Last summer, Thierry and I embarked on an exciting journey as we welcomed a 150m² terraced house apartment in a calm neighbourhood in Helsinki into our lives. Before we stumbled upon this gem, we had visited almost 30 houses and plots, and even considered building our own home. We had seen a variety of houses in different conditions, and in many of them, we had a serious interest. We became dedicated to the search in January and visited this flat for the first time at the beginning of May. For me, it was love at first sight. It was a sunny day, and the apartment was bathed in light. The catch was that it was a time capsule, untouched for nearly 30 years. I knew, though, that in my family's hands, the apartment held tremendous potential. We visited it for the second time about a week later, and at this point, Thierry had started to feel the same way about this home as I did: this might be it.
Our home is our fortress, a sanctuary open to friends and family, and this is to craft its beauty, comfort, and soul.
We got the last seal by our family and friends. My father, a professional with undeniable skills and an enthusiasm to help us, could see beyond the peeling wallpapers and outdated appliances; he saw potential and a future home that we could truly make our own. I always dreamt of this kind of handprint from my father, and a tale that involves everyone who wants to participate. These past few months have been filled with gratitude toward these people who've kindly lent their hands. Thus far, we have received help from my parents, my cousin, and another specialist. Our home is our fortress, a sanctuary open to friends and family, and this is to craft its beauty, comfort, and soul.
At this stage, we've made a lot of progress with the upstairs renovation, which takes place first. I've been carefully documenting the renovation through photos and videos, which I'll certainly share with you later. For now, let's go back to the beginning—here's a sneak peek of our transformation:
Upstairs renovation checklist
The entrance: A glass wall between the front door and the hallway, an artistic wall mural, a painted staircase, and elegant wall lamps.
A kitchen transformation featuring new tiles, a new countertop, a luxurious brass faucet, and cabinets painted in sage green, complete with elegant golden handles.
A white Parisian-style double door, separating the kitchen and living room.
Walls, they get a total makeover - resurfacing, noise insulation, paint, and wallpaper.
A complete bathroom makeover, from tiles to equipment.
Transforming the entire upstairs by painting the plank wood ceiling white.
Maintenance painting the windows where needed.
Painting the original wooden doors.
The original parquet, polished and painted.
Downstairs transformation in a nutshell
Elevating the bathrooms with opulent floor and wall tiles, a captivating dark-painted sauna, a chic brass-accented shower, and a jacuzzi, for a spa retreat right at home.
Transforming the walls and floors with paint, creating a captivating and romantic cabin ambiance.
And an air heat pump, one unit on both floors.
Our home before the renovation
Is your home undergoing a transformation? Whether it's a DIY project or one that requires the touch of a professional, I'd love to hear! I'm also on the lookout for interesting renovation accounts to follow on social media—so let me know your favourites!