Beauty of the unexpected Lovely cake decorations, extraordinary houseplants, gorgeous knit sweaters, endless renovations... We've gathered inspiring stories and ideas from passionate home enthusiasts on this page. Discover the beauty of the unexpected! Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:56:57 +0000 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 08:20:40 +0000 Laminas_Feed_Writer 2 (https://getlaminas.org) https://www.kotona.com/themes/beauty-of-the-unexpected 13 reasons to hit the sauna—the health benefits of Finnish sauna bathing Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:56:57 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/finnish-sauna-health-benefits https://www.kotona.com/articles/finnish-sauna-health-benefits 0 Anna found her calling as a traditional sauna practitioner: “It felt like returning to my spiritual home” Thu, 09 Apr 2026 11:04:03 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/traditional-sauna-practitioner-anna-velten https://www.kotona.com/articles/traditional-sauna-practitioner-anna-velten 0 From concrete cube to color: Jenni and Milla’s loft makeover—“From ceiling to floor, it was nothing but gray and bleak” Thu, 02 Apr 2026 10:34:09 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/colorful-loft-home-in-helsinki https://www.kotona.com/articles/colorful-loft-home-in-helsinki 0 Pastor Jaana crochets granny-square stoles for her vestments: “I crochet the joys and sorrows I encounter” Thu, 02 Apr 2026 07:36:23 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/pastor-jaana-crocheted-stoles https://www.kotona.com/articles/pastor-jaana-crocheted-stoles 0 Finnish Stina paints stones for passersby to find: “I almost always have a stone in my pocket when I go to the store” Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:39:54 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/stinas-painted-stones https://www.kotona.com/articles/stinas-painted-stones 0 “In England you need to be a millionaire to live near the woods”—Sara and Conor moved to Finland for a slower life Mon, 23 Mar 2026 11:28:18 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/sara-and-conor-moved-with-their-family-from-england-to-finland https://www.kotona.com/articles/sara-and-conor-moved-with-their-family-from-england-to-finland 0 How Finnish are you? Take our quiz and see if you share the Nordic mindset Thu, 19 Mar 2026 08:00:00 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/how-finnish-are-you-quiz https://www.kotona.com/articles/how-finnish-are-you-quiz 0 Elisa finds coveted Arabia and Kupittaan Savi pots for a few euros: “Part of the thrill of collecting is scoring a bargain” Thu, 05 Mar 2026 12:57:37 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/elisas-vintage-pots https://www.kotona.com/articles/elisas-vintage-pots 0 Help us bring you more happiness! Take our survey and get a free magazine Wed, 25 Feb 2026 11:06:15 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/kotona-survey-2026 https://www.kotona.com/articles/kotona-survey-2026 0 Very Finnish Problems’ Joel jokes about Finnish clichés online, but in real life he’s just like one of us—“The cheese slicer is a brilliant invention!” Fri, 20 Feb 2026 13:12:47 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/very-finnish-problems-joel-willans-feels-at-home-in-finland https://www.kotona.com/articles/very-finnish-problems-joel-willans-feels-at-home-in-finland 0 68 sweaters! At 90, Eila knit Icelandic sweaters for the whole family—each one reflects its wearer Wed, 11 Feb 2026 09:30:21 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/eila-knit-icelandic-sweaters-for-the-family https://www.kotona.com/articles/eila-knit-icelandic-sweaters-for-the-family 0 “The roof looks straight and I don’t smell mold,” Satu reasoned—then bought an abandoned house to make it her home Fri, 06 Feb 2026 08:49:37 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/satu-tolvanen-renovates-an-abandoned-house-into-a-home https://www.kotona.com/articles/satu-tolvanen-renovates-an-abandoned-house-into-a-home 0 Spot Finland-themed motifs on Marjaana’s knit cape for the ski stands: “It sure was a scramble” Fri, 06 Feb 2026 08:14:51 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/marjaanas-knitted-cape https://www.kotona.com/articles/marjaanas-knitted-cape 0 Hooked on sunflower squares, Sari whipped up a coworker’s baby blanket: “It clicked right away” Tue, 03 Feb 2026 11:11:12 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/baby-blanket-sunflower-granny-squares https://www.kotona.com/articles/baby-blanket-sunflower-granny-squares 0 Hildur star Lauri Tilkanen is hooked on yarn—see the beautiful pieces he’s knit and crocheted Wed, 28 Jan 2026 11:37:09 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/lauri-tilkanen-knits https://www.kotona.com/articles/lauri-tilkanen-knits 0 Are you wintering like us Finns? 12 feel-good reasons to hunker down at home Fri, 23 Jan 2026 09:29:38 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/wintering-like-a-finn https://www.kotona.com/articles/wintering-like-a-finn 0 The blueprint of a Finn: 28 things we all agree on (quietly, of course) Wed, 14 Jan 2026 16:12:37 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/things-that-unite-finns https://www.kotona.com/articles/things-that-unite-finns 0 Kotona’s first year: from careful beginnings to banana socks loved worldwide Thu, 08 Jan 2026 11:28:09 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/kotona-first-year https://www.kotona.com/articles/kotona-first-year 0 Singer Hanna Pakarinen knits and crochets without patterns—ADHD helped her see why making matters Mon, 05 Jan 2026 13:55:23 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/hanna-pakarinen-crafts https://www.kotona.com/articles/hanna-pakarinen-crafts 0 Houseplants for almost free: grow them from peanuts, pink peppercorns, and ginger Mon, 29 Dec 2025 14:37:44 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/houseplant-almost-free https://www.kotona.com/articles/houseplant-almost-free 0 A room for angels—and another for a Christmas village! Sirkku sometimes wakes at night to keep building Tue, 23 Dec 2025 10:53:15 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/sirkku-christmas-village https://www.kotona.com/articles/sirkku-christmas-village 0 Elf hats for Christmas babies: midwife Sari’s tiny welcome gifts Tue, 23 Dec 2025 10:32:43 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/baby-elf-hats https://www.kotona.com/articles/baby-elf-hats 0 Over 50 Aarikka wooden elves set Johanna’s Christmas mood: “I can spot a real Aarikka elf in an instant” Fri, 05 Dec 2025 15:09:10 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/johannas-aarikka-elves https://www.kotona.com/articles/johannas-aarikka-elves 0 3 heartwarming charity crafts: pocket pals for kids, anesthesia blankets for pets, and more Fri, 05 Dec 2025 12:59:17 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/charity-craft-projects https://www.kotona.com/articles/charity-craft-projects 0 The “Ozempic tree” trend is everywhere—but for Finns, it's old news! Thu, 04 Dec 2025 07:34:15 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/ozempic-christmas-tree-trend https://www.kotona.com/articles/ozempic-christmas-tree-trend 0 7 crochet blanket ideas you’ll love: granny squares, paw prints, and sunflowers—see the stunning projects! Thu, 04 Dec 2025 06:36:03 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/crochet-blanket-ideas https://www.kotona.com/articles/crochet-blanket-ideas 0 Riitta’s Christmas wonderland takes over the terrace: “The oldest elves date back 30 years” Thu, 27 Nov 2025 12:00:20 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/riitta-s-christmas-wonderland https://www.kotona.com/articles/riitta-s-christmas-wonderland 0 Family of six living small—made possible by versatile living spaces Tue, 25 Nov 2025 11:07:42 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/six-people-small-living https://www.kotona.com/articles/six-people-small-living 0 Riitta grew a houseplant from a peanut—“It’s so lush and keeps putting out new leaves” Tue, 25 Nov 2025 10:28:21 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/peanut-houseplant https://www.kotona.com/articles/peanut-houseplant 0 Which wool sock are you? Discover your sock personality with our quick quiz Fri, 21 Nov 2025 11:12:32 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/which-wool-sock-are-you-take-this-simple-quiz https://www.kotona.com/articles/which-wool-sock-are-you-take-this-simple-quiz 0 Nenna, 22, transformed a run-down post-war house into her first home: “There will still be enough work for decades” Fri, 21 Nov 2025 10:32:58 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/nenna-jokinen-22-renovates-a-run-down-post-war-house https://www.kotona.com/articles/nenna-jokinen-22-renovates-a-run-down-post-war-house 0 “Even strangers start to smile”: meet Tommi, the Christmas-crazy collector of dozens of sweaters Sun, 16 Nov 2025 09:00:15 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/tommys-christmas-sweaters https://www.kotona.com/articles/tommys-christmas-sweaters 0 Piia’s woodworking journey: “I can take a birch log from the firewood pile and make a vase out of it” Sat, 15 Nov 2025 10:22:35 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/piia-does-woodworking https://www.kotona.com/articles/piia-does-woodworking 0 “I might be a Christmas person right down to my soul”: this home’s joyful décor was planned in summer Fri, 14 Nov 2025 11:00:14 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/christmas-lover-hannas-home https://www.kotona.com/articles/christmas-lover-hannas-home 0 Riikka’s enchanting Christmas home with dazzling gingerbread houses and a four-story elf door: “I create my own Christmas bubble” Sat, 08 Nov 2025 13:00:18 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/riikkas-christmas-home https://www.kotona.com/articles/riikkas-christmas-home 0 Three generations on a Lapland farm: “I moved back to my childhood home’s property—even though I swore I’d never come back” Wed, 05 Nov 2025 13:00:47 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/three-generations-on-a-lapland-farm https://www.kotona.com/articles/three-generations-on-a-lapland-farm 0 Peek in Minna’s cupboard under the stairs: “When you open the Christmas door, you can step right into an elf cottage!” Tue, 04 Nov 2025 11:00:13 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/elf-cottage-under-the-stairs https://www.kotona.com/articles/elf-cottage-under-the-stairs 0 No knitting skills needed: craft these 67 mittens in the spirit of the “six-seven” phenomenon Fri, 31 Oct 2025 12:29:29 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/67-mittens https://www.kotona.com/articles/67-mittens 0 11 crocheted doily upcycles sure to surprise grandma Wed, 29 Oct 2025 10:11:59 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/doily-diys https://www.kotona.com/articles/doily-diys 0 A red wooden house in the heart of Helsinki: inside illustrator’s vintage-filled, color-packed family home Thu, 23 Oct 2025 12:20:53 +0000 https://www.kotona.com/articles/illustrator-jenna-kunnas-wooden-house-in-helsinki https://www.kotona.com/articles/illustrator-jenna-kunnas-wooden-house-in-helsinki 0