The bright, three-room flat suits the rhythm of shared parenting: two children have their own bedrooms, and their mother has a clearly defined corner of her own to unwind after the day. For Emilia Petrell, home is a sanctuary where she is free to enjoy peace and quiet, surround herself with meaningful objects and listen to audiobooks among trailing plants.

Emilia is a 44-year-old mother of two boys, a crossfit enthusiast and an avid consumer of audiobooks. For her, home is first and foremost the foundation of everyday life and a place to pause and breathe. She moved into her current flat in the spring. Her children live with her every other week, which is why a functional layout was one of the most important criteria when choosing a home.

“It was important to me that the boys have their own rooms. At the same time, I wanted to have a clearly defined space of my own as well.”

The floor plan made a big difference. The living area and sleeping space form an L-shaped whole, with the bed tucked into its own calm corner. The kitchenette opens from two directions, making the space feel airy and flexible for everyday life. Curtains separate Emilia’s sleeping area from the rest of the space in a way that is both beautiful and practical. When the mother goes to bed early and the teenage boys are still up in the evening, the curtains block out kitchen lights and noise.

“It’s a small thing, but it makes a big difference. I can sleep peacefully even if there’s still life going on in the kitchen.”

The first thing you notice in the home is the colour green. The sofa, the curtains and, above all, the plants are green, appearing at different heights and in different rooms.

“Green has been a colour that’s drawn me in for years. It’s calming. Nature is close to my heart, and maybe that shows here too.”

Alongside green, soft pink has crept in as small details, bringing contrast to the space.

“Pink has never been my favourite colour, but in this home it’s found its place. It adds warmth and works surprisingly well with green.”

Plants play an important role: they make the space feel alive, soften boundaries and connect different corners of the home. Emilia’s favourite is pothos, as it is easy to care for, beautiful and adaptable. It climbs along the edges of shelves, leans against curtains and forms little jungle-like spots.

The interior has evolved gradually, always according to need and mood. Emilia doesn’t look to trends for inspiration, but rather to what feels right and works in everyday life. That’s why the overall feel is both clear and deeply personal.

“If I like something, it’s nice, and usually it continues to feel right for a long time. I shop rarely, but when I do buy something for my home, it stays with me for years.”

The most meaningful items in the home are story-filled treasures that reflect Emilia’s roots in Rovaniemi. In the living room, the eye is drawn to a set of antlers and a skull painted black.

“My father hunted the elk whose antlers are on my wall. I wanted the antlers on display, but not the white skull, so my father painted it black. The antlers have been with me for fifteen years now.”

Another important treasure made by her father is an earring display board that allows jewellery to be shown beautifully. The frame and copper-coloured chicken wire create a decorative element that is both practical and personal.

“I asked my father to make the piece, and that very evening he sent me a photo of the finished work. Soon it was already in the post, travelling from Rovaniemi to here.”

The north is present in the home in other ways too: in a painting featuring Rovaniemi and in the way natural colours and materials are brought indoors. In the hallway, a yellow painting immediately catches the eye. It was created by one of Emilia’s friends.

“At one point, my friend decided to leave her day job and focus fully on art. I fell in love with the painting and the way it glows with yellow, so she gave it to me as a gift. It’s my sunshine in the hallway.”

Small moments of luxury also appear in unexpected places, such as the crystal chandelier hanging in the small guest toilet, which had been without a home for a long time.

“When I moved here, I knew straight away that this was the right place for it.”

Above all, Emilia’s home is a place of peace. Windows on three sides bring in light, but the atmosphere comes from soft side lighting, small lamps and candles.

“I like my home to be a bit dim, soft and warm. At Christmas, the lights and candles make it especially magical.”

Daily life is also shared and shaped by Lilli, a rescue dog who has found her own safe haven in Emilia’s home. Lilli’s favourite spot is the same as her owner’s: the sofa with a view of the entire living room. Lilli is curious but sensitive; thunderstorms and loud noises still frighten her. That’s why the home is important to her too – a place where she can curl up peacefully next to Emilia or in her own corner.

When Emilia describes what home means to her, the words settle gently.

“Home is my shelter or safe place, a kind of bubble. I choose who comes here and when. The most important thing is that it feels good to be here.”

An enchanting home, in Emilia’s view, is exactly that: a reflection of its resident and a place where it’s easy to breathe.