The book stems from the notion of interior dreams, ideas and visions that intriguingly intertwine. It opens the doors to apartments and villas in Helsinki, where a classic, continental style merges with luminous Nordic light, an inviting mood and architectural balance.

The featured homes are dreams-come-true for their owners located in and around some of Helsinki’s prettiest pockets renowned for their historical architecture. The book also shares an endless love for striking colour combinations, patterns and fabrics that fill with an urge to feel them between the fingers. The showcased Nordic homes do not fit the traditional mould of Scandinavian minimalism, the unique spaces weaving their magic spell over their owners. Tailored to meet their every wish, the homes evoke a deep sense of wellbeing. It is why they are so meaningful to the families.

We warmly welcome you to take a tour around eight homes with a timeless aesthetic. But why the name Hidden Gems? The title reflects the fact that the owners are opening their doors exclusively to the readers of this book.

Kari-Otso Nevaluoma is a household name in the world of interiors in his native Finland. He is the editor in chief of leading Finnish interior magazine Avotakka and former editor in chief of interior magazine Glorian koti. All of the homes in the book were designed by interior architect Elina Siltanen-Sjöberg. The pages whisk readers also to visit her inspiring home in a neo-renaissance building from 1890 designed by architect Selim A. Lindqvist.