A couple from Kuusamo wanted a house that was simple in the best sense of the word. The sensible house offers just the right amount of space, and its interior is unrivalled in terms of cosiness.
Building a detached house is normally a very time-consuming project. It can easily take several years from the moment the desire to build a house is sparked to the day of the move. Finding a plot, choosing a house to your liking and arranging the financing all require careful consideration.
Iitu Kareketo and Joni Heiskanen from Kuusamo, on the other hand, completed the project on a tight schedule. It was early spring 2020 when the couple began to long for a bigger home to suit both their own needs and those of their two large dogs. The initial idea was to fulfil their wish by buying a ready-built detached house. It soon became clear that no cottage matching their wishes could be found in their home town. Shortly afterwards, the town of Kuusamo organised an auction for three plots zoned for detached houses on the shores of Lake Kuusamojärvi.
Three bidders turned up, none of whom wanted the same building plot. The three plot sales went through smoothly, and by autumn 2020, Iitu and Joni were the owners of a half-hectare lakeside plot. The site is ideally situated amidst the rich natural surroundings of Kuusamo, and the shore is an excellent spot for swimming. It has 60 metres of private shoreline. The town centre is just over 10 kilometres away by car.
Before long, the couple found themselves signing a contract for a house package with a local log house manufacturer. They were already familiar with Kuusamo Log Houses. They wanted to do business with them, even though they had requested quotes from other companies in the sector. They quickly found a model in the Kuusamo Log Houses range that met Iitu and Joni’s space requirements and appealed to their eye: the Naava model. Its layout was pleasantly simple, and its appearance appealed to them with both its clarity and modern pent roof. The deal covered a comprehensive timber package, from windows to sauna benches.
For Iitu and Joni, a log-framed house was the obvious choice. Natural timber walls represent a sustainable and healthy way of living for the couple. 202-millimetre-thick spruce laminated logs were selected for their house.
Construction work was initiated by a log house builder hired for the site. After his contract, which lasted a few months, the house was completed by the couple themselves. Joni’s father, Jyri Heiskanen, made a significant contribution to the new home. Both Iitu’s and Joni’s mothers were also frequently seen on site ‘patching up the window frames’. Moving day arrived on Epiphany in 2022, and based on a year’s experience of living there, they are completely satisfied. The Bernese Mountain Dogs, Alma and Hertta, are presumably delighted with the large plot and their own private beach, which offers a refreshing dip in the summer.
The house only needed two bedrooms. In place of the third separate room included in the basic version of the Naava model, Iitu and Joni installed a kitchen, and a second WC was fitted next to the bathroom. The house has a living area of 94 square metres.
Joni readily agreed with Iitu’s interior design choices
In the centre of the house stands a fireplace weighing over 2,000 kilos. A fire is kept going in it regularly, and they enjoy both the pleasure and practicality of the wood-burning oven. The crackling fire in the hearth creates a cosy atmosphere and produces a great deal of heat. The thick brick walls keep the rooms warm for a couple of days after a single firing.
There is a sense of cosiness in Iitu and Joni’s lakeside house in many ways. The colour scheme is earthy. The log walls have been treated with a slightly bleached oil wax. The log-panelled partition wall between the living room and bedroom features a dark shade found in the Tikkurila colour chart under the name Kanto. Colourful details add the finishing touches to the cosy atmosphere. The eye-catching colourful textiles in the bedroom and the Vallila Kuru wallpaper in the guest room stand out. Iitu recalls buying it around ten years ago. It waited a long time for the right wall.
Black kitchen units were chosen for the kitchen. Dark colours are also found in the sauna facilities. The interior floors are medium-brown vinyl planks and the colour of the wood-panelled ceiling is light. The interior design choices are Iitu’s handiwork. Joni recalls readily agreeing to all his better half’s ideas.
On moving day, the only new piece of furniture brought in was the sofa. Otherwise, the furnishings are old, items that have found their way into the new home in various ways. The dining table, received as a gift, has served in several homes across generations. The old rocking chair was brought home as a housewarming present. Perhaps the interior as a whole reflects its inhabitants, but it is certainly extremely cosy. A sensible interior in a sensible house. Iitu and Joni did not want their new home to be a smart home, but rather an atmospheric nest amidst nature.
This article was first published in the magazine Uusi Koti, issue 1/2023. The article was written by Jorma Välimaa and photographed by Hans Koistinen.
See more photos of this log home:
-
Log houses
