Jessica and Antti want to live surrounded by beautiful nature. The house, which was completed last summer, is tucked away in the heart of the forest. Passers-by don’t notice it, even though the road runs just a stone’s throw away.
A wooded plot
Nature has completely captivated Jessica Ålgars and Antti Vaalikivi. In their spare time, they go hiking in landscapes untouched by human hands. Their motorhome takes them to various nature destinations across Finland, where the couple enjoy the enchanting power of the delicate natural surroundings.
Jessica and Antti also wanted to live in the midst of delicate nature. Their aim was to build their own house, provided they could find a suitable plot in south-west Finland. And they did find it – the couple went to view a plot of just over a hectare for sale in Rymättylä. They fell in love with it immediately and the sale was quickly concluded. With the plot secured, their dream was all but a reality, pending construction.
The plot evoke images of the Lapland landscape
Low pine trees grow on the plot. The landscape is reminiscent of the wilderness of Lapland. A marsh begins right at the edge of the plot, which can now be admired from the windows of their home. Rymättylä, known in particular for its early spring potatoes, was incorporated into Naantali 15 years ago. It is a twenty-minute drive to the town centre, but in Jessica and Antti’s garden one can enjoy the peace of the countryside. The road is within sight of the gate to the new house, but the black building blends so effectively into the surrounding woodland that it goes unnoticed by almost everyone passing by.
For nature lovers, a log house was the natural choice. They found a house design they liked in the Kuusamo Log Houses house collection. The deal was struck at the end of 2022, when the estate agent suggested a builder who could quickly get the 128-square-metre house ready to move into. The house was completed in six months thanks to the expertise of a local construction firm.
The Log Home Harju offers plenty of space for Jessica and Antti’s ideal everyday life. The three bedrooms provide enough rooms for both of them to have home offices, which can also serve as overnight accommodation when their adult children visit with their families. In terms of design, the building is a modern-looking detached house with a pitched roof. The floor plan is clear, and the square-shaped open-plan living area and kitchen feature tall windows offering views of the back garden. Behind the master bedroom is a walk-in wardrobe. Behind the kitchen is a spacious, 10-square-metre utility room. Adjacent to this are the sauna facilities.
The house was ready to move into last July. The construction was not only quick but also went smoothly. The site was staffed by local workers, who became familiar faces as the project progressed. The couple has fond memories of the construction period, and the end result was a complete success.
The home features many of Antti’s father’s artworks
In Jessica’s and Antti’s interior design philosophy, less is more. They have deliberately avoided clutter in their home. As many natural materials as possible were chosen for the surfaces and furnishings. The colour scheme echoes the authentic tones of nature. The colour scheme is expanded by the paintings hanging on the walls of various rooms, which were painted by Antti’s father, Valto Vaalikivi. A unique splash of colour in the home is an old chair in the bedroom, which Antti’s grandfather took with him when he was evacuated from Karelia.
Wood plays the leading role in the interior. It is visible and its scent can be detected throughout the home. In addition to the walls, the ceiling is also made of Finnish wood. The floors are laid with oak parquet. One of Jessica’s daughters lives in Norway, where they fell in love with the local interior style – walls clad in vertical panelling. Some of the partition walls in Jessica and Antti’s home are clad in timber. The rest are made of plasterboard, painted white in the traditional style.
Black interior doors provide a contrast to the wood-coloured surfaces. The kitchen units, manufactured by Puustelli, feature light grey doors, and a light ceramic worktop was chosen for the island. The kitchen has a clean, contemporary design. The cupboards are positioned on one wall behind the island. A tall window opening between the cupboards and the island makes the kitchen bright.
An air-to-water heat pump was chosen as the heating system. A large part of the room’s heat is provided by a storage fireplace, which is now found in only a small proportion of detached houses. A fireplace is a natural form of heating. It brings not only wonderful warmth into the home but also an abundance of atmosphere. Jessica and Antti source the firewood for their fireplace from their own plot.
The ‘Almost Hidden’ article was first published in the magazine Uusi Koti, issue 1/2024. The article was written by Jorma Välimaa and photographed by Hans Koistinen.
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