Sanna sticks to a palette of black and white even at Christmas, adding a cozy seasonal feel to her home with candles, ornaments and flowers.
Sanna's home remains black and white also at Christmas. The white dining table is large enough to accommodate the whole family during the holidays. The black DSR chairs are from Vitra, the white A330S pendants from Artek and the Kubus 4 candleholder from By Lassen.
Residents:
Interior designer Sanna Siik-Keskisarja, 39 and IT consultant Riku, 38 with children Martta, 7 and Joonatan, 10. Their home is a 170-square-meter detached house in Vantaa.
The breakfast nook features a round table with Ton chairs, Iittala's Nappula candleholder and Marimekko's clear Urna vase.
Sanna, husband Riku and children Martta and Joonatan live in a modern detached home in Vantaa, in Finland’s metropolitan area. The monochrome palette of black, white and grey remains unchanged also at Christmas with the exception of a dash of red introduced by Christmas flowers.
Sanna arranges Christmassy vignettes and beautiful flowers here and there, and chairs are covered with sheepskins and wintry textiles. Candles twinkle in the rooms divided across three floors, and also the children’s rooms have been given a seasonal feel.
Sanna arranges Christmassy vignettes and beautiful flowers here and there, and chairs are covered with sheepskins and wintry textiles.
“Christmas is a really special time for me, which has become even more special along with having children. When I was young, we often spent Christmas abroad, which is why I now want to create a traditional Finnish Christmas for my own children,” says Sanna.
Vitra's black Hang it all coat rack, designed by Charles and Ray Eames, catches the eye in the hallway.
The statement piece of the living room is a hanging rattan chair from Parolan Rottinki. The black and white cushion cover from Artek features Alvar Aalto's Siena print.
Sanna has paired Marimekko's Urna vase with beautiful holly twigs, her current favorite flora.
Sanna fills her home with Christmas flowers as soon as the season begins, amaryllis and hyacinths being among her favorites. In a black-and-white home, you can never go wrong with white flowers. Holly with its red berries is Sanna’s latest plant crush. A Christmas mood begins to set in early, with the first fairy lights appearing in October, followed by paper stars in the windows. Dark autumn nights are illuminated by the flicker of candles. In November, Sanna accessorizes the home with sprigs of evergreens. The family fetches a Christmas tree a week before Christmas.
“The stunning green of the Christmas tree is accentuated with white ornaments – although I might add a few black ones to spice things up.”
“The stunning green of the Christmas tree is accentuated with white ornaments – although I might add a few black ones to spice things up. Over the years, we’ve added less and less decorations and they’ve become more streamlined. I like large paper stars and allow flowers and candles to do their magic. The children have large advent calendars, where they find a little treat each day,” says Sanna.
Sanna's home office is on the first floor, which has plenty of natural light for the work of an interior designer. The chair is Hay's About A Chair AAC22 in white.
Sanna has decorated the Christmas tree with airy paper ornaments. The candle lights may twinkle around the clock during the holidays.
The space between the sauna and the bedroom is perfect for lounging. The Tiiliskivi cushion covers are from Marimekko and the rugs from Anno.
Sanna likes Marimekko's products and favors Finnish design. The Oiva mugs are adorned with Maija Louekari's Räsymatto pattern.
On Christmas Eve, the family gathers around a large festive table with relatives, Father Christmas pays a visit, and children enjoy the day to the full. The family has an old tradition of Santa’s little helpers bringing one gift for the children already first thing in the morning.
This home feature was published originally in Jonna Kivilahti and Krista Keltanen's book Happy Homes: Christmas.
Discover also:
• Happy Homes: Christmas >
• Happy Homes: Hideaways >
• Happy Homes: Creative >
Text: Jonna Kivilahti Photos: Krista Keltanen