A modern and colourful apartment in Finland
Thu, 21 Jun 2012Maurizio Giovannoni, and architect and interior designer in Rome, emailed us about an apartment he designed: The apartment is a little penthouse (about 65 mq.) in Turku, Southern Finland. Before renovation, too many walls and doors blocked the spaces and the passage of light, and the most beautiful view of the historical sites of Turku was on the bedroom side. My principal goal in this project was letting the light flow in and creating a relaxing living room where my customer could do his creative work. The partial demolition of walls was a natural consequence, along with reversing the location of the bedroom and living room. After fixing this, we decided on the overall “concept” together with my customer, organizing all the details that colored the white spaces. That happened during my customer’s visit to Rome (due to my impossibility to travel in that period), and via 4oo e-mails between Turku and Rome. The result is what I now consider my style: a blend of cultures. There is nothing that stimulates me more than to study different countries and make some cultural themes recognizable but never intrusive in the project. In this case, the floor is covered with parquet of white ash, the shelves are birch and the kitchen table is also birch but colored with heat. Wood is an omnipresent element in this flat as it constantly is for Finnish people, but the real attention is catalyzed by the nature theme pictured on wall paper, carrying colours and contrasts and a typical Mediterranean “courage”. The furniture itself is a mix of the 2 cultures and of past & present: the grandmother’s armchair is a piece of Finnish vintage from the sixties as is the red floor lamp. The arc framing the wall paper is the famous Twiggy by Foscarini and the suspended lamps are Italian as well:Olimpia by Ideal Lux. Everything fits together in perfect harmony! (Photos by Mikko Ala-Peijari for Kauniit Kodit magazine)
I love this apartment. It's spaces like this that make me want to forget my obsession with neutral/natural decor and grab a can of spray paint - or buy a row of chartreuse green kitchen cabinets.
Reader Comments (17)
I love almost everything about this home!
Beautiful.
The Finnish certainly have a flair for design and comfort.
-L
I'm in love with these colorful kitchen chairs!
I love it! Looks neat and very colorful.
I totally agree here, buy a spray can and just go crazy!
Im totally digging the flower wall piece, its beautiful. with colour splashed throughout the room creates a light and fun feel. Great work!
those kitchen chairs are so fun! love them! xx meenal
Just can't say how much I liked the decor. The sofa color has blended nicely with the wall art that it makes the living room look so unique. I would like to see the night view of the room with the spot lights on.
This space is very nice. Color scheme and design has been matched.
I love the green sofa and the colorful throw pillows or scatter cushions on it. The way it all comes together with the large tropical image at the back is fantastic.
These words sounds good...! Thanks 4 all ur different point of views! it was a pleasure to share my "colorful" apartament! Maurizio
OMG that sofa! anyone who knows where that's from?
dejean the sofà is a scandinavian furniture model esprit here's the link:
http://sope.onet.tehonetti.fi/index.php?group=00000008&mag_nr=8
I need the wallpaper. Where can I buy, please pretty please!
Shelle you can order the wallpaper on Conceptuwall...try to digit the word on google u can find the site, she's a french decor a truly artist, alive is more than a wallpaper!it's real nature!!
Interesting feature wall. I felt like I was back in school for a second.
Thank you Maurizio, you've got a beautiful place!
thanks dejan i've created this colourful place!!!my customer've got this relaxing place :) i live in the caos of Rome :)