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Laura and Arthur Franck’s charming wooden house in Helsinki
The Francks’ home in Helsinki has a creaky staircase and floorboards that slope just a little, but that only adds to the atmosphere of the 1920s house. The rooms are full of books and art, and the family’s beloved Aalto pieces have survived years of play by three children.
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At karaoke bar Åke, disco meets the Tokyo night
Just off Erottaja in central Helsinki hides a place that passersby only ever glimpse. Tucked into the ground floor of an Art Nouveau building, this karaoke bar borrows equally from disco culture and the nightlife of Tokyo. Step in from the street and you enter a dim, private world where there’s no reason to be shy.
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Max Lamb lets the Min Chair do the talking
Designer Max Lamb admits he doesn’t love discussing his work. He would rather make another chair. In his London studio, he shows how the new Min Chair for Hem comes together: a clever, near-zero-waste design in pine that grew out of a lockdown experiment and years of refinement.
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Emma Ranne and Iida Laiho’s Kuore brings food creatives together under one roof
Kuore Kitchen is a new coworking space for Helsinki’s food creatives – a place to cook, shoot, brainstorm and hang out together. Read the interview with Emma and Iida, and save their fall recipe for plum and bay jam!
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An old house with an old soul – visiting Marie Michielssen and Axel Van Den Bossche
Step inside a 16th-century castle in Antwerp, home to designer Marie Michielssen and Serax co-founder Axel Van Den Bossche, where art fills every room.
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Kuusijärvi smoke saunas win Finlandia Prize for Architecture
A public smoke sauna development at the Lake Kuusijärvi recreation area in Vantaa has been chosen by Dr Timo Miettinen as the winner of Finlandia Prize for Architecture 2026 – the most prestigious architecture award in Finland.
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How to light your home for fall – tips for cozy layered lighting
As the evenings grow darker, there’s nothing quite like lamps glowing softly around the home. But how do you create lighting for the darker months that feels both practical and well balanced? Discover Design Stories’ tips for layered lighting, from ambient light to accent and mood lighting.
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Vitra Home Stories: Sebastian Soukup mixes eras in his Berlin home
Production designer and film architect Sebastian Soukup builds entire worlds for the screen. At home in his 19th-century apartment in Berlin, he takes a similar approach, layering light, color and pieces from different eras. With Vitra classics in a starring role, the result is an interior rich in character and individuality.
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Bright ideas for dark days – the most inspiring new products of the month
Not to alarm anyone, but the nights are drawing in again. No need to fear, though: our five new arrivals are each doing their bit to help you make the most of the darkening evenings.
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At home with Dima & Guy: A Berlin apartment built on contrast
Dima and Guy are the creative duo behind The Berlin Chapters, the Instagram account documenting their hands-on renovation of a Kreuzberg apartment. Their home is built on contrast, and Vaarnii’s pine furniture fit right into that mix.
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Inside Achille Castiglioni’s studio, where design still feels like play
We visited Achille Castiglioni’s studio in Milan, where prototypes, sketches, and everyday objects still sit exactly where he left them. His daughter, Giovanna Castiglioni, told us what it’s like to keep that space, and his legacy, alive.
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The Nordic House: Alvar Aalto’s quiet masterpiece in Reykjavik
Tucked on a wetland at the edge of Reykjavik stands one of Alvar Aalto’s most overlooked works – and one of his most politically charged. Commissioned to anchor Iceland firmly within the Nordic fold during the Cold War, the Nordic House is a masterclass in quiet diplomacy through architecture.
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What’s new: Vitra’s Bascule lounge chair
Vitra’s new Bascule lounge chair settles around you like a favourite jacket, adjusting to your weight and your every move on its own. Read the story behind Bascule and fall for the most laid-back new arrival of the season!
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At home with Isabelle and Barabbas: Nothing was searched for, but everything was found
Isabelle Kaiser and Bari Chyba live by the river near Frankfurt, in an apartment put together from flea market finds, travels, and things that turned up along the way. Welcome to step inside!
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This fall’s interior trends bring shades of brown, natural materials and beautiful layers
The big megatrends in interior design don’t shift overnight, but every season adds its own new nuances. Finnish Design Shop’s interior designers have rounded up the season’s most current shapes, colors and materials. Take a look at these tips for an easy seasonal refresh at home!
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Finnish Design Shop’s Design Disco 2026: Vitra, visuals and a very good party
Vitra classics, animated visuals and a packed dance floor – Finnish Design Shop’s Design Disco brought Helsinki’s design crowd together for a night that’s fast becoming a tradition.
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How to clean a wool rug – best tips for care, spot cleaning and washing
A wool rug is one of the easiest rugs to look after, since the fiber naturally repels dirt. But how do you care for a wool area rug in everyday use, and what should you do when it needs more than a vacuum? Read our tips on how to clean a wool rug at home.
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What’s new: Artek’s Zebra in a new brown shade
The Zebra pattern has travelled through time and across Europe, finding its place at the centre of countless homes. Read on for the story of the classic stripes, and see them in a new brown shade.
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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! Have a story tip or thoughts on our content? We’d love to hear from you.
