building.

BACK IN THE DAY, Fasetti, the company run by Heli and Janne, was established out of love for Nordic vintage design. In addition to the store, a workshop was established for repairing and refurbishing furniture and lamps in need of a revamp. It has become Fasetti’s mission to make sure that Finnish design history remains versatile and to keep Finnish furniture production and expertise alive and well.

Over the years, the business has evolved and the company, owned by Janne, his brother Samuli and their spouses, has become an interesting pioneer in the industry, bringing forgotten Finnish design classics back into production.

The furniture designed by Hiort af Ornäs laid the foundation for the company’s own collection, which now also includes furniture designed by Olof Ottelin and Ahti Taskinen. Fasetti has also opened a showroom in Helsinki, on Bulevardi at the corner of Erottaja.

Fasetti Easy sofa module
The staircase descends to the library room, sitting between the children’s bedrooms. The door in the background leads to the sauna, with the utility room next to it on the right. The Easy lounge chairs are designed by Ahti Taskinen and currently manufactured by Fasetti, as is the adjacent coffee table.
Roots Living linen bedding
The bedroom has a calm and cozy ambiance, created with similar shades and different textures. A plush carpet covers the floor, and the bed is made with linen bedding by Roots Living.
A dark Finnish sauna
The sauna is dark and intimate. The benches are wide enough for enjoying the heat lying down, and the large window gives a beautiful view of the lake.
A lakeside lot
The large lakeside lot has been kept in its natural state. The five sheep grazing in the yard keep it tidy. The jetty is one of the residents’ favorite spots. Heli and Janne swim in the lake all year round.

The development of Fasetti’s own collection, the store in Hollola and the showroom in Helsinki, keep Heli and Janne’s days full and social. The extensive refurbishment projects at the workshop, many of which involve prestigious sites owned by the state and municipalities, also keep the couple busy.

Having a home in the countryside has become increasingly important, as it acts as a counterbalance to the hectic work. Relaxing in a peaceful natural environment is just what the couple needs. Spending a moment at the end of the jetty or taking a cooling dip in the lake are ideal for calming an overactive mind. And, even though Janne as a salesperson thinks that almost everything is for sale, he agrees with Heli on that they will probably never sell the place. It is where they feel good and have put their roots down.

Shop the style

Fasetti
Easy sofa module
Louis Poulsen
PH 5 Mini
Ornäs
Näyttely dining table
Ornäs
Hiort af Ornäs book
Ornäs
Rialto lounge chair
Louis Poulsen
Panthella table lamp
Ornäs
Näyttely chair
Artek
K65 high chair

See also:

All products by Fasetti >
All products by Ornäs >

Text: Ulla Koskinen Images: Sameli Rantanen

The story was previously published in Asun magazine 45.

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