MARIKA in April

Every now and then we are going to have a little chat with someone we think is interesting for what he or she does. May we introduce Marika.  

Marika Tesolin is an interiour architect working for FROM: www.from.fi, an interior design agency with focus on public spaces. Styling and photo of Marika with her sons by Mindre.

DESCRIBE WITH ONE WORD HOW YOU FEEL NOW IN MARCH.

Restless.
WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN BUSY WITH THE LAST TWO MONTHS?
We've been doing a lot of private residences lately, which have been refreshing and interesting. We also have an art project for a boat in Helsinki with other designers that will be opening in May and that's going to be super!

At Tesolins´. Marika is not afraid of colours: she has a Josef Frank fabric on the wall in the living room. Styling and photo by Mindre for Avotakka.

At home: Marika´s matt black kitchen with marble worktop from Kvänum. Styling and photo by Mindre for Avotakka.

 
WHERE DOES THE WORD FROM COME FROM? 

(FROM IS THE NAME OF MARIKAS AND ELINA AALTOS DESIGN STUDIO)
Our design follows the story of the project we're working on: from dull to interesting, from generic to specific, from grey to delicious grey...

Datafisher office in Helsinki, design by From. Styling and photo by Mindre for From.

Datafisher office in Helsinki, design by From. Styling and photo by Mindre for From.

WHO´S WORK DO YOU ADMIRE? NAME A DESIGNER AND AN OBJECT.
I admire all the designers who have the balls to do this job (laughs) This might be a shocker, but I love Alvar Aalto's work. He has suffered from some reputation inflation in Finland, but I just admire his way of using wood and forms in a warm and modern way. The feeling inside Seinäjoki's public library is something I haven't felt in any other library I've visited. And if I need to pick one object I would choose his Golden Bell lamp.
GIVE US A CLEVER TIP FOR EVERY HOME IN SPRING
Wash your windows and let the light in!

At Aalto University in Helsinki: a lounge and a coffee room by From.

Aalto media lab in Helsinki, design by From. Styling and photo by Mindre for From.

Aalto media lab in Helsinki, design by From. Styling and photo by Mindre for From.

IF YOU WEREN´T AN INTERIOR ARCHITECT WHAT WOULD YOU BE?
I love problem solving, so probably a house mom or Secretary General in the UN.
HOW IS YOUR SIGNATURE LOOK? DESCRIBE YOUR FAVOURITE OUTFIT..
I love dark blue (instead of black) and my jeans. I've been concentrating lately on using more skirts and dresses, but overall I like simple and classic cuts and colours. Boring, I know, but as a tall person I feel that simplicity is the key word.
MARIKA´S HUSBAND IS HALF CANADIAN, HALF ITALIAN WHO HAS LIVED IN FINLAND FOR OVER TEN YEARS NOW. WHAT STILL SURPRISES YOU ABOUT THE CANADIANS?
I'm still surprised by their relationship with 'stuff'. I feel that in Finland we have deeper relationship with what we buy and in Canada they buy because buying is fun. Gladly this doesn't relate to my husband. Also it's fun to shock them with nudity. They just can't get over the fact that there isn't anything sexual by going to the sauna naked.  There's a lot of things I admire as well. I love how easily they can talk about religion, politics and what they believe in. I find Finns often have problems expressing their own opinions compared to Canadians.

Design museum in Helsinki: the café is designed by From. Styling and photo by Mindre for From.

Design museum in Helsinki: the café is designed by From. Styling and photo by Mindre for From.

THANKS MARIKA!