Design Stories
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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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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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Julia’s home is full of sustainable design choices: “I only buy furniture that will suit my style for decades to come”
Julia Ruuskanen’s home in Helsinki is a serene mix of timeless design, coveted design classics and a relaxed approach to decorating.
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Done differently – the most inspiring new products of the month
In August, things are made to work differently: some with a slight shift, some with a full rewrite. Meet this month's five new arrivals, each with a mind of its own and a bit of mischief to match.
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Our picks for Habitare and Helsinki Design Week 2026
Mark the first week of September in your calendar: Helsinki Design Week and Habitare are filling the city with exhibitions, talks, and gathering spots for anyone who loves design and interiors. Here’s what the Design Stories team recommends!
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Peter Erlandsson’s house in southern Sweden is the home of the reborn String Furniture
The home of Peter Erlandsson, co-founder of String Furniture, on the Falsterbo peninsula in Sweden reflects the residents’ love of nature, architecture, design and – naturally – String shelves. Design Stories visited this unique house (also featured on TV!) that the architect designed to blend in with the surroundings.
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Spicy pumpkin pasta – the best pasta for a fall weekend
Nothing beats a hearty bowl of pasta on a chilly fall evening. Try these quick and easy recipes to bring restaurant-quality flavor to your home kitchen – savory sausage pasta for meat lovers and spicy pumpkin pasta for veggie fans, a trusted favorite of our editorial team.
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Greta Magnusson Grossman paved the way for female designers
Greta Magnusson Grossman is best known for her Gräshoppa and Cobra lamps, designed in the late 1940s and now part of GUBI’s collection. The Swedish designer, who built her career in California, also created houses and interiors for Hollywood’s elite alongside her iconic lighting designs.
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The Aalto House in Helsinki surprises with its timelessness
The Helsinki home of Alvar and Aino Aalto, and later Elissa Aalto, remains as modern today as it was nearly a hundred years ago. Discover the charming home of the Aaltos in Helsinki with Design Stories!
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Erik Bryggman's Resurrection Chapel is a gem of Finnish architecture
Amidst the tumult of the Second World War, architect Erik Bryggman designed a peaceful cemetery chapel in Turku, in which death is encountered with respect and gentleness. It has become a landmark of Finnish architecture.
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From paper to plate: Fish “en papillote” and lemon aioli are the perfect easy weekend lunch
Fish “en papillote” is as easy as the fishy business gets. Simply wrap fish in parchment, whip up some lemon aioli, and you’ve got an easy, effortless, and tasty weekend lunch. Catch these fresh spring recipes and treat yourself – bon appétit!
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Home tour
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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In focus
Interview
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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Inside the world of Alberto Alessi
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What’s new: Vitra’s Bascule lounge chair
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Introducing: Reboco
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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.
