Up next for an interview is Kirsi, a Frenchic brand ambassador from Jokela

What's the story behind your name "Pieni Päivänsäde," and how does it reflect you? 

"When I first started my Instagram account, I naturally had to come up with a name for it. Many nice names were already taken, so "Pieni Päivänsäde" came from my daughter, who was a toddler at the time and a real little ray of sunshine. 

My daughter doesn't appear much in the account's photos, but her name certainly does. Now that she's a teenager, "Päivänsäde" is our home, painted marigold yellow and with a mansard roof, so I also sometimes call it "Villa Päivänsäde." 

What town do you live in, and what are you like? 

"I live in Jokela, Tuusula, a small, rural idyll. Jokela is usually remembered for some rather unfortunate events, so I want to show my hometown in a positive light. 

I'm a down-to-earth, country-loving introvert who enjoys being at home and working on upcycling, painting, and gardening whenever I can. I have a sociable side too, but I love being able to do things by myself while listening to good music." 

What music are you listening to? 

"I'm pretty open to all kinds of music; only heavy metal and hard rock make me change the radio station. I usually listen to music according to my mood: sometimes '80s and '90s pop, sometimes Latin pop, because I love Zumba and do it regularly, and sometimes I have evergreen classics in my headphones, like Nat King Cole and other classics from that era.

I might also listen to soundtracks from my favorite TV shows while painting furniture. Often, a song becomes associated with a particular project, and I always think of it when I hear the song again."

Favorite podcaster? 

"I don't listen to podcasts at all. I'd rather listen to music than speech. Listening to someone speak requires concentration, and I'd rather focus on my projects and my own thoughts, so music works better as background. 
 

Do you have a background in an unexpected profession or hobby that has influenced your creative work today? 

"I'm a visual merchandiser, photography stylist, and content creator by profession. So my work constantly involves interior design, colors, and trends. Before becoming a visual merchandiser, I worked as an interior design sales assistant, and I can also assemble furniture, so I know my way around screws and nuts. These skills come in handy when restoring and upcycling furniture.

When I was young, I also had a hobby of making dollhouses, crafting all sorts of lovely little things for them. I’m sure that’s where I learned to see materials in a new light and imagine new uses for them. In a dollhouse, little bottle caps, pieces of wood, and fabric scraps take on a whole new meaning and life. I still do the same thing today, just on a slightly larger scale. "

How did you discover Frenchic products, and what made you fall in love with them? 

"I was doing a small kitchen renovation after my divorce and needed the perfect green wall paint to go with William Morris’s Pimpernel wallpaper.

My friend Kati had a shop in Jokela called Uniikkitehdas at the time, and she sold Frenchic paints. She lent me some painted wooden color samples to try at home, and I tested them in the kitchen, looking for the right shade. And I found the most perfect green in the world! The kitchen walls are now painted Green with Envy and that’s where my love of Frenchic paints began. "

Could you tell us about a project that has been particularly meaningful to you, and why? 

"Actually, all the projects are meaningful in some way. I always learn something new with each project: about colors, techniques, execution, brainstorming, and so on. The projects have given me the confidence to believe in myself, my approach, and my style of working, and of course they’ve also sparked plenty of new ideas. When I sold the first chest of drawers I’d upcycled, it felt amazing that someone besides me liked my style and craftsmanship. 

Four years ago, when I divorced my husband, I bought his share of our detached house and started renovating the interior to make it feel like me. Room by room, I learned to skim, paint, and wallpaper. Although my boyfriend helps me out sometimes, I’ve done many of the steps entirely by myself, and of course I chose the colors, paints, and wallpaper. I couldn’t be happier with the result. And apparently, lots of other people like this style too, judging by the comments on Instagram.

It’s absolutely wonderful if someone is inspired and finds the courage to renovate their own home after seeing the colors and materials we’ve chosen for ours. 

A few summers ago, the municipality organized an event in Jokela called “Houses with Stories,” where different homes opened their doors to visitors for a day and shared the story of their home. Several hundred people visited us that day, and it was lovely to talk with them about interior colors, wallpaper, and style. An event like that also gives a lot back to you, and I have so many lovely memories of that day. "

Which Frenchic shade best reflects your personality, and why? 

Definitely all the lovely shades of green, such as Green with Envy and Bradstock. Greens are calming and replace the green of nature in winter, when everything outside is white and gray. Green also makes a beautiful backdrop for other colors. We also have a green front door painted in the Frenchic shade “Victory Lane.

How do you balance creative work with the other demands of life? 

When I want to switch off and do nothing, I usually watch a film or TV show. In summer, I potter around in the garden. Flea markets and antique fairs are wonderful places to forget about everything else apart from the treasures lurking all around. Ideas and upcycling projects are always on my mind, which fortunately doesn’t bother me.

Many upcycling ideas gradually take shape and eventually become reality. And since people need to stay active, my love of dance and music means I enjoy hot Latin rhythms to the beat of Zumba a couple of times a week. When I dance, I have to focus solely on the rhythm and the steps, so my mind completely clears of everything else.
 

Do you have any special sources of inspiration or idols that you haven’t shared with your followers before? 

Besides Instagram, I find inspiration on Pinterest, in interior design magazines, films and TV shows, or even in a restaurant’s decor. I often combine ideas I’ve seen in several different places in my mind and turn them into something of my own.

It might sound like a horrible mishmash to an outsider, but it works for me. And it also leads to very unique and different ideas for both interiors and projects. My latest “idol” is Jennifer Lanne, who paints stunning landscapes reminiscent of old paintings on linen, among other things, and turns them into backdrops, cushions and bags. 

On Instagram, I follow several like-minded interior decorators who have lots of ingenuity and ideas for decorating with recycled items and upcycling. It’s lovely to exchange ideas and chat with Instagram friends about all sorts of things.

Who are you following on Instagram right now?  

So many! But if I have to mention a few lovely inspiration accounts from Finland:  

@villiviininkatveessa 

@rullatehtaantalo_1888 

@stormkullan 

 
 I follow several international Instagram accounts, and they’re full of all kinds of lovely things to draw inspiration from for my own projects, such as Jennifer Lanne, mentioned above, who can be found on Instagram at @jenniferlanne.studio.

How would you describe your interior design style, and how does it show in your projects? 

Our home’s interior design is a mix of Marikki from Astrid Lindgren’s books, the Children of Noisy Village, Carl Larsson’s paintings and English cottage style. The colors are muted and soft, the wallpapers are patterned, and the decor is as abundant as possible, filled with old and vintage pieces.

I love old objects, furniture, and history, so that’s reflected in my interior design and the projects I work on. I read lots of fairy tales as a child, so I also enjoy bringing in themes related to them in my projects. For example, designing and creating the Alice in Wonderland chest of drawers was a joy. 

I also use lots of color in my projects. I hardly ever paint anything white; I want my furniture to have character and bring joy. I create my own “decoupage” images with AI and attach them to furniture. The only limit to upcycling is your imagination! "

Tell us what you think the next hot interior design trend will be. 

"Definitely color, color, and more color. Surely the white/gray/beige style will finally make way for color. It’s also lovely to see that abundance and coziness are becoming trendy again. A minimalist, all-white home is boring and impersonal.

Of course, everyone has their own taste, but I’m definitely a believer in color, vintage, and abundance. Recycling is surely a lasting interior design trend that’s here to stay, since the planet is already drowning in stuff." 

Do you have any dreams or projects for the future that you’d like to make happen? 

"I dream of starting my own business in upcycling and recycled interior design. As a single parent, I can’t just take a leap into the unknown, so I’m gradually developing my idea and waiting for the right moment.

I also dream of a truly old house with an old stone barn in its grounds, where I could build my own workshop/studio, as well as a shop for my “business.” Smaller projects on my mind include a couple of fun chests of drawers that I’ll decorate using AI-generated images.

Painting an old upholstered chair with Frenchic chalk paint is also on my to-do list, once I find a chair that’s suitable for it. I’ve never painted fabric before, only lampshades, so this is sure to be a fun experiment." 

How do you take ecology and sustainability into account in your projects?  

"I mainly use recycled and old materials in my projects.

Sometimes I have to visit a hardware store too, but I try to find many of the parts I need for upcycling secondhand. When I buy furniture to recycle for myself or to upcycle, I try to choose durable materials such as wood. I only upcycle particleboard furniture in exceptional cases.

I also make the most of the materials I use and save leftover materials for future projects. I save almost everything! I also collect materials from friends and relatives. I guess I really am the “Sulo Vilen” of my own life. "

What advice or motto guides you in your creative work?  

"“You can try anything at least once” … you shouldn’t be afraid of failure. You always learn something from it, too. Anything can be taken apart, fixed, changed, or repainted …if you’re not happy with the result. Sometimes the craziest ideas are the best ones.  "

Do you have any pets at home? If so, who are they? 

"We don’t have any pets, but my boyfriend has a 13-year-old wire-haired dachshund named Ike. He’s our bonus dog, who spends time with us now and then and demands constant cuddles. "

What surprising fact do your followers not know about you?  

"I’m a completely self-taught painter and furniture makeover enthusiast. I haven’t attended any professional schools or courses; I’ve learned by doing and experimenting." 

Is there a particular renovation project you’re especially proud of? 

"This isn’t exactly a renovation project, but I upholstered an antique sofa myself for the very first time. Luckily, the springs were in good condition, so all I needed to do for this project was replace the padding and upholstery. Fortunately, I got some advice from my coworker, who is a trained upholsterer.

It wasn’t the easiest project and took about a week of evening and weekend work, but I got it done! I love it; the sofa, now upholstered in green velvet, is one of my favorite pieces of furniture. "

Tell us a secret hack you always use in your own projects.  

"Frenchic brown wax works almost anywhere. I use it to add patina to gold frames, decoupage images, furniture surfaces… I always need to have a tin of brown wax in the cupboard, waiting for a moment of inspiration. "

Tell us what project you’re working on right now or have on your “drawing board.”  

"There are several chests of drawers and a small table waiting in the garage for a new look and a new lease on life. I already have a clear vision for a few pieces, while others are still taking shape and waiting for inspiration. Usually, a piece of furniture knows what it wants to become.

The style of a piece of furniture often influences the direction we take. I want every piece I makeover to have a story to tell, as if it were a page from a storybook. Next on my to-do list is a coffee table with a carp swimming in it! 

Another, slightly “bigger” project is that in the spring I’m planning to turn the garage into a workspace for myself. For now, I paint and do up furniture in the living room sometimes, or wherever I happen to be. At the moment, the garage is full of stuff, so there’s quite a cleanup operation ahead before I can even start decorating my new workspace. " 

Thank you, Kirsi! 

Follow Kirsi’s colorful and inspiring Instagram account here @Pieni_päivänsäde