Design Stories

In the spotlight

A summer house in the Finnish archipelago built on nature’s terms

This waterfront retreat blends seamlessly into its surroundings. Robert Holmström designed it as an uncompromising, deeply personal family escape.

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Latest

  • Settling back in – the most inspiring new products of the month

    Though July is still high summer, our thoughts are already turning towards autumn and the rhythms of everyday life. This month’s five new arrivals bring stylish additions to your desk for the months ahead!

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  • Alvar Aalto’s architecture joins the UNESCO World Heritage List

    The Aalto Works series, comprising 13 sites designed by Alvar, Aino and Elissa Aalto, is Finland’s eighth addition to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Discover the newly inscribed World Heritage sites on Design Stories!

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  • Vauhtikisat 2026: Welcome to the joy of speed

    Skateboards flew, crowds cheered, and the July sun turned Sinebrychoff Park into a glowing arena for one of Europe’s most thrilling downhill races. Our photo report from Vauhtikisat 2026 takes you right to the edge of the track – from the first daring runs to the nail-biting final and the moment the custom Vauhtikisat Chair One found its champion.

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  • Introducing JOY OBJECTS – Welcome to Fredrik Paulsen's World of Joy

    What do you get when you combine aluminium, a love of subculture, and a designer who grew up on a skateboard? The answer is JOY OBJECTS – a Swedish brand on a mission to make design fun again.

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  • Guardian of light – Inside the Frederiksberg home of Nuura's Nadia Lassen

    Nadia Lassen spends her days thinking about light as the CEO of the lighting brand Nuura. At home in her Frederiksberg villa, that same thinking shapes a house she shares with her husband, four children, and one very photogenic dog.

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  • A studio in the archipelago: “Here it’s just us, the forest and the sea”

    Built over three summers from raw timber and nails, this studio in the Turku archipelago gives Copenhagen based artist Linn Henrichson and art director Staffan Sundström a place for creative work, quiet thinking and the Finnish summer.

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  • At home with Ida Lauga: A Stockholm rowhouse full of life

    Just a small 1960s brick rowhouse in Stockholm, yet somehow enough room for three kids, two pets, a French husband and an ever-evolving interior. Stylist and designer Ida Lauga has made it her mission to create a home that works hard and looks good doing it – with Vaarnii's enduring pieces at the center.

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  • Nani Marquina: The art of the everyday rug

    Spanish designer Nani Marquina set out to reinvent the rug, and ended up building one of the most distinctive textile brands in the world. In this exclusive interview, she talks creativity, craftsmanship and what drives her after almost 40 years.

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  • Keep your summer simple – the most inspiring new products of the month

    Summer life is easy and carefree, and our interiors should be, too! We've gathered June's new arrivals to make those warm days simpler, whether you're at home, at the cabin, or out enjoying the great outdoors.

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  • A summer house in the Finnish archipelago built on nature’s terms

    This waterfront retreat blends seamlessly into its surroundings. Robert Holmström designed it as an uncompromising, deeply personal family escape.

    Read story

  • Snøhetta plans a hotel and spa for the Aaltos’ Paimio Sanatorium

    Paimio Sanatorium, one of the most iconic buildings in modern architecture, is set for a new future. Renowned Norwegian architecture firm Snøhetta has developed a Masterplan for the sanatorium, completed in 1933 and located in Paimio, southwestern Finland – and the vision is as ambitious as the building itself.

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  • New life in a historic house

    Few law firms can claim a home quite like this. Dittmar & Indrenius is headquartered in Helsinki's historic Grönqvist Building, and after a year-long renovation, the staff spaces have been given entirely new life. Come and take a look.

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Seasonal

How to set a summer tablescape – 7 ideas for an inspiring outdoor table setting

Set a summer tablescape with ease, and let the outdoors guide the mood. The secret to a beautiful outdoor table setting is not perfection, but atmosphere: hand-picked flowers, natural materials and layers of time come together to create an inviting scene, whether for a garden party or a weekday breakfast.

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Set the summer table

Favorite story

Muuratsalo Experimental House was Alvar Aalto’s playground

The Muuratsalo Experimental House functioned both as a summer residence of Alvar and Elissa Aalto and a test site for architectural elements. The Experimental House, located in Central Finland, gave Alvar Aalto the opportunity to play with construction materials and test new kinds of structural solutions.

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Get the look

We recommend

Home tour

The Danish Karstad family enjoys cabin life between the sea and the forest

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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In focus

Meet Tenten: Finnish Design Shop launches its own brand

Tenten is Finnish Design Shop’s very own brand, debuting with a collection of high-quality home textiles. Brand Manager Anu Soiniitty shares more about the new label and reveals her favorite pieces from the Tenten collection.

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Shop the products

Interview

Marimekko’s beloved prints come to life at its own textile printing factory

“About one million metres of fabric are printed at Marimekko’s textile printing factory in Helsinki each year,” says Minna Kemell-Kutvonen, Marimekko’s Design Director, Home & Print Design. In her interview with Design Stories, Kemell-Kutvonen shares why the company’s own printing factory remains at the heart of Marimekko’s print design – and what happens before the brand’s bold colours and expressive prints become fabrics, clothing and home textiles.

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Summer is here!

Summer Shop

Sunny days, light-filled evenings, and nowhere in a hurry to be – are you dreaming of a perfect summer day? Finnish Design Shop’s Summer Shop has every dreamer covered. Whether your daydreams drift towards new furniture for the summer house or a laid-back lounger for basking in the sun, here you’ll find everything you need to create your own perfect summer oasis.

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FRESH PICKS FOR SUNNY DAYS

What's new

Design Stories – Exploring contemporary Nordic design

Design Stories is an online magazine published by Finnish Design Shop, focusing on Finnish and Scandinavian design, interiors, and architecture. We cover the latest design releases, explore timeless classics, and step inside inspiring homes in Finland and around the world.

Design Stories brings together stories on design and interiors, interviews with designers, and design-minded travel and culture tips. The content is created by Finnish Design Shop’s editorial team in collaboration with an international network of contributors, with selected articles produced in partnership with Asun, Mondo, and Avotakka magazines. The editor-in-chief of Design Stories is Mikko Vaija.

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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.

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