This gorgeous Helsinki home is packed with design classics & auction finds

The beautifully decorated home of Jenny and Santeri Carlsson is really easy on the eyes. The apartment, located in a semi-detached house in Pakila, Helsinki, has a calm and cozy atmosphere.

IN THE PAST, Jenny, Santeri and their three children moved home frequently. By owning, renting and renovating apartments, they have gained a great deal of experience in different forms of housing, as well as different working methods and materials. Living in several rental apartments has made it clear that they want to live in a detached or semi-detached house that provides peace and privacy.

Jenny and Santeri were lucky enough to find this modern, new home located in Pakila, Helsinki, near the area where they used to live and buy it for themselves straight away. Now they are in no rush to leave this home.

The family likes living close to nature, where it is green and spacious. It is important to them that their home is located next to a forest. Perhaps partly on a subconscious level, Jenny and Santeri have selected several shades of green for the interior. The numerous house plants also bring nature in.

Even though the home is in a house completed in 2020, it does not have that slightly “soulless” feel of a newly built apartment. The understated, light-colored surface materials and the modern look of the house provide a peaceful background for creating an interior that reflects the residents’ style. During the short period that the family has lived in the house, they have changed the place of the bedrooms, but otherwise everyone has settled in well.

Various similar shades and natural materials give the interior a soft and timeless look.

The combined kitchen, dining area and living room, as well as the children’s rooms, utility room, bathroom, sauna and toilet are all located downstairs. The spacious master bedroom is located upstairs, under a pitched roof. Upstairs, there is also one empty low-ceiling room that currently serves as a storage space for Jenny’s props.

JENNY AND SANTERI are passionate collectors, which is reflected in the interior of their home. Each room is furnished and decorated beautifully, and all the small items fit in perfectly. The last modifications were made when Jenny found the right places for the paintings and pictures.

“We’ve always liked visiting auctions and flea markets. When our girls were little, I used to take them with me to flea markets so that Jenny could enjoy some me-time. Many of the pieces of furniture we own have been with us for a long time. Nowadays, because of work and our busy everyday life, we don’t have time to visit flea markets that often anymore. But now that we basically have all that we need, we can concentrate on finding particular products that we’ve been dreaming of for a long time, such as Yrjö Kukkapuro’s lamp for our living room,” says the couple.

“During our holidays, we have more time to tour flea markets as a family, and our children are also deft at making finds for themselves. The best flea markets are located outside the capital region, they have a versatile selection.”

Jenny and Santeri are passionate collectors. The interior design hobby and homes turned into a profession for both.

The couple turned the experience gained by living in several homes and having interior design as a hobby into professions for both, as Santeri trained to become a real estate agent and Jenny started styling and taking photographs of the sites Santeri aims to sell. Together, they prepare and photograph several sites a week for sale. They like working together, as they both are visual persons with an eye for beauty.

This home is decorated with beautiful, natural colors. Jenny and Santeri’s favorite materials include linen, wool and wood, which is also evident when looking at the interior of their home. Various shades of green add splashes of color here and there.

“I really like old furniture and objects, as well as different species of wood and natural colors. In my work as a stylist, I often use objects from our home, such as textured baskets, wooden cutting boards and vases. I love spending time at home and want it to have a calming atmosphere to balance off the hustle and bustle of everyday life,” concludes Jenny.

See also:

• Asun Homes Vol 4 >

Text: Piia Kalliomäki Images: Pauliina Salonen

This story was originally published in the Asun magazine's issue 35.