Cozy Inspiration: Eliel Saarinen's Villa Hvitträsk

Yesterday brought a fresh batch of snowfall to Montreal. The beautiful white covering is reminding me of my trip to Finland years ago. And my desire to snuggle up indoors is reminding me of a visit to Eliel Saarinen's inspiring Finnish home: Villa Hvitträsk. It's not bright and white, I wouldn't call it cheery exactly, but it's a warm, deep respite from the surrounding forest. Hopefully the home provides you with a little cozy interior inspiration on this winter afternoon...

Hvitträsk was built by partners Eliel Saarinen, Herman Gesellius, and Armas Lindgren as a family retreat from city life. It was the childhood home of modernist Eero Saarinen. Eero designed and built a studio addition to Hvitträsk in the '30's.

After many years, the standouts in my memory of visiting the home are the colorful glazed tiles and patterns used throughout the house, the special childrens' rooms, and the frequent use of giant tapestries hanging from the wall, draping down over the back and seat of a built-in bench, and culminating at the floor as a rug (like in the pics at left and below).

Photos: Radoslaw Kurzaj, Hirayama Susumu, and Nature Land

Comments (10)

I *want* this home.

posted by Juliescript on January 8th 2009 at 3:59pm
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This is one of the most beautiful places I have have ever seen. The tile work and textiles are more amazing in person. I suppose when you live in such a cold climate you have to make things cozy and beautiful inside. Great photos!

posted by crzybckyf on January 8th 2009 at 4:03pm
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Pretty nice for a place named "White Swamp"....

posted by dn on January 8th 2009 at 4:09pm
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WOW. It's like the Scandinavian-design version of William Morris's house.

posted by Lisa Hunter (Montreal) on January 8th 2009 at 4:42pm
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I could so live there. I could so live there RIGHT NOW.

posted by rosenatti on January 8th 2009 at 5:27pm
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funny how this place and the Eames' place in Pacific Palisades are so "un-MCM"...

posted by chris_94131 on January 8th 2009 at 7:13pm
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I want to go to there!

posted by corijune on January 8th 2009 at 11:37pm
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i love the bench/tapestry effect; the way it plays with the horizon is so cool!

posted by curvatura on January 9th 2009 at 7:48am
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I would snooze and read by that giant fireplace all day long.

posted by missdk on January 9th 2009 at 4:51pm
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chris_94131, Eliel Saarinen wasn't exactly MCM... I recommend taking a tour of his home at Cranbrook to anyone who finds themselves in the Detroit metro area. It's similarly designed and outfitted, but more of a townhouse instead of a compound.

posted by visualingual on January 10th 2009 at 8:36am
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