Build & Renovate Find inspiring renovation stories and marvel at astonishing before-and-after photos. At Kotona, you’ll also find practical ideas and advice for overcoming the challenges you might face when renovating or building. Thu, 17 Sep 2026 09:18:17 +0000 Thu, 17 Sep 2026 10:37:07 +0000 Laminas_Feed_Writer 2 (https://getlaminas.org) https://www.kotona.com/categories/build-renovate A sauna in the garage? Recycled materials gave this new build old-fashioned charm Thu, 17 Sep 2026 09:18:17 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/sauna-built-at-end-of-garage https://www.kotona.com/articles/sauna-built-at-end-of-garage 0 3 shared bedroom ideas that give kids privacy and personal space Wed, 16 Sep 2026 15:40:23 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/3-shared-bedroom-ideas-that-give-kids-privacy-and-personal-space https://www.kotona.com/articles/3-shared-bedroom-ideas-that-give-kids-privacy-and-personal-space 0 One big bedroom became a shared room for two brothers—with private nooks and space to play Mon, 14 Sep 2026 10:04:18 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/large-bedroom-makeover-for-two-brothers https://www.kotona.com/articles/large-bedroom-makeover-for-two-brothers 0 One bedroom short? A glass wall and a loft made room for two kids Thu, 10 Sep 2026 08:00:15 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/one-space-two-childrens-rooms https://www.kotona.com/articles/one-space-two-childrens-rooms 0 This 1960s cabin kitchen is now bright and practical—with one cabinet idea the owners especially love Tue, 08 Sep 2026 10:25:01 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/1960s-cabin-kitchen-renovation https://www.kotona.com/articles/1960s-cabin-kitchen-renovation 0 Are you pouring water on sauna stones the right way? A sauna expert explains Thu, 03 Sep 2026 09:54:13 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/pouring-water-on-sauna-stones https://www.kotona.com/articles/pouring-water-on-sauna-stones 0 Old wooden pallets became a beautiful firewood shed—on a tiny budget Tue, 18 Aug 2026 09:06:31 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/jari-trebs-firewood-shed-built-from-euro-pallets https://www.kotona.com/articles/jari-trebs-firewood-shed-built-from-euro-pallets 0 10 modern outdoor sauna ideas that feel like a mini vacation Mon, 17 Aug 2026 09:47:44 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/modern-outdoor-saunas https://www.kotona.com/articles/modern-outdoor-saunas 0 6 budget-friendly garden room ideas made from recycled materials—but you’d never know it Wed, 05 Aug 2026 06:00:16 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/garden-room-from-recycled-materials https://www.kotona.com/articles/garden-room-from-recycled-materials 0 12 inspiring homes, villas and cottages in the Finnish archipelago Fri, 31 Jul 2026 07:00:26 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/12-inspiring-homes-villas-and-cottages-in-the-finnish-archipelago https://www.kotona.com/articles/12-inspiring-homes-villas-and-cottages-in-the-finnish-archipelago 0 This designer fell for Finnish sauna culture—then built a floating sauna on Lake Geneva Mon, 20 Jul 2026 07:58:12 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/floating-sauna-lake-geneva https://www.kotona.com/articles/floating-sauna-lake-geneva 0 8 Finnish cottages powered by creativity and DIY spirit: “Always ready for even the wildest projects” Thu, 16 Jul 2026 12:00:14 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/8-finnish-cottages-powered-by-creativity-and-diy-spirit https://www.kotona.com/articles/8-finnish-cottages-powered-by-creativity-and-diy-spirit 0 A 1950s cabin on a rocky lakeshore—and its retro colors—won Sanna and Jani over: “This place chose us” Tue, 23 Jun 2026 07:00:22 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/sanna-jani-luoma-aho-1950s-cabin-kouvola https://www.kotona.com/articles/sanna-jani-luoma-aho-1950s-cabin-kouvola 0 From chicken coop to whiskey barrel: 5 ingenious sauna transformations Thu, 18 Jun 2026 06:47:44 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/surprising-sauna-transformations https://www.kotona.com/articles/surprising-sauna-transformations 0 This outhouse looks like a villa: “We didn’t want some makeshift shack” Tue, 16 Jun 2026 12:46:41 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/building-rainer-hindsbergs-outhouse https://www.kotona.com/articles/building-rainer-hindsbergs-outhouse 0 A 1960s waterfront sauna was expanded into a year-round island retreat—see the transformation Tue, 09 Jun 2026 13:00:08 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/waterfront-sauna-guest-cabin-renovation https://www.kotona.com/articles/waterfront-sauna-guest-cabin-renovation 0 “We’ll warm it up tonight”—a DIY outdoor sauna built in one day for next to nothing Thu, 04 Jun 2026 12:46:40 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/diy-outdoor-sauna-built-in-a-day https://www.kotona.com/articles/diy-outdoor-sauna-built-in-a-day 0 Summer cottage on the water—a tiny sauna raft became a floating vacation home Thu, 28 May 2026 13:44:40 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/floating-cottage-raft https://www.kotona.com/articles/floating-cottage-raft 0 Anni’s scrap-wood Hobbit house is a magical playhouse for her grandkids Fri, 22 May 2026 12:52:49 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/anni-arasolas-hobbit-house https://www.kotona.com/articles/anni-arasolas-hobbit-house 0 Yellow done right: 3 Finnish houses painted in classic yellow Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:32:33 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/yellow-houses https://www.kotona.com/articles/yellow-houses 0 5 Finnish houses that will make you fall for red ocher Tue, 31 Mar 2026 12:19:54 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/red-ocher-painted-houses https://www.kotona.com/articles/red-ocher-painted-houses 0 Stargazing and campfire coffee in a luxe lean-to turned cabin: “Our plans changed many times along the way” Fri, 20 Mar 2026 10:29:07 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/mirva-and-jarkko-niskanen-lean-to-cabin https://www.kotona.com/articles/mirva-and-jarkko-niskanen-lean-to-cabin 0 Goodbye sauna changing room, hello greenhouse—cooling off among the plants is pure pleasure Fri, 13 Mar 2026 12:29:51 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/greenhouse-instead-of-sauna-changing-room https://www.kotona.com/articles/greenhouse-instead-of-sauna-changing-room 0 Sauna in solid rock: a light-filled bath in a 1930s basement Wed, 11 Mar 2026 12:32:07 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/sauna-carved-into-stone https://www.kotona.com/articles/sauna-carved-into-stone 0 A staircase becomes a sauna: see the before & after photos Mon, 09 Mar 2026 10:39:04 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/jaw-dropping-sauna-renovation https://www.kotona.com/articles/jaw-dropping-sauna-renovation 0 Old-world outside, modern inside: this 150-year-old sauna stuns with an aspen shingle feature wall Fri, 27 Feb 2026 12:24:34 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/150-year-old-sauna-in-pulsa https://www.kotona.com/articles/150-year-old-sauna-in-pulsa 0 Luxurious yet practical: 1990s townhouse bath becomes a modern home spa Mon, 23 Feb 2026 10:28:21 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/townhouse-bathroom-makeover https://www.kotona.com/articles/townhouse-bathroom-makeover 0 Wow, what a log cabin: in 15 years, Pentti added a tower, a bridge and a stone fireplace Fri, 20 Feb 2026 10:06:00 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/penttis-stately-log-cabin https://www.kotona.com/articles/penttis-stately-log-cabin 0 Inside Jaana’s log cabin, everything in the main room is old or reclaimed: “I’ve never seen a stove like this anywhere!” Tue, 30 Dec 2025 10:17:29 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/jaana-sandstroms-cabin https://www.kotona.com/articles/jaana-sandstroms-cabin 0 One person’s trash is another’s treasure: 8 smart reuse ideas for DIY and remodeling Fri, 26 Dec 2025 10:30:21 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/leftovers-reused https://www.kotona.com/articles/leftovers-reused 0 From old farm to idyllic retreat: Mia and Mikko’s hard work at Villa Mandala paid off Fri, 26 Dec 2025 07:30:10 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/villa-mandala https://www.kotona.com/articles/villa-mandala 0 Pantry moths are uninvited guests in your pantry—here’s how to get rid of this stubborn pest Fri, 12 Dec 2025 08:22:34 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/pantry-moths https://www.kotona.com/articles/pantry-moths 0 This family's dream cottage was nearly ruined by water damage: “It was a shocking thought—are we already about to lose this cottage?” Mon, 01 Dec 2025 13:26:28 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/essi-hellens-cottage https://www.kotona.com/articles/essi-hellens-cottage 0 7 painting hacks: how a plastic bag and a paint edger might save the day Sat, 22 Nov 2025 09:00:15 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/anni-alatalo-column-on-painting-renovation https://www.kotona.com/articles/anni-alatalo-column-on-painting-renovation 0 Flour moths in your pantry? Here’s how to stop them for good Tue, 18 Nov 2025 14:35:54 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/mediterranean-flour-moth https://www.kotona.com/articles/mediterranean-flour-moth 0 Tour Grandpa Aaro’s whimsical cottage world—complete with a spruce treetop sunroom Mon, 03 Nov 2025 11:23:40 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/aaro-vatanens-whimsical-cottages https://www.kotona.com/articles/aaro-vatanens-whimsical-cottages 0 Squirrels in the attic, a cellar about to collapse: 4 condemned houses rescued by bold renovators Fri, 24 Oct 2025 11:49:55 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/condemned-houses https://www.kotona.com/articles/condemned-houses 0 5 clever ways to add space in the children’s room—practical toy storage and renovation ideas from real homes Thu, 23 Oct 2025 12:05:07 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/more-space-for-the-kids-room https://www.kotona.com/articles/more-space-for-the-kids-room 0 Cowboy wallpaper, a hidden race track—how a dim alcove turned into a cozy kids’ room Wed, 22 Oct 2025 12:52:07 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/cabins-alcove-turned-cozy-kids-room-mini-renovation https://www.kotona.com/articles/cabins-alcove-turned-cozy-kids-room-mini-renovation 0 From a walk-in closet to a children’s room: Mira and Eetu’s creative transformation topped off by a showstopping mural Tue, 21 Oct 2025 11:51:35 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/walk-in-closet-renovated-into-childrens-room https://www.kotona.com/articles/walk-in-closet-renovated-into-childrens-room 0