A home as an artwork in itself

The home of Kristi, Martin and their young son in a sunny corner of Katla Maja features white walls and classic herringbone parquet but is anything but monotone and boring. They have dared to combine different styles and use colours; to create and build their own furniture to stand beside works by celebrity designers, placing everything onto a neutral background which highlights the style and individuality of the art and furniture even more. This approach helped the couple to create a lively home for cosy living.

The corridor with a long pale white brick wall leads the guests past the nursery and the bathroom, all the way to the bright living room with an open kitchen. Kristi and Martin made slight alterations to the original layout of the apartment in order to achieve the calm and organic space it is today. They really wanted a home that would be functional not just for their family of three but also relatives and friends who come to visit, a home with enough room for spending time together and relaxing, both on their own and with guests.

The modern and minimalist but also warm and inviting kitchen is intended for large social gatherings. Viewed from the living room, the kitchen equipment and outlets are smartly concealed in an unseen corner but there is everything needed to cook large dinners.

Kristi and Martin planned the kitchen worktop to be able to cook together. The space is planned to allow both guests and hosts to cook, eat and socialise in the open-layout space.

As Kristi and Martin love inviting guests and having dinners with friends, a large dining table was very important. The table was designed by Martin himself and only a half of it is used daily. He had the tabletop for 12 people made in two parts at Plaat Detail while the legs were made at a workshop found through an acquaintance – they are clipped to the tabletop, so the other half can be kept in the storage room and assembled quickly if needed.

“I really like the oval shape, but I looked at all the oval extendable tables at the shops and the tops of large tables were already visibly bent in the middle. It was easier to do it myself,” Martin says.

Extra chairs for guests can be brought in from the balcony – the chairs originally used as a temporary solution proved to be an excellent solution, as they can be used both indoors and outdoors.

When Kristi and Martin reserved their apartment among the first residents of the house, they already knew that they would furnish their home themselves. Looking for a new home had taken a long time and the expectations were pretty clear. The apartment should have a central location, be bright and have at least one large tree. “We used to live near Stockmann, without any greenery at all,” Kristi says. Now she has a tall birch tree outside her window. “In Tallinn, you can choose either the sea view or bright light, we preferred the bright light.”

“We are not really morning persons, so south-facing windows and evening sun were also very important for us,” Martin adds. The central location was especially important as well – for being around people, being able to walk to restaurants, having access to Wolt and Bolt.

While choosing furniture and luminaires is the fun part for everyone who furnishes a home, the preceding mapping of outlets and switches requires a rather detailed understanding of what the room is going to look like. When he bought the home, Martin who tends to focus on details knew that he never wanted to see a robot vacuum cleaner standing by a wall again, the charging station would instead be hidden beneath a sofa. The floor outlet was a challenge for the electricians but the overall look became more relaxed and consistent due to the small detail. As the layout of the living room and the kitchen is largely determined by the large windows, it was not so hard to choose the wall for placing the TV and sound equipment.

The colour palette for the living room was determined by a carpet from Kristi and Martin’s previous home. “But Martin said already then that it would look better here,” Kristi tells us.

Kristi and Martin furnished their home by mixing existing things with furniture bought for the new home and adding paintings, a photo gallery in the hall, travel souvenirs and Martin’s guitar. This gives their home a unique look. The eye-catcher on the living room wall is the painting Moscow in Rain by Hristina Rinasci, discovered at the Tartu Young Art Auction. Kristi and Martin’s priority in choosing art is that they have to like the artwork and it has to suit the home, while the fame and popularity of the painter are secondary.

Choosing luminaires for a high but not particularly large apartment was a challenge. “We are not really chandelier people,” Kristi remarks. She finally found a striking lighting fixture by Tom Dixon for the kitchen, neither too large nor too small. The airy and minimalist bedroom lamp looked nothing like that when it arrived at the apartment. The ceiling lamp came in an enormous wooden box – it is laser-cut and cannot be disassembled, so the lamp was delivered in one piece.

Kristi notes that several consistent elements in the apartment have developed over time without planning, but they are happy with the whole.

Kristi and Martin’s apartment reflects their principles and characters – sophisticated but not taking itself too seriously.

Photos: Märt Lillesiim