Inside a thoughtfully designed family home in Finland

Flos IC S2 -riippuvalaisin — The living room features a warm color palette. Armchairs and large ottomans provide seating for a crowd, while the IC S2 pendant by Flos adds a light, airy touch to the space.

Tuuli Kalliosalo and her family live in a striking house nestled in the natural surroundings of Sipoo, Finland. Though minimalist and modern on the outside, the home feels warm and richly layered within. Intriguing artworks and handcrafted furniture add character and charm to the interior.

THE ENTRANCE HOLDS a surprising reveal. From the street, the house appears low and discreet, almost closed off. But as you step inside, the entryway opens up to a breathtaking view through large windows – overlooking the sloping backyard, a peaceful forest, and a nearby lake. Towering pines and the natural terrain create a serene, close-to-nature atmosphere.

Building a home on this particular plot was far from a straightforward process. Tuuli Kalliosalo and her partner, originally from Tornio in northern Finland, had no emotional ties to any one location, though they knew they didn’t want to settle in Helsinki. Over time, they had considered several other plots and even had plans drawn up for houses that were never built. In the end, the house designed by Plusarchitects specifically for this site turned out to be the perfect fit, one that fulfilled all their wishes and dreams.

A marble table — The coffee table frame is handmade; the marble top was custom ordered from Stonetop in Estonia. The wooden tray on the table is also Tuuli’s own creation.

AJ-lattiavalaisin — The large painting in the living room is by Tuuli. From the sitting area, there’s access to the primary bedroom and bathroom wing at the opposite end of the house. The black AJ floor lamp is by Louis Poulsen.

Vitra Eames RAR rocking chair — The color scheme of the main bedroom – visible from the living room – echoes the tones used throughout the home. The headboard is Tuuli’s own design and was custom-built by a trusted carpenter. The RAR rocking chair is by Vitra.

Louis Poulsen AJ table lamp — The black AJ table lamp is a classic designed by Arne Jacobsen.

The collaboration with the architects flowed smoothly, and things ultimately fell into place more quickly than expected. The couple outlined their preferences for room orientation and the division of functions between the two floors, and then gave the architects quite a bit of creative freedom to develop the design.

There was, however, one non-negotiable request: the lower level, built into the slope, must not feel like a basement. In addition, they wanted the sauna, located within the house, to have a view of the lake and a direct exit to a private outdoor space for cooling off.

The spacious, well-organized house suits the family’s way of life perfectly.

Together with the architects, the plans were refined and the home's size expanded to over 250 square meters (about 2,700 square feet). Despite the updates, the core concept drafted in the early stages remained largely intact. The end result is a spacious, well-organized home that reflects the family’s way of life.

Vitra Eames DSW chair — The generously sized dining table is Tuuli’s own design and was custom-built by a local carpenter in Sipoo. She also boldly oiled it to a darker tone herself. The Eames DSW chairs by Vitra pair perfectly with the table. The black ceramic pieces are Tuuli’s own raku creations.

Kubus 8 candleholder — Natural light flows through the home thanks to the entryway storage unit, which doesn’t reach all the way to the ceiling. The Kubus candleholder is by Audo Copenhagen.

Nikari Perch stool in oak — A wooden shelf handmade by Tuuli, her ceramic pieces, and oak Perch stools by Nikari bring warmth to the kitchen.

Tuuli Kalliosalo, potretti — Tuuli enjoys woodworking, ceramics, knitting, and painting. Her artwork adds character to the walls throughout the home.

Vitra Eames DSW — The spacious white kitchen is located at one end of the upper floor. The Manola ceiling lamp by Herstal is a secondhand find.

The upper floor, which faces the street, houses the kitchen, living room, primary bedroom, walk-in closet, bathroom, guest toilet, utility entry, and the main entrance.

The lower floor contains the more private spaces, such as the children’s bedrooms and the family’s shared lounge, which also serves as a space for dining and remote work. This level also includes spacious sauna and bathroom areas, as well as a laundry room. Large windows provide views of the backyard and garden. Both floors feature full-width terraces that run along the entire length of the house.

Puinen portaikko — A straight, sculptural staircase connects the two floors. The artwork on the wall is Paara, a print by Kuutti Lavonen.

Twiggy coffee table by Woodnotes — The Twiggy coffee table is by Finnish brand Woodnotes. The soft, furry cushions are Tuuli’s latest sewing project. The black wooden bench, now used as a plant stand, is also handmade. The print on the wall is Suhde by Kuutti Lavonen.

Formakami JH5 — Downstairs, a workspace has been created around an old dining table. The office chair by Lammhults is upholstered in a fabric by Johanna Gullichsen. The artwork is Tuuli’s own, and the wooden sculpture on the floor was made by her mother.

The home's expansive surfaces are streamlined and elegantly minimalist. The upper floor features large pearl-gray tiles, while the lower level is finished with warm-toned parquet. Doors and windows have been crafted to complement the overall architectural look. All built-in furniture and walls are white, creating a calm and neutral backdrop for the interior choices.

The soft white palette provides a calm backdrop for the home’s interior.

Inside, the long sightlines run through the house, giving a sense of openness. When needed, the spacious and atmospheric rooms can be closed off with sliding doors to create more intimate spaces.

Tuuli has furnished the home with timeless design classics, creating an interior meant to last. Some pieces were acquired specifically for this house, while many have followed the family from previous homes. In a large house, both furniture and rugs need to be properly scaled, big enough to keep the rooms from feeling bare or echoey.

A bench in the bathroom — The benches in the cooling-off area were built by Tuuli’s partner using leftover sauna paneling.

A concrete element in the house — In the downstairs bathroom, a concrete element wall was intentionally left exposed during construction.

A Finnish sauna — The sauna is an important place for the family to relax. The sauna and the adjacent cooling-off area are both paneled in heat-treated aspen.

The home features many handmade and one-of-a-kind pieces, adding a sense of soul and individuality to the space. Working with her hands provides a welcome counterbalance to Tuuli’s day job as a head of customer operations at a research institute.

In the summer, her creativity extends to the garden, where she grows herbs and vegetables in raised beds. The lush yard is also home to fruit trees and beautiful white hydrangeas.