Ildar Wafin’s two-room apartment expands with a stunning rooftop terrace

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.

Resident:

Artist, jewelry designer and creative director Ildar Wafin, 28. The home is a top-floor two-room apartment in Punavuori, Helsinki. The size of the apartment is 44 square meters, and it has its own rooftop patio.

WHAT THE APARTMENT lacks in square meters, it makes up for in charming minimalist style. The space is divided into a combined kitchen/living room and a sleeping area with access to the stunning rooftop patio with amazing views over the city. The white walls and painted hardwood flooring provide a neutral backdrop for the star of the show, the elevated kitchen with a concrete floor.

The 44-square-meter top-floor apartment in Punavuori, Helsinki, is the home of jewelry designer Ildar Wafin, whose latest work includes a jewelry collection designed for the iconic Finnish jewelry brand Kalevala.

What is the story of your home?
“I used to live in Lahti when I was studying for a bachelor’s degree in jewelry design at the Lahti Institute of Design. From there, I moved to London to complete my master’s, but the pandemic made me return to Finland for the last year of my studies. The Punavuori area had become dear to me, and I wanted to find a bigger rental home in the same neighborhood. I ended up looking for a new apartment for a long time, because I wanted it to have something special. When I finally found this apartment online in fall 2023, I knew right away that this was the one.”

What made you like this apartment?
“The brightness, which seems to have a positive impact on my mood, and the rooftop patio, which was something that I hadn’t even dreamed of getting. The brick wall on the rooftop patio looks absolutely amazing. I also fell in love with the kitchen and its concrete floor and the rugged materials of the apartment. Concrete is a wonderful material and goes really well with white. I like details like the kitchen floor. The kitchen is standing higher than the rest of the apartment and feels like a separate space, even though it’s part of the living room. I also love the hardwood flooring and how the home is a bit bohemian.”

How does the floor plan work in your everyday life?
“I live alone, so the layout is perfect. The bedroom is separated from the living room with a partition, and it has natural light and storage space. At home, I spend most of my time in the living room and open-plan kitchen. The bathroom is also functional and beautiful.”

What do you think are the best features of your home?
“I like how the spaces work both together and separately. Even though there are only 44 square meters, the kitchen is so well equipped that I can also make a dinner for a larger group of guests. I like cooking, and I create food content for Instagram. The round table has room for many visitors, and the Artek stools can be stored in a stack and used when needed. The stools also serve as side tables when we’re sitting on the living-room rug. I like inviting friends to visit, especially in the summer when the rooftop patio provides a nice amount of extra space.”

Have you had to make compromises while decorating?
“This all-white home provides a stunning setting for the furniture, like a blank canvas for an artist. The owner of the apartment works in fashion, and the extensive use of white makes the apartment both timeless and bright. I, however, wanted the interior to also have some color: dark brown, blues and light green, which I have always liked. The furniture on the rooftop patio is also colorful. An all-white interior would’ve looked great, but since I like colors, I used them in moderation.”

“This all-white home provides a stunning setting for the furniture, like a blank canvas for an artist.”

How have your previous homes influenced your taste in interior design?
“During my studies, I only lived for a short while in each place, but get my love of art and beautiful objects and spaces from my childhood home. My mother has a good eye for interior design and has effortlessly combined inherited furniture with colorful items and more modern design.

You love vintage, antiques and recycling. How does it show in your home?
“I like exploring flea markets and buy my tableware second hand, if possible. I also make finds at the Tori online marketplace and online auctions. I’m drawn to Arabia’s Maisema dinnerware, particularly in green and brown. I’ve also bought handmade ceramic dishes that are appealing in their imperfection.”

What are the best finds you have made for this apartment?
“As soon as I knew that I get to rent the apartment, I bought the wooden armchairs at an auction. They are like pieces of art showcasing masterful craftsmanship. The chairs may be a bit small for the average home, but they are just perfect for this place. The beautiful green relief on the wall above the chairs is by Wäinö Aaltonen. I went all the way to Porvoo to get it.”

What is your favorite place at home?
“I love the rooftop patio and its ambiance. It feels like being abroad, enjoying the warm rays of the sun and admiring the view over the city center. I’m planning to create an edible garden on the patio and increase the variety of zucchinis and chilis that are currently growing there. Indoors, my favorite place is the kitchen. I may just lie on the living-room rug with a bolster under my back, admiring the view.”

What does home mean to you?
“As a creative person, I dreamed of a space where I could relax. You need to feel free and relaxed at home. Rest is important, as it provides an important counterbalance to my creative work.”

See also:

• New arrivals at Finnish Design Shop >
• Ildar on Instagram: @ildar.wafin >

Text: Jonna Kivilahti Images: Krista Keltanen

The story was previously published in Avotakka magazine.