A view to treasure: Inside interior architect Jasmin Wegelius’s family home in Helsinki
Jasmin Wegelius and baby Elle enjoy the lush view. The patinated Pirkka stool is a flea market find, and the Vintage rattan chair from Parolan Rottinki adds a light touch to the décor.
THROUGH THE LARGE windows, a view opens onto a valley glowing with autumn colors. Below, a grid of yellow, pale blue, and red garden cottages stretches out and from the sixth floor, they look like dollhouses. Founded in 1932, the Vallila allotment garden was interior architect Jasmin Wegelius’s summer paradise while she was on maternity leave.
“I would push my baby around the garden in a stroller and stop for coffee at the allotment’s summer café,” Jasmin recalls.
She works as an interior architect at the design agency Fyra. Jasmin has spent nearly her entire life in Helsinki’s Hermanni district, except for the four years she studied at the Lahti Institute of Design. Her childhood home is in Hermanni, just a couple of blocks away from where her late grandparents used to live.
Her grandparents’ 1960s apartment became Jasmin’s first home. “I bought my mother’s share of the apartment and renovated it. My husband, Oskar Wegelius, and I lived there for quite a while before deciding to buy our first home together.”
The open view enhances the sense of space in the living room. A Nikari Biennale stool serves as a plant stand, while the large hemp rug from Roots Living protects the oak parquet floor.
The oak dining table designed by Jasmin was crafted by Kaluste-Kolmio. Seating includes Nikari’s Akademia chairs and the Ita bench by &Tradition. The space is lit by an Akari 15A pendant lamp. The Provence chair and Satumetsä wall rug are vintage finds.
The balcony floor is decked with Siberian larch boards, with room for potted plants along the outer edge. The Palissade outdoor furniture by HAY stands up beautifully to even the coldest winter days.
THE NEW HOME is a modern 68-square-meter apartment just a short walk from Jasmin’s childhood home. As an interior architect, she thought carefully about moving into a new building – after all, she had always lived in old, characterful apartment houses.
“I wondered if a new apartment might feel soulless. But Oskar and I liked the large windows and the balcony. We also appreciated that during construction, we were able to choose all the surface materials, influence the kitchen design, and plan the built-in furniture ourselves,” Jasmin explains.
The kitchen, which blends seamlessly into the home’s minimalist interior, features marble-patterned quartz countertops and an island. Jasmin chose quartz because it’s durable and easier to maintain than porous marble. The warm-toned wardrobes in the entryway and bedroom are made of oak veneer.
The oak-veneered hallway cabinets were made by Kaluste-Kolmio, with a mirror set into the recessed section. The Kaari wall hook is designed by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec.
“I love the layout of our home. The open spaces are arranged so that the kitchen, living area, and dining space each feel like their own little nook. I finally got room for the large dining table I’d been dreaming of. I designed a sturdy oak table, which a carpenter built for us,” Jasmin says.
The couple shares a similar taste for high-quality materials and a Scandinavian aesthetic.
In addition to the new dining set, the couple bought a sofa and a large hemp rug to protect the oak parquet floor. They share a similar appreciation for high-quality materials and a Scandinavian aesthetic.
“I’m a chemical engineer and work alongside experts, so I completely trust Jasmin’s expertise and choices. The result is a perfect home for us, one where we all feel truly comfortable,” Oskar adds.
Oskar Wegelius and Alvar on a modular sofa by B&B Italia. The cushion is by Johanna Gullichsen. The storage unit designed by Jasmin has space for the family’s vinyl collection and was built by Puusepänpalvelu Siniranta.
The Alima serving trolley by &Tradition was Oskar’s choice, while the Alma wall lamp by Wästberg adds a soft glow. The small Hoop table lamp is by Vaarnii.
The Umbrella table lamp by Paavo Tynell dates from the 1940s and was produced by Taito. The oak-framed Noguchi coffee table is by Vitra, paired with Artek’s 411 Safari chair and Vaarnii’s 001 stool.
In the middle of the living room stands a light-colored modular sofa and Vitra’s asymmetrical glass table, a piece that inspires three-year-old Alvar to run circles around it. At the end of the sofa is an &Tradition serving trolley, whose lower shelf would be easy for a child to reach and knock over. How do these furnishings hold up in the lively everyday life of a family with a toddler?
“At first, the bottles were stored in a basket with a lid. Alvar got frustrated when he couldn’t open it, so we don’t need the basket anymore. I bought the sofa before my first child was born, and I’ve learned the hard way that light upholstery shows everything. I sometimes scrub spaghetti stains off the sofa and marker lines off the walls. The Noguchi coffee table by Vitra is our latest addition; it has rounded corners and a thick glass top. It’s sturdy enough to handle it,” Jasmin says with a smile.
The kitchen cabinets designed by Jasmin were made by Topi-Keittiöt. The backsplash, countertops, and island are all quartz.
The quartz island, crafted by Kivitasosepät, separates the kitchen from the living area. The oak Perch bar stools are designed by Wesley Walters and Salla Luhtasela.
A narrow hallway next to the kitchen is put to good use with beautifully patinated 112B wall shelves by Artek. The painting on the wall is by Hannu Lindholm.
THE HOME FEATURES both new and secondhand furniture. Jasmin has a passion for Finnish design classics, and her interior includes pieces from brands like Artek and Nikari. She admires the timelessness and simplicity of Finnish design.
“I have this funny contradiction: I’m both a minimalist and a collector. Our home looks minimalist because most of our things are stored away in cabinets for the kids’ sake. Some of my inherited treasures and collectibles are tucked away in the attic storage. I’m especially obsessed with chairs and lamps,” Jasmin says.
Jasmin is a fan of the timeless and understated nature of Finnish design.
Patience is a collector’s best quality. For years, Jasmin searched for a Safari chair designed by Ben af Schultén to complement the living area. She once tried to buy a pair of them at a Bukowskis auction together with a colleague, but someone else placed a higher bid. A couple of years later, she finally found one at Artek 2nd Cycle.
“The leather seat just gets better with age, and it easily withstands the kids’ play,” she notes.
The children’s room doubles as the parents’ home office, furnished with the Fem desk designed by Fyra. An old Aalto Armchair 45 by Artek has been reupholstered, and the wall features a poster by Kustaa Saksi.
Jasmin designed a wall-to-wall wardrobe with doors covered in woven wallpaper. Above the bed hangs a Paper shade by HAY.
On the bedroom wall is a lithograph by Spanish artist Aryz. The baby crib is by Babybay, and the bedside lamp is a flea market find.
On a custom-designed sideboard by Jasmin stands a brass table lamp by Paavo Tynell. It's a cherished heirloom from her grandparents. Over the years, it had fallen into disrepair, but Jasmin had it restored. Her grandfather once worked for Taito, the company that produced many of Tynell’s lamps.
“It was only later that I realized what treasures my grandparents had. Their old wooden chairs aren’t worth much in money, but they mean a lot to me, and I’m gradually restoring them. I dream of having a garden cottage in Vallila someday. If we ever manage to get one, I already have the furniture waiting in storage,” Jasmin says.
See also:
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Published on 5 Nov, 2025
