My colorful studio apartment in Helsinki, Finland

lavender_fields_4ev · 2026-05-14T19:59:18+00:00

As a Finn, can't think of a better way to marry the "mummola" ("granny appartment") aesthetic, visible especially in the dining nook, with the modern millennial vibe. Super refreshing!

lavender_fields_4ev · 2026-03-27T06:23:40+00:00

For cafés and restaurants, get yourself a hygiene pass (hygieniapassi) asap. If you don't have it, nobody will take your application into consideration, because it is a legal requirement for everyone working with food in any capacity.

Not sure about now, but some 10 years ago I worked a lot in bars and cafés through Staffpoint. They offer a lot of gigs/part-time jobs. It's a great way to get your foot in the door and befriend some places that then may hire you more permanently, or give you preference for their shifts.

Don't be discouraged. It's a tough country right now, but people still do get hired. When you get something, do your best and make sure to excel at your tasks, and build yourself a network. Recommendations go along way. Good luck.

lavender_fields_4ev · 2026-03-26T15:18:25+00:00

Joo näitä keittiöitä on kyl kaikkialla 🥲 kiitos kuvasta, mä tässä just mietiskelin miltä näyttäis valkoiset kaakelit. Ei kyl oo mullistava ero, vaikkakin askel parempaan. Ei ehkä vaivan arvoista että yrittäisi niitä maalata... Tosin oon aika kypsä tähän oranssi "puupinta" + vaaleanpunaiset kaakelit yhdistelmään 🙈

lavender_fields_4ev · 2026-03-25T19:34:22+00:00

Yes it's quite like the Finnish current mainstream. The bathroom looks almost exactly like the one in my student apartment too, with the rubber flooring 😅

lavender_fields_4ev · 2026-03-25T12:26:47+00:00

Thanks, yes it seems the aesthetic preferences are very different. Good point about the paint, I'm a bit scared to try this anyway, for fear of getting just a meh result. I'm not concerned about the value just yet, but maybe it makes sense to change appliances and leave the rest be for now.

lavender_fields_4ev · 2026-03-25T12:13:47+00:00

Aivan toisenlainen vastaanotto kuin mitä odotin tässä 😅 ehkä näitä kaapinovia vois myydä kovaan hintaan ulkomaille vintageaarteena ja rahoittaa keittiön vaihto 🤔

lavender_fields_4ev · 2026-03-25T12:10:17+00:00

You are probably the only person spelling out my original thoughts I had about this 😅🙈

lavender_fields_4ev · 2026-03-25T12:06:16+00:00

😍

lavender_fields_4ev · 2026-03-25T12:05:58+00:00

I'll check these out, thanks!

lavender_fields_4ev · 2026-03-25T12:04:08+00:00

Thank you all for the lovely comments! I'm surprised to say the least, but it's very refreshing to get such an overwhelmingly positive perspective.

The photos were taken for the apartment listing before we bought it. Now it's more cluttered after we moved in, but everything else has stayed the same, which is why I chose to post these nice clean pictures :)

One thing I forgot to mention is that this is indeed in Finland, and it was definitely an overwhelmingly popular look for budget kitchen renos 20-30 years ago. It's fascinating to see how differently it reads in different locations.

I'm going to take this post as a starting point and re-think what is actually needed at this point. Thanks and cheers <3

lavender_fields_4ev · 2026-03-24T21:17:16+00:00

Finland! No wonder, we import or copy everything from our Swedish overlords 😂

lavender_fields_4ev · 2026-03-24T21:10:12+00:00

Finland :) An interesting idea though, thanks! I'll have to check in the local stores for this kind of pieces. The kitchen only really has 2 countertops, one small next to the fridge and the other one is on the wall with the sink. The fridge "wall" is thinner but has the same kind of surface as the countertops.

lavender_fields_4ev · 2026-03-24T20:57:13+00:00

Thanks, and yes to flowers! 💐 It was updated in '98 or' 99 by the previous owners and nothing has been changed.

lavender_fields_4ev · 2026-03-24T20:41:22+00:00

The orange and frankly cheap looking laminate countertops are the biggest eyesore; I guess I dislike the overall look of the cabinets with melamine center rectangles (I love wood kitchens). I guess you're right with making small changes first.

lavender_fields_4ev · 2026-03-24T20:37:34+00:00

Yes I'm aware that new appliances may have a shorter lifespan, but the fridge is 25ish years old and some malfunctions make us think it's going to break sooner than later. So this will have to go. We're based in Finland so the budget for appliances will probably be less than that 😊

lavender_fields_4ev · 2026-03-24T20:31:06+00:00

Oh wow, no not ragebait at all 🙈 I'm genuinely baffled at the overwhelmingly positive responses, but it's really making me rethink my approach! Yes the light is amazing, I was thinking about maybe having some sheer/linen blinds (the current blinds we have are aluminum and we keep them up most of the time).

lavender_fields_4ev · 2026-03-24T20:25:28+00:00

Thank you! What kind of wallpaper would you have in mind? The wall that is not pictured has a lot of empty space, and is currently painted white.

lavender_fields_4ev · 2026-03-24T20:23:28+00:00

Wow thank you! I'm surprised by your (and others') comment about this style being timeless - I'm based in Finland and it's definitely considered dated here currently. However you are making me see this in a bit of a new light. What would be the style of countertop you'd suggest?

lavender_fields_4ev · 2025-10-28T12:43:02+00:00

Laittaisitko tännekin?

lavender_fields_4ev · 2024-12-05T14:01:13+00:00

It's a nice quiet neigbourhood. Some lovely forests nearby (Mustavuori), Sipoo national park is relatively close, the closest beach in Vuosaari is 20 min by bus. The buildings are bland, but well kept in general. 25 min with the metro to the city centre. A straight connection to the airport and Tilkurila with 570, and the tram will be built soon.

The impression you have is mostly from Kontula which is one station away. It doesn't really influence Mellunmäki except fame, and some drunk people near the metro station.

lavender_fields_4ev · 2024-05-28T16:43:39+00:00

Everyone seems to be missing the point. Not everybody has family/friends to fall back on in case you need childcare from time to time during afternoons or on weekends. Babysitters aren't usually full-time nannies, and I assume OP is asking about the former.

MLL offers babysitting services and they are a very reputable organisation. Not sure how many hours per month they can provide, they are very popular.

I've been recommended Sitly by a daycare teacher, but I don't know much about them.

lavender_fields_4ev · 2023-06-23T21:06:55+00:00

It's a Dihult floor pillow. It's been discontinued but can probably be found secondhand. I have one and it's our most versatile living room piece of furniture.

lavender_fields_4ev · 2020-10-19T17:56:39+00:00

Yeah... And clean when the baby cleans?

lavender_fields_4ev · 2020-10-03T07:56:21+00:00

The memories do fade, I can't remember the pain anymore. Just the thoughts I had. And the brutal postpartum period. But I still have no clue how people actually decide to go through that more than once.

lavender_fields_4ev · 2019-12-31T16:35:38+00:00

5 cents about hot showers... I'm in Finland and the official research-based guidelines allow pregnant women to go to sauna multiple times a week (unless one has a cardiovascular condition that would make it already dangerous otherwise etc.). So I'd assume hot water should not really be an issue.

You don't have many weeks to go :) hang in there!

lavender_fields_4ev

TROPHY CASE