Modern Nuuna transforms into an accessible environment

Customer story

26.08.2025

Modern Nuuna in the middle of a pine forest

Jussi and Riikka had a modern log villa built in their beloved spot in Posio, designed to blend in with the surrounding landscape and meet the needs of a wheelchair user.

When Jussi and Riikka Juntunen arrived 20 years ago to view a cottage for sale by the pond, they were immediately captivated by the surrounding landscape. They lived in and renovated the old cottage, built in the 1970s, for a couple of decades, until the idea of building a new holiday home in the beautiful lakeside landscape took root in the couple’s minds. For Jussi, as a wheelchair user, the old cottage had begun to feel labyrinthine and awkward. The cottage would have needed a very comprehensive renovation in other respects as well.

– We’ve been in these surroundings for about twenty years, made lots of friends in the area and put down roots here. We didn’t want to move. Building a new cottage on the old site felt like a really good idea, says Riikka.

A couple sitting in the open-plan living area of a log villa. — Riikka and Jussi built their new holiday home in their beloved spot by the pond.

Jussi and Riikka began looking for cottage designs that suited their needs, took the landscape into account and would fit well on the lakeside plot. When they came across Kuusamo Log Houses’ modern Nuuna M 70 model, the decision was made quickly. The large windows opening onto the pond, the sculptural shape and the spacious communal areas were the features that particularly caught their eye.

Adapted for wheelchair users with minor modifications

With relatively simple modifications, the Nuuna was adapted to create a suitable environment for a wheelchair user. During the design phase, the sauna was enlarged, which meant that the size of the second bedroom had to be reduced slightly.

The bathroom also has space for a washing machine and linen cupboards. The Sauna door is invitingly open. — The sauna was enlarged during the design phase to make it suitable for a wheelchair user.

The window next to the kitchen island was converted into a door. The cottage has entrances from three different directions, which makes it easier to use the terrace area. Thresholds were removed from both the external and internal doors to allow for barrier-free movement.

– We were strongly warned that, because of the lack of thresholds on the external doors, a lot of snow would get in. That’s certainly true; in winter, snow is tracked in on Jussi’s wheelchair and the dog’s paws. We ended up solving the problem by installing the most durable flooring possible in the holiday home, says Riikka.

We chose stone tiles as the flooring material because they are easy to clean and durable. There is underfloor heating beneath the tiled floor. In summer, the advantage of the tiles is that they stay pleasantly cool underfoot. Jussi and Riikka find the floor both practical and comfortable.

There is enough space between the island and the kitchen cupboards to allow for a full-height glass door on the outside wall leading to the terrace. — The kitchen window was converted into a door. The thresholds were removed from the external and internal doors, and durable stone tiles were chosen as the flooring material.

At the end of the building work, ramps leading to the terraces were constructed. Jussi can now roll from the front door down the ramps all the way to the beach.

– The renovation process went really smoothly. When you compare the new cottage to the old one, the difference is like night and day. When you come here, everything just works and it’s so easy that you couldn’t even have imagined it beforehand, says Jussi.

Close to the beach and fishing waters

The building site on the site of the old cottage allowed, with a special permit, for the new cottage to be built close to the shore. The cottage is about 20 metres from the shoreline. There are specific regulations for building on the shore, and each municipality has its own practices. The best way to clarify this is to ask your local building control department.

The gentle slope of the shore facilitated the construction of ramps from the terrace down to the jetty. Jussi goes boating and fishing in the summer, and being able to get around independently is important to him. He can get from the cottage to the jetty in his wheelchair and enjoy his favourite pastime. His dog comes along too.

Being out on the water is a shared hobby for the couple in the summer. In winter, the surroundings offer excellent opportunities for activities such as snowmobiling. For Jussi and Riika, staying at the cottage is above all about relaxation; they don’t always need to be doing something.

Modern Nuuna in the middle of a pine forest. Steps lead from the terrace down to the shore. — Jussi can roll down the ramps in his wheelchair all the way to the shore.

The northern tree continues its story

The cottage’s fan-shaped design fits the plot beautifully. The large windows provide a magnificent frame for the surrounding landscape, which changes with the seasons. Wood features prominently on the cottage’s surfaces, both outside and inside.

In the open-plan living area of the Log villa, the sofa is positioned so that, when seated, one can look out of the large windows at the lake view. — The surrounding landscape, which changes with the seasons, floods in through the cottage’s large windows.

One key reason why Jussi and Riikka wanted to buy their cottage from Kuusamo Log Houses was the northern dimension. In their view, it is essential that, as the cottage is located in Posio, the logs used for it are also sourced locally.