The Kuksa glass by Tapio Wirkkala is Hanna-Katariina Mononen’s favorite object
The alluring glass design forces writer and stylist Hanna-Katariina Mononen to pause and focus on mundane moments and appreciate them in a different way. Read more
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Column: I and Artek’s stool
“You can climb on the four-legged stool, but never on the three-legged one,” says Design Stories columnist Hanna-Katariina Mononen when describing her relationship with the classic chair designed by Alvar Aalto. Read more
Column: Home envy
“It’s really difficult to internalize that what we see in the endless stream of images on our screens is not something we all should strive to achieve,” says Design Stories columnist Hanna-Katariina Mononen and admits to also having felt home envy herself. Read more
Franckly Friends: Jenna Kiuru likes living with as few possessions as possible
Jenna Kiuru is a visual storyteller who, when buying an object, carefully considers both the necessity for and care required by it. Jenna and her spouse live in downtown Helsinki, leading a wonderful life in their compact home. Read more
Column: Can you hear me, Kondo?
Design Stories columnist Hanna-Katariina Mononen has something to say to Marie Kondo, who has given up the KonMari Method used for tidying homes. Read more
Column: With humor
Design Stories columnist Hanna-Katariina Mononen takes humor seriously: “Aesthetic humor is anarchism, gently challenging ingrained habits and acquired attitudes.” Read more
Anna Vartiainen: “Internationality is about exchange and interaction – at its best, it enables a broader understanding”
Anna Vartiainen, communications director and member of the jury of the Paimio Sanatorium 90 – Human Perspective poster competition, is working with the Paimio Sanatorium Foundation to outline guidelines for the future of the landmark building designed by Aino and Alvar Aalto. Design Stories got to visit Anna above the rooftops of Helsinki—where, by complete surprise, we found a bit of Paris. Read more
Column: Knowledge makes life meaningful
“Without background information about things, they’re just empty, meaningless, and don’t really tell me anything at all,” says Design Stories columnist Hanna-Katariina Mononen. Read more
This 1960s terraced house in Helsinki was renovated respecting the original atmosphere and era
The lush trees hide a quiet, beautiful terraced house like a little treasure. Tomi Hämäläinen and Marjaana Nikula’s home is located in the seaside village of Tammisalo in eastern Helsinki. Read more
Graphic designer Ilkka Kärkkäinen: “Our society craves for things to feel like something”
Ilkka Kärkkäinen, head of the jury of the Paimio Sanatorium 90 poster competition, wants to engage with an open mind in things that stand the test of time. In this Design Stories interview, he talks about the effect of Aino and Alvar Aalto on his work as a graphic artist – and gives a few tips on those submitting entries to the poster competition! Read more
Column: Matters of taste
There are different tastes, but what kind of a taste is good? Design Stories columnist Hanna-Katariina Mononen thinks that we don’t have to look far for the answer. Read more
Column: Nightmare before Christmas
“Avid Christmas enthusiasts give me nightmares,” says Design Stories columnist Hanna-Katariina Mononen. This year she has decided to face her fears. Read more
Column: I dream of a timeless interior, but fear it impossible
“Are my interior design solutions timeless, and how could I ensure that they are?” asks Design Stories columnist Hanna-Katariina Mononen, who wants a home that she can maintain unchanged for years to come. Read more
Column: Great things ahead
“The warmest season of the year is already so extraordinary in itself that it’d only be fair to also leave uplifting activities for the other seasons,” writes Design Stories columnist Hanna-Katariina Mononen. Read more
Column: It just feels right
“The feeling of inauthenticity creates bad energy,” writes Design Stories’ columnist Hanna-Katariina Mononen. Read more
Column: Summer at home
Design Stories columnist Hanna-Katariina Mononen ponders whether you can enjoy the feel of a summer cottage without leaving home. Spoiler alert: you can. Read more
Column: Breaking the rules
“For some, peeling paint on an interior door is beautiful, whereas some instantly put it on their list of things to fix,” says Design Stories columnist Hanna-Katariina Mononen, challenging conventional thinking. Read more
Sommarnöjen’s tiny summer home built for the House by an Architect exhibition has all the essentials – and loads of character
The lightly furnished mini cottage contains only the essentials. That's enough: this is what a great summer is made of. Read more
Franckly Friends: Pete Rahikainen loves Art Nouveau and makes discoveries in his attic
Fashion professional and dancer Pete Rahikainen lives in Katajanokka, Helsinki, in an apartment where it always seems to be summer. The apartment features muted tones, a mix of styles and eras as well as a touch of Italian-style effortless elegance. Read more
Column: Those who seek, find – sometimes even when they do not want to
“It’s not necessary to get everything you want or own everything you like” is a principle that Design Stories columnist Hanna-Katariina Mononen keeps saying to herself and even lives by – at least every now and then. Read more
Rolf Hay: “HAY’s intention is to create great, affordable products with the best designers in the world”
Founded by Rolf and Mette Hay, HAY is a Danish – and increasingly international – design company that is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. In an interview with Design Stories, Rolf Hay talks about recipes for relevant and timeless designs as well as HAY’s plans for the next two decades. Read more
Column: Routines bring peace of mind
“Recurring events and routines bring structure and peace of mind to life. You can cherish these, but sometimes also disrupt them,” says Design Stories columnist Hanna-Katariina Mononen. Read more
Franckly Friends: The home of Iida Lappalainen got dressed in colors
Iida Lappalainen, the founder of vintage store Curated and an expert in sustainable clothing, lives in Helsinki with her boyfriend Antti and dog Kaapo. Iida’s new home made her realize that the way she decorates her home has something in common with the way she dresses: carefully selected pre-owned treasures and colorful patterns. Read more
Column: What’s essential in a home?
Design Stories columnist Hanna-Katariina Mononen is temporarily moving house, and this time, she’s determined to travel light. Here she considers which items are essential to daily routines that take place within the four walls of a home. Read more
Valtteri Bottas and Tiffany Cromwell enjoy leisure time in Finnish Lapland
Every morning at their Kilpisjärvi log house, Valtteri Bottas, a Formula One driver currently competing with the Alfa Romeo Team, and Tiffany Cromwell, a top-level professional road cyclist, are greeted by a picture perfect view of the Saana fell. Discover the couple’s modern leisure home with Design Stories! Read more
Column: A new year and a longing for something new
“This new season makes us want our homes to have some of the same cleanliness and freshness that we see and feel outdoors,” writes Design Stories columnist Hanna-Katariina Mononen. Read more
Franckly Friends: Architect Olavi Koponen explores our relationship with space and nature in his creations
In this Franckly Friends column we have a chat with Olavi Koponen, a Finnish architect who specializes in wood construction. We meet Koponen in one of his designs, the Villa Lena in Espoo, Finland, which exhibits his signature element – simplified beauty. Read more
Column: Confessions of a color-shy home decorator
Hanna-Katariina Mononen, who keeps the color scheme of her home neutral, admires the skillful use of strong colors – but only from a distance. Read more
Danish company Montana believes in the power of colors and versatile product design
All about color and joy from the get-go, Montana Furniture turns 40 this year. Joakim Lassen, CEO of the Danish company known for storage furniture, tells Design Stories that versatility and a curated color palette are still at the heart of the business. He also reveals his favorite places in Copenhagen. Read more
Column: Ordinary feels comforting
“Are ordinary yet functional objects boring? Not in my opinion. In fact, I think they deserve to be praised for being so ordinary,” writes Design Stories columnist Hanna-Katariina Mononen. Read more