The past month has been quite a whirlwind for us, as we've packed up our old home in Vallila and started the journey of renovating our new one. It has been a bittersweet experience, watching our beloved old home gradually empty out and waking up somewhere completely different. I do not feel too sad unless I really dwell on it, but thinking about it does bring to mind many cherished memories from our lovely, safe haven in the vibrant Vallila area. All of it was an unquestionable part of our first chapter, and I find solace in acknowledging that it was indeed intended as our first chapter.

Our new home is starting to take shape with the same aesthetic we love, using all the furniture we brought along. Expect to find a harmonious blend of light colors complemented by lush greens and rich gold tones, all accentuated by natural materials like stone and wood. But before I start the next chapter and share our new home, let's take a tour in the beautiful apartment which led us to our new home.

This Charming Apartment is Now Waiting For a Tenant

Also, this cozy home is now waiting for a tenant. The time has come to pass on our beloved home with love to the next residents. So if you dream of a cozy and charming home in the central location of Vallila, with original wooden floors and window views overlooking a peaceful street, where the legendary Vallila tram depot, glowing in yellow, brightens even the grayest rainy days... This is the place for you.

Bright and spacious, our previous home is a 50m2 studio apartment in a safe and lively neighborhood in Vallila. It is located in a beautiful apartment block built in 1929, designed by Lars Bock. Familiar to its time, the apartment has three-meter-high walls and a blank wood floor which is original, and one of our favorite features in the apartment.

Tall and beautiful, sage-green double doors separate the spacious kitchen from the large living room, adding versatility and brightness to the space.

We have loved these double doors so much that we are dreaming of adding double doors to our new apartment as well. Currently, there is a big opening between the kitchen and the living room in our new apartment. There used to be a sliding door in the beginning, so we find the opening a bit awkward, as it doesn't really create an open space. Double doors are fantastic, as they add both beauty and functionality.

By the way, our new home isn't our first renovation project together with Thierry—it was this alcove. With the assistance of my father—and my mother—we soundproofed and renovated our petite bedroom, draping its three-meter-high walls with sage green and glimmering gold… And we've been quietly searching for a new project ever since.

The alcove features a sliding door closet, which my father installed and narrowed down to accommodate both a bed and a closet for my clothes. The closet's depth measures only a miraculous 35 cm, equivalent to just 14 inches, allowing enough space to walk between the bed and the closet.

We have two indoor vines that we truly adore—one used to climb over the round wall mirror, and the other around this kitchen shelf. To emphasize the quality of light in our apartment, consider that our home has nurtured nine green and lush plants! During the renovation of the upstairs in our new apartment, we've temporarily moved downstairs, where there is less natural light, and this has started to show on our plants. So, acquiring a plant lamp has become a top priority for me for the first time!

One of the many things I'm already missing about this home, was our small and safe, but lively home street. We had a small world right on our street. A lovely yoga studio and café, a charming record store, and a ceramic workshop. We could indulge in vegan treats and glass of bubbly on the summer terrace of our home street.

Our new home is nestled in a cozy neighbourhood in Helsinki, but outside the city center.

I'm filled with hope and excitement for the future that awaits us in this new home. With Thierry's side of family living in France, we're also equally excited for moving so close to my family now.

À bientôt !