STYLE HOME
" WE SHARE a modern vision"
TEXTURAL SURFACES, ECO MATERIALS AND A HEALTHY OBSESSION WITH DETAIL HAS ALLOWED ENNI AND TEEMU TO DESIGN A UNIQUE HOME FULL OF WARMTH AND ATMOSPHERE
FEATURE RUTH CORBETT
HOME NOTES
WHO LIVES HERE?
Enni and Teemu Äijälä live here with son Väinö, five. They have a design company, Äijälä & Äijälä Oy, and Enni works at Aalto University as designer in residence.
THE PROPERTY
Three-bedroom self-build semi in Helsinki.
1 “Choose a flexible sofa”
‘Our modular seating can be adapted to suit our needs, as its sections can be separated and reorganised however you wish to arrange them. Even the arms and backrests can be used to sit on, while the tough leather means it’s super practical for family life. The rich brown colour also makes it so cosy.’
EXPOSED BRICKWORK
Combines with unfinished timber and worn leather to create a welcoming feeling 1“Choose
2 “Investing in eco choices helps you save money”
‘We used oak flooring, larch for the window frames and zinc roofing, all chosen for their ecologically sound and long-lasting properties. Concrete is a favourite, too: smooth and polished for walls, and rough-hewn for tables.’
3 “Open plan suits how we like to live”
‘The kitchen was built to our design and is part of one big, open-plan room. The space encompasses the dining and living areas, with doors (left) opening onto our terrace and barbecue area, as well as the sauna that we share with our neighbours. We made two dining tables out of concrete, one for inside and the other for outside. They’re the same shape and size, which help to link the inside dining area and the terrace.’
4 “Small details are game changers”
‘Carefully considered finishes made a big difference to the overall look we wanted to achieve. For example, the stairs are an important part of the house and were definitely designed to be shown off. We had a beautiful white-painted handrail custom-made to go with them, which delivers the perfect finishing touch.’
