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. Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:32:33 +0000 Mon, 04 May 2026 13:56:21 +0000 Laminas_Feed_Writer 2 (https://getlaminas.org) https://www.kotona.com/categories/build-renovate 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 My renovation list right now: 3 small-budget updates that make a big difference Tue, 21 Oct 2025 10:43:33 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/3-small-budget-renovations https://www.kotona.com/articles/3-small-budget-renovations 0 Tiny bathroom, big style: Amanda’s rosy reno with a spot for every jar Mon, 20 Oct 2025 13:31:23 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/tiny-bathroom-renovation https://www.kotona.com/articles/tiny-bathroom-renovation 0 All the comforts: a new-old yard sauna that feels like a cottage in your backyard Mon, 20 Oct 2025 06:42:45 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/rustic-yard-sauna https://www.kotona.com/articles/rustic-yard-sauna 0 9 home features you hardly see anymore in Finnish homes—even the nation’s point of pride is fading away Fri, 17 Oct 2025 07:00:19 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/things-you-hardly-see-in-new-finnish-homes https://www.kotona.com/articles/things-you-hardly-see-in-new-finnish-homes 0 Lisa and Patrik transformed an abandoned log house into a gem—“The work takes time, and that’s how it should be” Thu, 16 Oct 2025 07:00:26 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/19th-century-log-house-in-kruunupyy https://www.kotona.com/articles/19th-century-log-house-in-kruunupyy 0 A designer’s surprise: this bedroom got a color refresh and a functional upgrade Tue, 14 Oct 2025 16:00:17 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/dark-bedroom https://www.kotona.com/articles/dark-bedroom 0 More surface space and seating for your entryway—build a wall-mounted bench with our step-by-step guide Mon, 13 Oct 2025 10:14:25 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/wall-mounted-bench https://www.kotona.com/articles/wall-mounted-bench 0 I got a call no old-house owner wants—I mentally tallied the cost of a roof renovation Fri, 10 Oct 2025 08:33:13 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/saila-mari-kohtala-column-about-roof-renovation https://www.kotona.com/articles/saila-mari-kohtala-column-about-roof-renovation 0 I’ve swung my axe so many times anywhere but into the wood that, statistically, my next swing might be the one that strikes me Thu, 09 Oct 2025 11:43:31 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/kari-otso-nevaluomas-column-on-cottage-dangers https://www.kotona.com/articles/kari-otso-nevaluomas-column-on-cottage-dangers 0 A washing machine door is now a window: Sanna and Petri’s inventive outhouse makeover Thu, 09 Oct 2025 08:30:39 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/recycled-outhouse https://www.kotona.com/articles/recycled-outhouse 0 Suvi tames the child’s bedroom clutter: “Now the little one has something like their own treehouse to sleep in” Wed, 08 Oct 2025 12:53:24 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/loft-bed-for-the-childs-room https://www.kotona.com/articles/loft-bed-for-the-childs-room 0 You won’t believe these 4 idyllic backyard saunas started as dilapidated shacks Wed, 08 Oct 2025 12:14:58 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/four-renovated-backyard-saunas https://www.kotona.com/articles/four-renovated-backyard-saunas 0 Garage turned into a red velvet and gold-saturated entertainment center! Mikko and Annastina’s home movie theater is a dream come true Wed, 08 Oct 2025 10:51:59 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/garage-to-entertainment-center https://www.kotona.com/articles/garage-to-entertainment-center 0 Teardown house, tight budget, and toddlers—Sohvi and Teemu’s bold rescue of the forgotten log house Wed, 08 Oct 2025 09:42:48 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/forgotten-house-renovation https://www.kotona.com/articles/forgotten-house-renovation 0 Step inside a 1950s cottage relocated to Seurasaari, where the floors squeak and the radio still plays the marine forecast Tue, 07 Oct 2025 11:12:13 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/seurasaari-museum-cottage https://www.kotona.com/articles/seurasaari-museum-cottage 0 From abandoned to beloved: Päivi and Petri turn a rundown sauna into a hot tub oasis with terraces Mon, 06 Oct 2025 13:38:02 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/cottage-sauna-building-and-yard-renovation https://www.kotona.com/articles/cottage-sauna-building-and-yard-renovation 0 One clever idea, three big wins: Heidi and Arto add an indoor toilet, storage, and a second entrance Mon, 06 Oct 2025 08:54:58 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/building-a-porch-for-a-cottage https://www.kotona.com/articles/building-a-porch-for-a-cottage 0 Barn, pigsty, hay shed—and finally a sauna lounge! Check out Jenni and Jani's atmospheric sauna renovation Fri, 03 Oct 2025 09:07:50 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/outdoor-sauna-in-a-former-barn https://www.kotona.com/articles/outdoor-sauna-in-a-former-barn 0 Vacant for 40 years, this house has now got its life back: “Looking at the renovation photos brings tears to my eyes” Mon, 29 Sep 2025 09:17:55 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/40-years-vacant-log-house-restored-to-new-splendor-renovation-photos-bring-tears-to-my-eyes https://www.kotona.com/articles/40-years-vacant-log-house-restored-to-new-splendor-renovation-photos-bring-tears-to-my-eyes 0