In search of atmosphere: Mikko Puttonen and Lucas Ruska Martin
Lucas Ruska Martin (left) and Mikko Puttonen at home in the Helsinki metropolitan area. The couple is furnishing their space gradually with pieces they truly love.
LIFE IS AN interesting journey. What felt irrelevant in your twenties can suddenly seem essential as you approach your thirties.
For the couple working in fashion and design, the meaning of home and of a space that truly reflects who they are has gradually grown more important. Based in London and now also in Helsinki, Mikko Puttonen and his partner Lucas Ruska Martin began longing a few years ago for a home with a bit more breathing room.
Their place in London is small, and much of daily life unfolds in the shared living rooms of the vibrant city, its restaurants and galleries. As Mikko puts it, in London the sense of home is created by the fascinating city that surrounds you.
“For me, home is a combination of mindset and atmosphere. I’ve traveled extensively and lived a very hectic life for work over the past ten years, and after that, building a home of my own has felt truly important and timely.”
Instead of looking for something bigger in London, the couple turned their eyes toward Finland. They had both realized how much they missed nature, wandering in the forest, foraging for mushrooms, breathing clean air, and finding quiet and calm. In the end, they began their search in the Helsinki metropolitan area.
The apartment’s framework is typical of its era, but the home that has taken shape within it reflects its residents and complements their way of living. On the right, a wooden sculpture by Eemeli Sahimaa can be seen; it is on long-term loan from the artist, who has moved abroad to study.
Wood, a material close to Mikko’s heart, is echoed in Artek’s 100 Screen and Vaarnii’s Hans lamp.
Designed in the late 1960s by Pierre Paulin and produced by GUBI, the F300 lounge chair is the latest addition to the home. The rug is from Sera Helsinki’s collection.
Frama’s aluminum Rivet Box serves as a small side table.
Among the collectors’ treasures are the Akari UF3-Q floor lamp, an aluminum table by Frama, pieces by Artek, and Vaarnii’s Hans lamp crafted from Finnish pine.
THE DREAM GAINED momentum when they came across a late-1970s townhouse with four rooms, a kitchen, and a sauna. Fully grown deciduous trees on the lot and a vast forest beginning right next door made the setting even more appealing.
Lucas booked flights for both of them to attend the showing without asking Mikko first, fortunately. As they stepped inside, they were greeted by an airy, open-plan space, including a kitchen that the previous owners had renovated with great taste. The two-story home had been carefully maintained overall, and it immediately felt like their own.
“Home, beyond the physical space, means being together with the people who matter most. I really value that we now have a place where we can invite friends and family over and spend time together.”
The open space on the ground floor lends itself to many uses. It is ideal for cooking for a larger group, it can double as a studio, and best of all, it extends into their own garden. Both appreciate the small yard, which feels like a natural and welcome extension of the home.
“I’m not settling down completely just yet, but there’s something grounding about tending to flowers in your own garden and returning to a space where you truly feel at ease. Home, beyond the physical space, means being together with the people who matter most. I really value that we now have a place where we can invite friends and family over and spend time together.”
A long kitchen island separates the cooking area from the rest of the space. During gatherings, it doubles as an ideal serving station. Frama’s metal shelving displays an ever-evolving collection of tableware.
At the other end of the kitchen, there is space for a large dining table, surrounded by a mix of chairs collected over time, much like the home itself.
The Prikka backgammon from PELATA pieces was designed by TAF Studio.
ORIGINALLY FROM Muurame in central Finland, Mikko is known as a fashion tastemaker and photographer, while Lucas, who grew up in Berlin, is a Spanish-German photographer. Together, the couple runs the creative agency Puttonen Ruska, operating in both London and Helsinki. Their work spans the international fields of fashion, beauty, and design.
“We work a lot from home, side by side, and it’s important for us to be able to create a clear boundary between work and downtime,” Mikko says.
Gradually, perhaps inspired by their home in Finland, its spatial qualities, and the possibilities it offers, their work has begun to expand further into design and interiors, fueled by curiosity and a desire to learn something new.
Space and architecture, however, have always played an important role for Mikko. In his fashion photography, the setting and location are essential elements of the overall composition. The strong lines of buildings, together with light, create a distinctive backdrop for his images.
At one end of the kitchen, a small breakfast nook has been created. A custom seat cushion upholstered in Johanna Gullichsen fabric was made for the built-in bench.
The drop-leaf table is by Artek, while the chair and stool are by Vaarnii. The PH 5 pendant is by Louis Poulsen. The paper yarn curtains were sourced from Woodnotes.
“Alongside wooden surfaces, I like to bring in textiles, ceramics, and metal to create contrast,” Mikko says. The built-in cabinetry was supplied by Blau.
The home’s lower level is one open space, with the apartment’s original parquet flooring laid in narrow strips. The furniture is light and airy, making it easy to move aside when the space is used as a studio.
Atmosphere and the act of creating it, as well as beauty itself, are essential to them both. The couple is shaping their home gradually, moving forward intuitively and through experimentation. For Lucas, it is important that the space reflects the people who live in it. When choosing furniture, colors, and materials, he believes it is crucial to find elements that feel authentic and align with their way of living.
“I love how the light shifts with the seasons, and we’ve slowly built the space around that. My favorite material is definitely wood, because it brings warmth and serves as a reminder of nature,” Mikko says.
“I’m deeply guided by emotion and intuition, and for me, atmosphere is the most important thing in a home.”
Scent also plays an important role for the couple, and their next project is to create a storage solution for their extensive fragrance collection.
“I’m also fascinated by the way a home smells. I use a lot of incense and essential oils. We’ve brought some of them from Japan, but my favorite brands for home fragrances include Aesop, Perfumer H, Fischersund, Frama, and Basium,” he adds.
The bedroom holds the essentials: a comfortable bed, clothing storage, and a sleek vintage vanity sourced in London, paired with a chair by GUBI.
The wall behind the bed was painted in a calming shade of green. The Eclisse table lamp is by Artemide.
The Shelf Library wall shelving with a workspace, manufactured by Frama, was purchased from Finnish Design Shop. On the desk sits Louis Poulsen’s AJ table lamp.
The compact guest room accommodates a slender sofa bed and Aini Raakel Alastalo’s sculptural wall shelf, which displays a small selection from the residents’ extensive fragrance collection.
OVER THE PAST couple of years, they have refined the home’s palette and materials, gradually adding lighting, furniture, art, and objects that feel right for the space, one piece at a time.
Nature holds great significance for them both, and Mikko in particular enjoys bringing in objects that evoke the natural world and create a connection between indoors and out.
“A home feels successful when it truly feels like home. It should be easy to arrive, to slow down from the pace of everyday life, and simply be. We’re drawn to spaces that have warmth and depth, places that are genuinely lived in,” Lucas says.
See also:
• New arrivals at Finnish Design Shop >
The story was originally published in Asun magazine, issue 52.
Published on 19 Feb, 2026
