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