This urban home in Helsinki exudes Danish elegance

Emma and Philip renovated the apartment into a peaceful home, perfected by earthy tones, timeless surface materials and a myriad of lovely design items. The couple likes decorating with Danish design and has also managed to make great second-hand finds.

Residents:

Emma Välikoski, Head of Product Development, and Philip Larsen, Managing Director, with labradoodle Elmo. The three-room apartment is located in Taka-Töölö, Helsinki, in a building completed in 1939. The floorspace of the apartment is 80 m².

Emma, how did you end up living in your current home?
“We used to live in a small one-bedroom apartment in Meilahti, Helsinki. Then, the pandemic started and we, as so many others, had to start working from home and realized we needed more space. This apartment charmed us at first sight in spring 2021. It was a big bonus that the apartment had a balcony, as it is quite rare in buildings of this age and in this area. We’d been admiring these quiet blocks in Taka-Töölö for a long time and got a home in our dream location.

We had the courage to make a quick decision to buy, even though we knew it would mean months of renovation. The apartment had been renovated a few years back, but we wanted to make the layout more functional and modify the interior to better suit our style.”

What did you do during the renovation?
“The whole apartment was renovated from floor to ceiling. This used to be a one-bedroom apartment, but it was important for us to get one bedroom more. We also wanted to maximize storage space and give the apartment a tidy overall look, with appliances and pipes hidden from view. I designed the storage spaces with particular care to make sure that there is a place for everything.

During the renovation, we moved the kitchen to the opposite side of the apartment and divided the former kitchen into two rooms. We also moved the access to the bathroom to the hallway and made the separate toilet smaller to be able to make a doorway between the hallway and the new bedroom. Part of the wall between the new kitchen and the living room was knocked down to maximize the sense of space in the lounge area. I designed the whole thing myself, right down to the floor plan and surface materials, but Philip and I made all the final decisions together. The renovation started in October 2021, and six months later, we got to move into the almost-finished apartment.”

“I designed the storage spaces with particular care to make sure that there is a place for everything.”

Were there any surprises along the way?
“Everything went surprisingly well. My father has a lot of experience in construction, so he helped me make decisions and supervise the work. One unfortunate setback was not being able to demolish the column in the living room like we had planned, since it contains a ventilation duct. We were, however, able to give the bulky column a lighter overall look by making an opening in it.

We also had to worry about whether it would be possible to install a toilet seat in the bathroom. It was difficult to locate the vertical drains on the drawings of the old building, but in the end, we managed to complete the work by extending the renovation to the stairwell a bit.”

How have you created such a harmonious interior in your home?
“Our previous apartment was all white, and I wanted to make the atmosphere of this home cozier and calmer. Of our old furniture, we only kept the bed, which means that most of the objects in this home are bought for this place, either new or used.

Philip is from Denmark, and as it so happens, I’ve always been a fan of Danish design – of classic elegance with a twist. When we’re visiting Philip’s parents in Denmark, we also tend to go second-hand shopping there. Usually, I make the deals, and Philip picks up the products from the vendors. Sometimes, our car ends up being packed to the point of bursting, and at times, we’ve also had to leave some items at Philip’s parents’ house for storing.”

“Our previous apartment was all white, and I wanted to make the atmosphere of this home cozier and calmer.”

Could you tell us more about your love of design?
“I’ve always valued high quality, beauty and durability. That may, in part, come from my mother, who has had a long career in fashion. She has always urged me to pay attention to these qualities, whether it’s been about clothing or interior decoration. Chasing after certain interior brands or designers has never been my thing, but instead, I like to think about the home as a whole and how it makes me feel.

One of the best purchases we’ve made for our home are the Hippo Chairs by Danish NORR11, set around the dining table. I was nervous about how they would fit the space, but I still think they were the perfect choice. They delight me every day.”

What does home mean to you?
“A lot. Even though we like to go places, do stuff and travel, home is the place where we can relax. We appreciate having beautiful and tidy surroundings. For example, before going on a trip, we like to put everything in place to make returning home particularly pleasant.”

See also:

• New arrivals at Finnish Design Shop >

Text: Maria Rautio Images: Maria Putaansuu

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