Objects of love – Johanna Bruun’s Helsinki home is a playground of different eras
A 1920s chandelier was found in the parents’ attic. The dining chairs by Olof Ottelin and Ilmari Tapiovaara, alongside a footed basket by Piet Hein Eek, are accompanied by a Nanna Susi painting.
Residents:
Design and interior design expert Johanna Bruun, architect Daniel Bruun, schoolkid Aarne, and their dog Wille live in a renovated apartment that was once a printing house, located in a courtyard building in the heart of Helsinki. The apartment spans 160 square meters.
A welcoming green door leads directly into the apartment of Johanna and Daniel Bruun.
HAVING LIVED AND STUDIED IN FRANCE for an extended period, Finnish designer and interior stylist Johanna Bruun has embraced a carefree Parisian style, which is, contrary to assumption, a perfectly thought-out totality. In this style, the distinction between intentional placement and disorder is subtly evident. Throughout her life, Johanna has amassed a collection of small objects that she affectionately calls objets d’amour, or objects of love.
“Quality is paramount in renovation and interior design. Premium materials and handcrafted renovations allow a certain relaxed approach to the actual decor,” Johanna points out.
Johanna and Daniel burn candles throughout the year. The ceramic candleholder by Royal Copenhagen, Wooden Monkey by Kay Bojesen, and blue Lyngby vase are all Danish finds.
The pine plank flooring downstairs was installed during a renovation. “We occasionally scrub the untreated wooden floor with a brush, which prevents it from yellowing and allows it to patinate nicely.”
The downstairs decor is composed mainly of found, inherited, and project-related furniture, like the Billnäs office chair. The wall displays an ever-changing array of art, like the maritime photo work by Onerva Utrianen.
Art and layering are important tools for Johanna in creating a cozy and relaxed space. She mixes eras without hesitation. A used object with a story is always more interesting than something brand new brought home from the store.
In the mid-90s, Johanna and her husband Daniel took on the task of remodeling the old print shop into their home. They were inspired by the immense, unified space with large windows. The large space was divided by just one wall, behind which private spaces were hidden from view.
The La Chaise chair by the Eameses is Wille the dog’s favorite spot. The Artek tea trolley 900 comes from Daniel’s childhood home, its tiles designed by his mother, Sinikka Kinnunen-Bruun.
Children of the archipelago
“Both Daniel and I moved to Helsinki’s Suomenlinna island as children, and we still spend a lot of time there with our families. Our wooden sailboat, Meri-Mari, is docked there.
As the commodore of the Suomenlinna yacht club and the head of the association, I spend all summers sailing in the Finnish archipelago, which represents absolute beauty to me, a beauty I never tire of.
In the spring of 2024, I will join the crew of the Spirit of Helsinki for the final leg of the Ocean Globe Race round-the-world sailing competition. The departure is from Punta del Este in Uruguay, and we will arrive in Southampton, England.
I pondered long about joining the race, but Daniel’s support and encouragement were instrumental in my decision. It will be a continuous sporting endeavor lasting several weeks, requiring good stress resilience and solid physical fitness.”
The renovated kitchen cabinets are made of solid oak and resemble drawing boxes. The wooden dining table is surrounded by 1950s chairs by Olof Ottelin and Ilmari Tapiovaara.
Inspired by France and Denmark
“We have a small second home in Paris where we spend a lot of time, as well as relatives in Denmark whom we frequently visit. I get a tremendous amount of influence for my work from both places. I boldly mix robust and delicate furniture and different eras. In my opinion, for example, the styles of the 1700s and the 1970s go together perfectly.
I’ve always been charmed by objects with slightly off proportions. I love items with a story, and a touch of playfulness and humor is always welcome. Such are the Isamu Noguchi paper lamps that we have several of. Organic shapes also please me; a good example is the white La Chaise chair by Vitra in our living room.
As a regular at Bukowskis auctions, I’ve come to notice that the pieces that enchant me tend not to attract others. One of my favorite discoveries is a large Royal Copenhagen soup bowl that I won at the starting bid, which I mostly use as a container for flowers. A similar, albeit smaller, bowl could command as much as 1500 euros at auction.
I also make discoveries from dumpsters, a habit I formed well before upcycling became trendy.”
The kitchen is not tiled to keep all the surfaces uniform. On the shelf, there’s a soup bowl bought from the Bukowskis auction and a Bing & Grøndahl teapot. The kettle is from Alessi.
A soft spot for blue porcelain
“During the renovation, we had to add a small window to the kitchen because of a quirky regulation that required windows facing each direction when changing the room’s function. We found it amusing but complied as instructed.
Over the years, we’ve amassed a variety of dishes from here and there. Blue and white porcelain is a particular weakness of mine, and our Helsinki home is brimming with it. I often bring back dishes from my trips to Denmark, where I find them in both shops and flea markets.
I have a special fondness for the Royal Copenhagen Musselmalet series and its more modern counterpart, the Blue Fluted Mega series launched in 2000. Their playful and whimsical patterns are a joy, a far cry from the traditional.”
“I don’t do knock-offs. Cheap buys don’t make sense in the long haul,” Johanna asserts. The black Hang it all coat rack and Isamu Noguchi lamp are by Vitra. The Aalto stool is upholstered in Johanna Gullichsen’s Normandie fabric.
Quality as the cornerstone
“The most important things are high-quality materials and a cozy atmosphere that reflects the spirit of the house. We used wood, concrete, and birch plywood as the main materials for our home’s interior.
As an interior designer, I know where you can save a bit and where you should really invest. Good workmanship and quality craftsmanship are essential. When the basics are in order, you can afford to be more relaxed with the final touches of the decor.
“The most important things are high-quality materials and a cozy atmosphere that reflects the spirit of the house.”
Nowadays, I mainly design private homes, but I also participated in the interior design team for Hotel St. George in Helsinki, managing the decor and coordination of art and design. The project called for a creative and striking mix of valuable design and practical, cost-effective solutions.
I also designed the interior for the Empress Villa of Hotel Punkaharju, aiming to complement the building’s history. The finishing touch was the large prints made from photographs taken by Ulla Kokkinen before the renovation. Saimi Hoyer, the entrepreneur of Hotel Punkaharju at the time, was an ideal client whose open-minded attitude enabled a free hand in the execution.”
The Aalto chair 66 was found in a shed at Johanna’s childhood home. The Eames Elephant is from Vitra, and the Maija pendant lamp by Ilmari Tapiovaara. Alongside the Artek mirror, there is inherited and gifted art.
Artek at heart
“Working with Mirkku Kullberg and Anna Vartiainen at Artek was a fantastic time! We designed various home interiors and built exhibition stands. We were among the first to shoot Artek’s product and advertising photos in real homes, which was quite a new concept ten years ago.
The most extensive and dearest project from Artek was the interior design of Villa Hager in 2014. I was led to believe that it was just a tiny living room and kitchen needing a bit of styling. It wasn’t until I arrived that I realized I was about to style a 400-square-meter house. Villa Hager, located on Vitra Campus in Weil am Rhein near Basel, has kept its interior almost unchanged over the years.
In our home, Artek pieces have a special place, such as in the high staircase that we built when we needed to expand our living space to the upper floor. This staircase is one of my favorite spots.”
Elissa Aalto’s timeless H55 curtains, designed for Artek in 1955, cover Johanna’s office glass wall when needed. Her workspace is located in a former monitoring room on the upper floor. The wool blanket on the bed is from Nest Factory.
Eras and styles blend seamlessly in Johanna’s home: “In my opinion, for example, the styles of the 1700s and the 1970s go together perfectly.”
3 x favorites by Johanna:
1. Atelier Brancusi
“At the Centre Pompidou, there’s a contemporary reinterpretation of Romanian sculptor Constantin Brâncuși’s studio, designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano. I make sure to visit whenever I’m in Paris.”
2. Venice Biennale
“I’ve been attending regularly since 2001. The art on display helps me understand new trends and foresee the future.”
3. Finnish archipelago
“It represents absolute beauty. My favorite spots are on the rugged outer islands of the southwestern archipelago.”
See also:
Text: Mila Pentti Images: Timo Pyykkö
Featured products may not be available worldwide. The story was previously published in Avotakka magazine 7/2023.
Published on 2 Feb, 2024
