Mira and Ville’s family celebrates with design and traditions

Audo Snaregade dining table — In Mira and Ville’s family, Christmas is celebrated with respect for traditions. The home is transformed into a festive setting with just a few simple changes – though the Christmas tree is, of course, the most important element.

Interior designer Mira Karhunen’s family home blends timeless design with heartfelt traditions, creating a cozy setting for the holidays. Carefully selected classics, festive touches, and the joy of togetherness bring the Christmas spirit alive in their Espoo home.

Residents:

Interior designer Mira Karhunen and Ville Karhunen, along with their children Lili and Lenni. The family lives in a detached house they designed and built themselves in Espoo, Finland. The home spans 130 square meters and includes four rooms, a kitchen, a utility room, and a sauna.

Mira and Ville with their children — The Karhunen family now includes Labrador Retriever Taavi in addition to their children.

Hi Mira! How does Christmas come to life in your home?
“Simply swapping out textiles already brings a festive touch to the home. I love adding cinnamon-brown throw pillows, and in recent years, green tones have also caught my eye. Red just isn’t my color, not even at Christmas. For the bedrooms, I always use white linens for the holidays. Flowers and candles are also essential in creating the Christmas atmosphere.”

What matters most to you during Christmas?
“Spending time with family and relatives is the most important thing for us, as we cherish traditions and shared celebrations. On Christmas Eve morning, I wake up early and enjoy the quiet moment before everyone else is up. During that peaceful time, I light candles, play cozy music, and prepare rice porridge for the family. Later in the morning, my brother’s family comes over to join us for breakfast, and we visit our grandparents’ graves together. In the evening, we gather around the festive table with Ville’s and my parents, and my brother’s family joins us too – there can be as many as 18 of us!”

Mira designed the white kitchen, which was brought to life by Novart using cabinets from their Neve collection. The practical Tolomeo wall lamps are by Artemide.

String System shelf in the kitchen — The white countertop, which also covers the kitchen island, is by Nerostein. The white open shelves and book rack are part of the String System series.

Iittala Tsaikka cups — “The Tsaikka cups I inherited from my grandparents are an essential part of our Christmas, and I always use them to serve Finnish mulled wine,” Mira says.

How have children changed the way your family celebrates Christmas?
“The importance of traditions has grown even stronger. Lili and I build a sugar cube castle together, a tradition I carried over from my own childhood. The kids’ handmade Christmas decorations are proudly displayed on the bookshelf in a place of honor. On Christmas Eve, we watch Santa Claus’ Hotline on TV together with the children.”

“Having children has made traditions even more meaningful for the whole family.”

What dishes are featured on your Christmas table?
“We always have hot-smoked salmon, and in recent years, shrimp and a variety of dips have also made their way onto the menu. Horseradish dip is probably everyone’s favorite. In my father’s childhood Christmases, the highlight of the dessert table was Ellen Svinhufvud’s cake – a traditional Finnish layered cake with a rich buttercream filling – and it’s a staple in our menu as well. This year, we’re also planning to serve frozen cranberries with hot caramel sauce for dessert.”

Iittalan Essence wine glasses — “Our Christmas tree has traditionally been adorned with glass ornaments, but this year, Lili and I have also included paper decorations,” Mira shares.

Tarts, cheeses, and crackers are Christmas staples in the Karhunen household. For dessert, the table features Ellen Svinhufvud’s cake. The Kastehelmi plate is by Iittala.

Happy Homes: Christmas book — The green-covered Christmas book is a gingerbread-scented journey into contemporary Finnish Christmas celebrations, traditions, and holiday décor. The Kivi votives are by Iittala.

Elf door in the living room — The black fireplace brings warmth and coziness to the living room, even at Christmas. And can you spot the elf door in the photo?

Kähler Urbania candle holder — Kähler’s white Urbania candle houses offer a modern take on the traditional house-shaped candle holders.

You designed your house yourselves, and Ville built it. What kind of dreams did you have for your home?
“We wanted functional spaces and plenty of open, shared areas. I chose lots of light tones to create a calming atmosphere as a counterbalance to our hectic daily life. At the top of our wish list was a spacious kitchen with ample counter space. My personal dream was a bathtub, and fortunately, we were able to find room for one in this house. The sliding glass wall leading to the terrace was a shared dream for Ville and me. It has been wonderful during the summer months and was absolutely worth the investment.”

“For the children’s rooms, we’ve chosen furniture with the idea that they can take some design pieces with them when they eventually move into their first homes.”

What philosophy guides your choice of items for your home?
“In my work as an interior designer, I come across a vast range of new products and options, but for our home, I’ve chosen timeless classics. I have a particular love for designer lighting, and we’ve gradually added pieces over time. Artemide’s classic Tolomeo lamps are among my favorites – they work beautifully in many spaces and for various purposes. For the children’s rooms, we’ve selected furniture with the idea that they can take some design pieces with them when they eventually move into their first homes.”

Ville and Lenni waiting for the Santa Claus — The children eagerly await Santa Claus, passing the time by watching Santa Claus’ Hotline on TV – a traditional Finnish children’s program where kids can call and talk to Santa.

Kids' holiday decor — The kids’ unique Christmas ornaments hold a place of honor on the String System shelf in the living room.

&Tradition Formakami — For Christmas, Mira dresses the bed with white linen sheets. A double duvet cover serves as a bedspread. The Formakami lamp is by &Tradition, and the bedside lamp is by Artemide.

Bathroom during Christmas — In the bathroom, Mira aimed to create a spa-like atmosphere with the bathtub and tile choices. The bathtub is by Bathlife, the faucet by Oras, and the tiles from ABL-Laatat.

Back to Christmas – what’s your approach to choosing gifts?
“The kids, of course, write their letters to Santa, and the elves discreetly pass their wishes along to us adults. As for us grown-ups, we give each other gifts thoughtfully, often opting for food gifts or experiences. Wrapping presents beautifully is an essential part of the holiday, and we always do it on Christmas Eve night once the kids are asleep.”

And what’s on your own Christmas wish list?
“For many years, I had dreamed of owning a lamp by Ingo Maurer, and we finally got one for above our dining table in this home. Now, my wish list includes olive green bed linens by Tekla and the white Mozzi Able table lamp by AGO.”