FAMILY HOME
PIRKKO AND PASI ALANEN’S CAREFULLY CURATED HOME HAS A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING, PROVING MINIMALISM IS NOT INCOMPATIBLE WITH FAMILY LIFE
FEATURE MIRSA KAARTINEN/KAREN WILSON PLANS RICHARD HOOKWAY
Living/dining room
‘A custom oak slatted wall between the dining and living room space creates separation,’ says Pirkko, ‘but still allows plenty of light to pass through.’
THE LAYOUT
The ground floor has a dining, kitchen and living space leading to a glass walled terrace, with a boiler/boot room behind the kitchen. Four bedrooms are located upstairs, with a dressing room and small balcony to the main bedroom. A sauna/shower room, WC and laundry room has access to a larger balcony.
Building a house when you have young children is a challenge, but as this was Pirkko and Pasi’s third consecutive construction project, it had almost become a way of life for them.
WHY DID YOU BUILD THIS HOUSE?
‘A few years after our previous house project was completed, we realised we needed another bedroom. So when this 540sq m plot of land came up for sale near schools and a park, we didn’t think twice.
‘My must-haves were a double-height space in the living room to add some drama and air conditioning, which we’d appreciated in other properties. Helst Architects managed to work around the big height differences on the plot, ensuring privacy from the neighbours. They also did a great job of fitting four bedrooms into quite a tight space upstairs.
‘Our youngest, Renne, was born in the middle of the project but being on maternity leave gave me time to visit shops, researching building materials and fixtures.’
WHAT’S YOUR APPROACH TO DECORATING?
‘The furniture has been moved around several times since we moved in and I often think that chance is the best decorator. For instance, an object that’s been accidentally moved somewhere and just works, or a jumper placed somewhere that gives you an idea for a colour. Sometimes the inspiration for change strikes unexpectedly and we try something on a whim. Although I may be a spontaneous decorator, I’m quite strict about what gets into the house. Having less stuff keeps it feeling open and airy.’
HOW DOES THE HOUSE WORK FOR FAMILY LIFE?
‘We incorpor
