‘I’ve designed our home for refuge and relaxation.’ How one interior designer conjured up calm in a city center |
Regardless of whether or not you stay in a city centre, you will empathize with the thought of designing a household as a haven of peace to retreat to. This is accurately what interior designer Annu Nykänen has carried out for herself and her husband Stefan Söderström.
The few experienced minor motive to move from their central Helsinki apartment but just two blocks absent an incredible chance arose, and it is a font of inspiration for compact place decorating.
‘An condominium arrived up for sale on Bulevardi. It is one particular of the greatest-recognised streets in Helsinki,’ suggests Annu, who runs inside structure agency Lova Co Interiors (opens in new tab). ‘It’s in the center of the city nevertheless only a couple of hundred yards from the ocean. It also has a emotion of spaciousness, becoming 65 toes broad and tree-lined. At each finishes are green areas and the website traffic is not large,’ she provides.
Sheer cream-coloured curtains body the tasteful home windows and diffuse the daylight, supplying it a heat filter
(Impression credit history: Krista Keltanen)
Even though their former apartment was satisfactory, Annu and Stefan, a spouse in a international management consultancy, craved shift dwelling room in a tranquil setting away from the city noise.
‘There were a number of matters that actually drew us in. The condominium is in a stunning previous residential creating courting again to 1905. The exterior is pale orange and the complete fashion is decorative with arches and smaller statues. It’s located on the top ground overlooking the inner backyard making it extremely tranquil.
‘It has 9 foot superior ceilings and home windows on the two the north and south sides. We cherished the arch in the principal place and the outdated fireplace was an additional characteristic that we fell for. It just felt like us from the very commencing,’ Annu says.
A round table with present day curved chairs and a glass chandelier make an eye-catching focal stage at the centre of the apartment. ‘I like Studio Laurin (opens in new tab) for antique and vintage finds. It is exactly where we acquired our charming Murano chandelier for our eating region,’ states Annu
(Impression credit rating: Krista Keltanen)
Even with it currently being in a good problem, Annu fairly naturally decided the move would be an opportune second to flex her innovative muscle mass. ‘It experienced been renovated a yr beforehand. Regardless of this, we determined to embark on a three-month renovation to make it much more agent of our possess model still keep the spirit of the developing.
‘I like to mix different varieties and supplies but, previously mentioned all, I usually want to realize a sense of harmony.
‘We additional mouldings to all the ceilings and walls and redecorated. We also sanded the floors, which had been white, to restore the primary colour. We modified the kitchen and invested in a number of new cupboards at the entrance and in the eating place.’
A extensive counter accommodates cabinetry on two sides. The oversized lamp presents sculptural interest, as does the extractor
(Image credit rating: Krista Keltanen)
Annu was keen to keep away from the ‘all-white’ search favored in Scandinavian nations around the world. ‘I visualize colors when I’m in the genuine place and assume of what would do the job very best for it specially. Usually, I stay clear of sturdy colours but listed here I needed a refined plan with different ranges of depth, heat and coziness.
‘For this I used a product shade with some distinction in the pale blue in the kitchen area cabinets and residing room. I have often favored all-natural supplies like linen, stone, marble and wooden, which retain their worth very long into the long term.’
Large-shine tiles rebound mild from the living room. The monochrome plan is a stylish nod to the art-deco period of time.
(Picture credit rating: Krista Keltanen)
Annu opted for rounded designs in several of her furnishings, offering relief from the stricter forms of Modernist furnishings. ‘The seasons contrast significantly in Finland. In the summer, the sun sets only for a number of several hours so the condominium is continuously full of light. All through the winter season the condition is flipped, so I light-weight a lot of candles,’ Annu provides.
At the coronary heart of the dwelling is the dining home from which the other rooms direct off. This center place makes it possible for a potent circulation and social relationship between rooms, relatively like a lodge suite. The arrangement is perfect for intimate, shut dwelling with minimal need for privateness.
A rattan cell pendant light-weight fills the area with shadow perform immediately after darkish. It chimes with the rattan radiator handles utilized through the apartment
(Impression credit score: Krista Keltanen)
The sweeping arch, substantial ceilings and significant home windows lend a palatial and tasteful grandeur. Sharing the condominium with their King Charles Spaniel, Maple, Annu and Stefan largely use their household as a spot of refuge and peace.
‘We do have mates over but largely it’s just for us a few and presently it’s our favored location in the planet.’
The mirrored panelling aids make the area look larger sized.
(Impression credit: Krista Keltanen)