I've learned from a young age that things in the home should always have a story attached to them. I actually only noticed this a few years ago when, with my enthusiasm for minimalism, I went through the things in our home. I will now tell you a few stories behind my treasures.
Pentik Kaamoskivi
I went to a flea market a few years ago, before the corona era. I had decided that I was looking for "something really ugly". Yes, I wanted us layers for the holiday of clean white and gray lines. At the end of the thrift store tour, my eyes caught a brown "lump" made of ceramics that looked like a candlestick. I typed in the Google search field: "ugly candlestick". In response, I received photos from Pentik's Kaamoskivi. I fell in love and fell in love. The investment of eight euros was just right and a thick layer of dust on top of the "lump" came as a bargain. I knew I had found a treasure.
Falling in love with Kaamoskivi brought me closer to Pentik's wonderful story and Anu Pentik's unparalleled courage. That courage has also encouraged me to move forward with Ehea.
Bonanza armchair
I got the Bonanza armchair designed by Esko Pajamie into our home from the Tori.fi service a few summers ago. I am looking for an armchair for our living room, where it would be nice to sit and read a book. We found a chair at a very reasonable price in Jyväskylä and we went to get it with the whole family, making a nice weekend trip at the same time. The sale amount ended up at the house for homeless cats in Jyväskylä. It just fits, because I'm more of a cat person.Arabian landscape plates
The treasures of my kitchen are the old landscape plates from Arabia. We have them in everyday use, because why not. Everyday life is more than a party. The Lundia shelf is also a flea market online and the plates do not get dusty when they are used every day. I have collected the most memorable plates on the wall in the same style as at grandma's back in the day. The lamp on the wall is also a flea market find. It is from a Swedish lighting manufacturer.
Art and Finnish classics
I have acquired art and Finnish classics for our home. I bring a story with me to them as well.
In 2022, we made an export promotion trip from Ostrobothnia to Tokyo.
The pink glass sculpture "Coral" is the work of a young Japanese designer. It charmed me with its simplicity.
I brought the Kokeshi doll from the same trip. On our day off, we toured the Kappabashi area near Asakusa, Tokyo. We got lost in the most wonderful antique store, the kind whose back room can definitely go back many, many centuries.
I have bought a few Artek stools new and I wish them a long life for years to come. Through a friend, I also came across old Artek 69 chairs that need restoration, but that work will have to wait a while.
The sink is an old Asko chest of drawers from the 60s and 70s. I bought a chest of drawers from Tori. For five years it waited its turn and when we did the renovation it finally got to its planned place. My father modified the inside of the chest of drawers for the sewer pipes and varnished it with boat varnish several times.
For the furniture fair in Stockholm, our family friend made a daybed according to measurements and pictures. If I remember correctly, the material is recycled plywood. The mattress and upholstery fabric are new.
Right now I'm dreaming of a flea market and secondhand trip to Sweden. There are more layers of time than here. However, there are differences in the flea markets in different localities.
One thing I have noticed; it's always worth looking at the lowest shelf of the flea market. :)