High above the rooftops in Sörnäinen, Helsinki sits the flat shared by three friends in their late twenties and early thirties: Sole, Pete and Maisa. Sole and Maisa have been friends since year fourth grade at school, while Sole and Pete have been together for about four years and tied the knot last summer.

It’s not the most traditional living arrangement.

“People are sometimes a bit surprised that we still have flatmates at this age,” says Sole.

“And the marriage confuses some, too,” Pete adds. “There seems to be this expectation that once you get married, you’re supposed to live just the two of you.”

The idea of flat-sharing came about on that trip to Berlin, when all three stayed in the same hotel room. Pete suggested it might actually be fun to live together permanently – and by splitting the rent, they could afford something a bit nicer too.

Back in Finland, Sole, Pete and Maisa started searching for the right place – something special, the kind of home you couldn’t quite get on your own or as a couple. This flat had that certain something: 95 square metres, a balcony and a rooftop terrace, and two floors – quite rare in a city-centre apartment block. Visitors are often surprised to find stairs leading up to another level.

“It ticked all the boxes,” Pete says.

From the hallway, the space opens up into a large open-plan kitchen and living room full of colour and personality – from moss green to soft pink – and plenty of trinkets and keepsakes on display.

“Maisa and I are really into Hello Kitty figurines, and once people noticed, we started getting them as gifts. Now we’ve got all sorts of little characters scattered around,” Sole laughs.

Cats play a big part in the household, too. Alongside all the Hello Kittys, there are real cats padding about. At the moment there are five in total – two being looked after temporarily and three belonging to Sole and Pete.

The cats have a large climbing tree in the living room, and they also enjoy lounging on the kitchen barstools or on a radiator bed, which is especially cosy and warm in winter.

The interior has come together gradually and quite naturally. Whenever new furniture was needed, one of the three would look for options, and together they’d find something that suited everyone.

“It’s just somehow become a really cohesive mix,” says Sole.

Pete loves wood, green tones and houseplants – which shows in the corner with the dark green sofa, big leafy plants and a mirrored column salvaged from the building’s stairwell.

Sole is into vintage, especially the 1950s aesthetic, while Maisa leans more towards modern, Y2K-inspired style – and both of them adore anything cute and pink. Hot pink would be their top choice, but for the sake of harmony in shared spaces, they’ve opted for softer pink tones.

The trio took advantage of Lumo Homes’ paint benefit and gave the living room walls a calming coat of Tikkurila’s shade H480 “Sunday”.

“I got so into painting that night that I was still thinking, even at midnight, I could paint something else,” Pete recalls.

They’ve now lived together for about a year. During that time, the shared home has settled naturally into their daily routines. The three have similar habits – they all like sleeping in, and Sole and Pete often work evening shifts.

“Mornings start slowly, and in the evenings we all gather here in the living room to catch up on the day’s dramas. We might watch a series, or just hang out with the cats,” Sole says.

As the nights draw in, the flat looks especially beautiful – lanterns on the balcony and rooftop terrace create a warm, glowing atmosphere.

Living together has also brought everyone’s friendship groups closer. According to the trio, the flat is perfect for guests: a big living room for hanging out and board games, and a rooftop terrace that easily fits a crowd for evening gatherings. There’s even room for travelling friends who need a place to stay in Helsinki.

And although they live together, everyone can have their own space when needed.

“I definitely need some alone time now and then, and I’ll just walk out of the shared space when I do. Or sometimes I’ll just sit here with my laptop and headphones while Sole and Maisa watch something or chat over me,” Pete laughs.

Sole, on the other hand, is so social that when she lived alone, she’d only come home to sleep – the rest of the time she spent with friends.

“Now the best people are right here at home. Maisa and I have often said how boring it would be to live alone. It’s genuinely fun here. We’ve laughed ourselves to tears in this living room so many times,” Sole smiles.

At the moment, they all feel that this is exactly the right place, with exactly the right people.

“Haven’t we said that we’ll live here for the rest of our lives?” Pete grins.