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At Mikkel and Camilla Karstad’s cabin just outside Copenhagen, outdoor cooking and year-round sea swims are part of everyday life. At the heart of their forest-surrounded retreat are Muuto’s outdoor furniture pieces, which set the scene for a relaxed outdoor lifestyle.
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Celebrated for his sculptural approach to furniture and architecture, artist Serban Ionescu welcomes us into his newly established Paris home and atelier. It’s an exuberant space that reflects his singular creative vision and irrepressible imagination.
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Just outside Copenhagen, photographer Katrine Møbius lives with her family in a characterful 19th-century farmhouse. Defined by a pared-back aesthetic, collected objects, and Vaarnii’s solid pine furniture, the home embraces the beauty of everyday life and a slower pace.
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Design Stories teamed up with Helsinki Playground to explore inspiring homes from their community in Tokyo. In one of them lives Yuta Ikawa, a vintage dealer who shares the home with his family. His interior reflects a lifelong connection to Finnish design and a deep appreciation for mid-century aesthetics.
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Stepping inside, the entrance and the view unfolding through the window instantly put the mind at ease. Guided by a pursuit of harmony, Juha Koskinen and Pauliina Tenho have shaped their home into a cohesive and refined whole, where precise lines and a carefully curated palette of materials flow seamlessly from one space to the next.
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In her Copenhagen home, content creator and artist Simone Noa has found that the most personal spaces are rarely the most perfect.
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A home shaped by many places and lived experience, Gabrielle Toledano's Paris apartment balances clarity with warmth – soft materials, thoughtful details, and subtle splashes of deep blue and red.
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The Swiss brand Vitra takes us behind the scenes of homes as individual as their owners. In this story, we meet Vera Köller and Lukas Cober, whose former miner’s house near Maastricht reflects their love of craftsmanship, color and life close to nature.
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Known for their keen eye for beauty and mood, Mikko Puttonen and Lucas Ruska Martin have found a home in Finland that they are shaping gradually – living in it, one piece at a time – into a space that feels entirely their own.
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What makes a home truly meaningful? In these three Danish homes, design is shaped by values, memories, and everyday life rather than trends. From a pioneering sustainable house in the countryside to a carefully curated Copenhagen apartment and a home that doubles as a gallery, Fredericia’s furniture becomes part of lives defined by craftsmanship, longevity, and personal stories.
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Design Stories joins forces with Helsinki Playground to explore inspiring homes in Tokyo, curated from their creative community. This time, we visit the forest-side home of jewelry designers Ryu Hinata and Yui Taira, founders of Ryui, where Japanese craftsmanship meets a quiet appreciation for Finnish design.
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Guided by intuition, carefully chosen furniture, everyday objects, one-of-a-kind finds, and works of art come together to make Elena Palomo and Lasse Pietiläinen’s Helsinki home distinctly personal and entirely their own.
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Architect and influencer Freja Bak Josias welcomes us to her Frederiksberg home, where relaxed holiday gatherings, candlelit tables and easy Copenhagen charm set the tone for the season.
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For interior enthusiast Gro Anita Nilsen, the Holidays are all about atmosphere. Her family’s 1956 villa in Norway comes alive with forest-fresh greenery, treasured keepsakes, and playful traditions.
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Creative director Celia Solf’s family home reflects her warm, intuitive way of living. With an eye for atmosphere and detail, she brings a fresh touch to cherished traditions. Step inside to discover her family’s festive ways and the mood she crafts around them!
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There aren’t many holiday decorations, but that’s exactly why they stand out in Julia’s family’s modern, minimalist home. The festive spirit begins with a seasonal window display and the Christmas stockings made by her grandmother.
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Architect Pil Kallesø lives with her family in one of Jørn Utzon’s iconic Kingo Houses in Denmark. The couple’s love for Nordic architecture runs deep – so much so that last summer they toured Finland in search of Alvar and Aino Aalto’s most inspiring works. Their serene home, filled with Artek furniture and Johanna Gullichsen textiles, reflects that shared passion.
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Interior architect Jasmin Wegelius has created a warm and harmonious family home in Helsinki’s Vallila district by combining natural tones, cozy wood materials, and a mix of new and vintage design classics. The carefully planned space adapts effortlessly to everyday family life – with plenty of room for play.
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For Giselle Go and Philippe Terrien, weekends unfold at a seaside home where time seems to slow. Thoughtful details, open views, and a gentle sense of ease make this weekend home a sanctuary shaped by balance and light.
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Magician Jonas Ljung and his family built their dream home in the Stockholm archipelago. Featured on Grand Designs Sweden, the striking residence draws its quiet magic from the simplicity of its materials and colors – and from the bespoke built-in furniture crafted by Nordiska Kök.
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From a compact family apartment and a brand-new harbor flat to a quietly poetic houseboat, three Copenhagen homes show how Fredericia’s designs become part of daily life. Classics and contemporary pieces alike move with their owners – gathering memories and making room for what matters.
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Design Stories joins forces with Helsinki Playground to explore inspiring homes in the Tokyo area, curated from their creative community. This time, we meet Takeshi Asami, a fashion professional whose Koshigaya home blends Finnish design with vintage finds and an impressive tableware collection.
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Artist Milla Vaahtera found a home for her family in Porvoo, a historic town about a 50-minute drive east of Helsinki. In a modest yet beautiful post-war house, she enjoys views of trees and sky, and a space where every detail reflects her love of beauty and craft.
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Patrick Stangbye lives life in motion, whether running ultramarathons along rugged trails or navigating the creative currents of his outdoor clothing brand, Portal. But when he steps through his front door, the pace softens and peace takes the lead.
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Design Stories joins forces with Helsinki Playground to explore inspiring homes in Tokyo, curated from their creative community. First up: Takashi and Mana Kobayashi of IMA design office, whose deep-rooted connection to Finland brings a Nordic twist to their Japanese home.
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What does a home look like when an architect designs it for his own family? Step inside Sebastian Mendez’s New York apartment, where urban living feels exceptionally inviting.
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At the top of a hillside neighborhood in Seoul lives a creative couple, Dora and Egg 2. Design Stories visited this elegant home to meet the owners and learn about their inspirations, daily life, and the thoughtful renovation that brought their dream home to life – complete with a curated collection of vintage Artek pieces.
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When NHL goaltender Kevin Lankinen and his wife Iina found a pied-à-terre in Helsinki’s Töölö district, they wanted it to feel like a true haven whenever visiting from abroad. Finnish Design Shop’s Studio team helped the couple create a cozy yet refined atmosphere – both indoors and out on the stunning rooftop terrace.
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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.
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Tucked away in a quiet corner of Copenhagen, you'll find the singular studio of Selma Lamai, Head of Art Direction at Muuto. Come spring, the doors of the mere 12 sqm space open onto a backyard that hosts dinner parties, playtime, and laid-back weekends with family and friends.
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Sonja and Olli had built their dream home for three – but when a baby came along, space for four became tight. That’s when the couple found this architect-designed semi-detached house in Vartiokylä, a peaceful neighborhood in East Helsinki.
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The playful home of illustrator Saerom Kim, book and magazine publisher Pilwoo Nam, and their 7-year-old son Seojin is an ever-evolving mix of styles. Design Stories visited their vibrant mountainside home near Seoul to talk about creativity, family life, and their love for Nordic design.
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Built by their grandfather in Helsinki’s Munkkiniemi district, this cherished family villa has found new life as a home for a blended family of seven. Here, old traditions are honored, and new ones are joyfully created.
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Chef Rose Chalalai Singh lives in the 2nd arrondissement in Paris with her son Gabriel, in a classic Parisian apartment filled with natural light and objects she has collected over the years. In addition to her home, she loves to host dinner guests in her lab kitchen.
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The Copenhagen home of Poul Madsen, co-founder and CEO of Normann Copenhagen, overlooks the city’s historic lakes. His art-filled residence is a vibrant reflection of both his personal taste and the design philosophy that has shaped the brand – timeless yet forward-thinking. In this exclusive interview, Madsen shares his thoughts on sustainability, his love for travel, and the personal touches that make a house feel like home.
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Alvar Aalto designed a home for composer Joonas Kokkonen that blends beautifully into the landscape, and inside opens up like a fan around the studio and grand piano. Come and explore Villa Kokkonen with Design Stories!
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Jutta Tanninen and her partner bought this apartment as an investment, but it quickly became their dream home. Combining bold colors, art, and custom design solutions, this space reflects Jutta’s love for experimentation and authentic materials. Join us for a tour of this vibrant home in Turku, Finland!
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In the Japanese countryside, a contemporary house in Tottori Prefecture brings together sharp Japanese lines and Nordic design. Owners Jun and Yoshiko Maeta invited Finnish Design Shop to visit their warm home, filled with music, laughter, and illuminating light that moves throughout the day.
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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.
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Jewelry designer Ildar Wafin’s minimalist 44-square-meter one-bedroom apartment in Helsinki’s Punavuori district is brought to life with carefully curated details, including a raised kitchen, wooden floors, and a green wall relief by Wäinö Aaltonen. The rooftop terrace adds an international flair to the atmosphere.
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Laura Mattila and Mikko Merz designed the renovation of their home to respect the building. For the duo running design and architecture studio Mattila & Merz, the home offered the opportunity to carry out a meticulous renovation that dug deep into the history of the apartment – without any time pressure.
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Step inside the serene world of Bailey Meredith, the co-founder of the towelling brand Baina. In her charming 1930s Art Deco apartment, Bailey shares how her passion for timeless design and mindful craftsmanship shapes not just Baina’s beautiful bathroom textiles, but also her own home.
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Almost every window of the house gives a stunning view of the nearby lake. Water and nature are constant companions at Villa Valo, where the atmosphere changes with the weather and seasons. Take a home tour with Design Stories!
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Emma and Philip renovated the apartment into a peaceful home, perfected by earthy tones, timeless surface materials and a myriad of lovely design items. The couple likes decorating with Danish design and has also managed to make great second-hand finds.
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When two minimalists moved in together, they decorated their shared home with a discerning eye and understated elegance. Warmth and coziness are added to the overall look by large textile surfaces, the patina of the furniture, and art.
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A walk along a rocky seashore made the Japanese-Swiss couple see Finland in a different light. The vintage classics in their home in Suvikumpu, Espoo, are not only a passion but also an investment. Akiko and Simon see beauty in pebbles and whiskers alike.
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Lauren MacLean follows a simple yet profound design philosophy: break free from the norms and surround yourself with items that spark real joy.
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A home is at its best when it blends authenticity, coziness, and practicality. The house architect Mikko Nissilä designed for his family in Espoo, southern Finland, demonstrates that beauty, quality, and moderation can coexist in perfect harmony.
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Interior designer Aleksi Hautamäki renovated a studio apartment that is over a century old into a three-roomed home for a family of three, with high ceilings and a cozy living room. The inventive fixed furniture is self-made.
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Sure to catch anyone’s attention? The breathtakingly beautiful wooden surfaces, spaces flooded with light and a garden made with Mother Nature in mind, all found in this cozy wooden house in Kangasala, Finland. Take a peek with us, especially if you have a soft spot for gorgeous kitchens!
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In the summer, designer Rasmus Palmgren and art historian Alexandra Enberg live and work on the idyllic island of Högsåra. To serve as their home base, they built an about 20-sqm cabin for which Rasmus designed the broad outlines and the interior.
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The bold splashes of color inspired by the neighborhood’s 1960s architecture are an important part of Susanna and Marko’s home. The couple chose the shades of green and blue – their favorites – based on the proportions of the apartment and the light filtered through the pine forest.
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Wai Tsui, founder of the digital platform Hiking Patrol, resides just outside Oslo with his family, surrounded by forests and mountains. Their 1970s concrete house features a unique interior where original elements meet carefully curated pieces, including designs from the Danish brand Muuto.
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When a professional oversees the entire project, even the smallest detail is purposeful and meticulously refined. Timeless, soft, yet minimalist and modern – this is the home of interior architect and designer Joanna Laajisto and photographer Mikko Ryhänen in Helsinki’s Töölö district.
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The Danish design brand ferm LIVING invited Design Stories to explore the charming home of Mattias and Caroline Storm in Stockholm, Sweden. The artist couple shares their insights on the transition from the apartment to the old house, balancing work with family life, and also their creative process.
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When a former horse stable in Helsinki was renovated into apartments, a new home was also found for Jan Ketonen and his two dogs. Step inside this cozy urban dwelling brimming with art and design, guided by Design Stories!
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Stunning artwork and playful splashes of color add the finishing touch to the atmosphere of the 1920s apartment decorated by Iiris and Salah. Take a peek inside with Design Stories!
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Iina Hautala and her partner Axel, both charmed by the allure of old buildings, discovered their ideal rental home a couple of years ago just outside the heart of Turku, Finland, in a wooden house built in 1914. Design Stories got a peek into this home brimming with history and stories – come join us!
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Known for her timeless home textiles, Johanna Gullichsen’s home reflects its resident’s style. The uncomplicated and personal outcome is, however, the result of numerous sketches and long discussions. Take a peek inside with us!
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In this Oulu-based apartment, the 2020s meet the 1970s in style. The apartment was renovated in a way that honors the past to bring out the best it has to offer and help everyday life run smoothly.
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Design Stories is the online magazine of Finnish Design Shop, created to inspire and delight design lovers everywhere. We hope you enjoy exploring with us! Let the Design Stories editorial team know of an interesting story – or send us feedback!
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