Spectacular view from Heidi's coffee corner

When Heidi Lahti and her husband became parents, they wanted to return to peace and quiet and be close to their parents. After living and working in Helsinki for many years, they decided to move back to the part of Finland where they both grew up. Here they built their own home with a focus on timeless Scandinavian design and natural materials.

"For me, Scandinavian design is about quality, clean lines and muted colours. I prefer natural materials such as wood, stone, linen and wool, and I see the style as modern but comfortable."

Heidi describes her style of interior design as 'calm and timeless'.

She rarely buys new things and doesn't regularly redecorate. When the house was decorated, she chose Finnish and Scandinavian furniture that would last for years. She likes to combine modern details with carefully selected antique furniture to give the interior a deeper and more sophisticated look. The colour scheme is uniform and calm: white, grey, and beige with touches of brass, black and green.

"Our home is decorated in my favourite colours and my own DIY creations pop up here and there, including cushions, stools and a ceiling light. I love design classics and over the years we've acquired quite a few, including the Egg and Arne Jacobsen's Syver chair."

Woman using smartphone app to control kitchen appliances.

A modern white house with large windows and a patio, surrounded by lush greenery.

Of all the rooms in the house, Heidi likes the living room best, mainly because the large windows invite the outdoors in, but also because the open spaces are the heart of the house. The living room is connected to the kitchen and dining room. This is where the family likes to get together. There's plenty of space to socialise, or to sit alone and tinker with your own projects.

A wooden table adorned with flowers and a book.

Music has always played an important role in her life, and she describes it as a balm for the soul.

At the centre of her home is a large grand piano, which Heidi loves to play. She considers music a balm for the soul, and music has always been important in her life. She played the violin as a child and now sings in choirs and attends classical concerts. She has taught herself to play the piano, but has never taken lessons.

When Heidi and her family designed the house, they wanted to give it a real 'wow' factor — as they love the nature around their property, they let it become part of the interior design. The landscape outside the large window is like a huge painting which changes with the seasons. This is where Heidi likes to sit with a cup of coffee, reading a book or taking in the view.

Woman relaxing with coffee in stylish egg chair.

I probably started drinking coffee when I was 10 years old, which is quite common here in Finland. We Finns are inveterate coffee drinkers. Today I drink at least two cups a day and I can't imagine my life without coffee.

Heidi's Coffee Corner is the most comfortable place in the house. A place where you can sit alone, make and enjoy a cup of coffee, preferably with a book or magazine. Her tip is to use colours and materials to create a harmonious environment where you can forget the outside world for a while. Preferably with things you cherish, such as your favourite mug.

"The best thing is coffee in the morning. I like it strong with milk to get the day off to a good start when the kids are at school. After lunch and dinner I like a latte macchiato or cappuccino with spiced oat milk. They are incredibly easy to make in the Siemens machine and turn out really delicious, almost like a little dessert."