Honka Haiku’s interior designer Maru Hautala on how to combine different wooden surfaces in a log home – Housing Fair 2022 in Naantali, Finland

Images: Minna Kivinen and Maru Hautala

Honka Haiku is the result of a design collaboration between architect Marko Simsiö, interior designer Maru Hautala and landscape architect Asako Hashimoto. In this article, Maru Hautala describes the special characteristics of Honka Haiku's interior and gives tips on how to combine different wooden surfaces and what to take into account in their treatment.

Visit Honka Haiku with interior designer Maru Hautala!

Passionate about logs

Interior designer Maru Hautala is passionate about logs. Hautala's love of logs dates back to her childhood, as Hautala grew up in a log-framed detached house surrounded by forest and her family built as many as two log cabins during her childhood summers. Hautala is an entrepreneur and interior designer at Nionio Oy, which has operated in the sector for a decade. In recent years, she has focused on the design of log homes and new construction.

The underlying theme in the interior of Honka Haiku is the combination of different types of wood and the pairing of different textures with wood.

"In the Haiku house, we wanted to show how textures can be used to combine various surfaces with soft and warm wood," says Hautala.

In Haiku, wood is accompanied by a concrete floor and surfaces treated with lime plaster, for example, and the bedroom features a sisal carpet. The spruce logs have been left untinted and paired with ash and natural-coloured oak, used in fixtures in the kitchen as well as other rooms. The spa section features heat-treated wood and almost black tiles.

Other parts of the house were designed to be, above all, functional, but the spa section was only designed for enjoyment and relaxation. Having a fireplace in such as room is also exceptional, and it's amazing how the space combines fire and water with a view of the forest.

Maru Hautala, interior designer

The interior of the Haiku house exudes Japanese minimalism

At the customers' request, the house was designed to reflect the Japandi style, in which naturalness, wooden surfaces, genuine materials and minimalism are essential. The exception that proves the rule in the otherwise light-coloured and neutral interior is the spa section, in which heat-treated wood is paired with dark surfaces. When compared to other Finnish homes, the spa section in Honka Haiku is exceptional.

"Other parts of the house were designed to be, above all, functional, but the spa section was only designed for enjoyment and relaxation. Having a fireplace in such as room is also exceptional, and it's amazing how the space combines fire and water with a view of the forest."

The slatted wooden floor consists of separate elements that can be removed and cleaned, if necessary. The spa section looks very Japanese with its various textures, and the loose river stones around the bathtub make for a stunning detail.

Hautala has noticed that the Japandi style is an emerging trend.

"The style feels natural to Finns, as it has many familiar elements to it. Nature is also a key element in the Japandi style. For that reason, I wanted the interior of the Haiku house to have room for nature. To achieve this, I placed the furniture so that it doesn't block the view, for example."

Maru Hautala's tips for combining and treating different wooden surfaces

Although it is trendy to combine different types of wood, many find it difficult. Hautala points out that the surest way is to leave the wooden surfaces untinted.

"I'd try to avoid using too much white wax - of lacquer, for that matter. For a lighter look, ash is perfect, and for a darker look, oak is a good choice."

People often shy away from combining different types of wood in a log house, as logs are such a dominating element. Hautala encourages everyone to be bold and try things out.

"It's okay to use various types of wood. A log home can have an oak floor."

The surest way is to select natural wood colours and avoid spoiling their natural look with treatments and pigments. If you're not sure about how to combine different types of wood, contact a designer.

Maru Hautala, interior designer

However, with untinted logs, it is advisable to avoid elements such as a white-lacquered pine-panel ceiling, as it often has a tint of pink.

"The surest way is to select natural wood colours and avoid spoiling their natural look with treatments and pigments. If you're not sure about how to combine different types of wood, contact a designer."

Right now, logs straight from the factory with their natural colour intact are very popular. It is advisable to treat the logs with a substance that protects them from UV rays and prevents yellowing.

When choosing the treatment for log surfaces, it is good to bear in mind that light colours can always be darkened but it is difficult to revert back to the natural colour of wood after the wood has been treated white. When selecting the colours, think about the atmosphere you want for your home.

"I'm also for treating log surfaces dark. Could the logs in the bedroom be dark - or even black?"

A book called Hirsikirja (log book), which is the result of a collaboration between Hautala and Honka, was published earlier this year. The book provides tips for treating log surfaces in new log homes.

Honka Haiku is a trailblazer in sustainable and healthy living

The log house produces its own electricity and has achieved the best energy-efficiency rating A. The house also responds to the surrounding environment through a smart home solution. Honka Haiku's archtitect Marko Simsiö describes the special characteristics of the Haiku house in terms of architecture and spatial planning.

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