In the middle of this bustling and extremely busy week with IMM in Cologne and Maison & Objet in Paris, I found a slice of calmth and design: at KOTI in the heart of Paris. Although it also felt very Finnish! KOTI, Finnish for home, is a creative idea launched by and in the Finnish Institute in Paris where they built a group of six wooden cottages in a typical Finnish style. You can book a cottage for 1, 2 or 4 via airBnB and "escape the hectic pace of modern life, savour the luxury of simplicity, the importance of home and the value of sharing unforgettable new experiences".
The vibe during the launch event reminded me of the friendly, down-to-earth and unpretentious people we met last year in Helsinki and of the Finnish design (which is not the same as Scandinavian design!). The lovely bites prepared by chef Antto Melasniemi, paired with a cocktail of the finest Finnish gin and apple juice (yum!), reminded me of all the delicious dinners we enjoyed in the Finnish capital. And it reminded me that I really want/need/have to go back and explore some more. Until then, I can pretend to be in Finland, during a sleepover at KOTI in the middle of Paris. Not too shabby if you ask me 😉 Have a look:
In the big hall of the former cinema that is now the Finnish Institute in Paris, six cottages were built for the KOTI project: 100 days of Finnish hospitality in the heart of Paris. Each AITTA (cottage in Finnish) has its own pastel colored wooden sliding door: pink, grey, dove, green, white or blue:
"Linda Bergroth is the creative engine behind KOTI and a multi-talented lead designer. Originally hailing from Finland, Linda lives and works between Helsinki and Paris. She brings her signature style: a Nordic love of pragmatism and natural materials, coupled with her unique zest for bold color, to the conceptualisation and curation of KOTI. Inspired by the simple pleasures of holiday stays in a Finnish countryside cottage, Linda hopes to share the delights of an aitta with guests to the Finnish Institute in Paris. With her charming cottage designs and a hand-picked selection of collaborators, Linda invites guests from all over the world to experience the warmth, tranquility and communal hospitality of a shared Finnish sleepover".
The KOTI project will remain open for 100 days (and nights) to celebrate the 100th anniversairy of the independance of Finland. After these 100 days, the cottages will be transported to Finland and reinstalled and opened to the Finnish public for another 30 nights. As the cottages are a living art installation celebrating the Finnish home part of this installation, they are open to public viewing during the day from 1pm-6pm.
On the beautiful wooden bedside tables designed by Matti & Merz you'll only find three items: a wake-up light by Innolux, a vase designed by Nathalie Lahdenmäki with a few twigs and a wooden hand mirror by Studio Kaksikko. I love the custom designed bedlinen by Lapuan Kankurit in grey with a bright yellow stripe:
Below: the lovely bites prepared by chef Antto Melasniemi. During a stay at KOTI you can enjoy a communal breakfast on the large wooden breakfast table in the middle of the space. A typical Finnish breakfast is served every day with rye break, finnish butter and blueberries.
A peek inside the family cottage:
More linenware by Lapuan Kankurit:
Even the youngest guest seemed to appreciate KOTI <3
KOTI sleepover Institut finlandais Paris /// 60 Rue des Ecoles /// 75005 Paris /// France /// +33 1 40 51 89 09
All bookings via AirBnB from January until May 2017
Whouaa beautiful project. :)
Merci Lucie !