Welcome to the December reading list of Design Stories, Finnish Design Shop’s online magazine. What better way to spend an idle day in the festive season than snuggling up with a cosy blanket, enjoying a cup or two of your favourite hot beverage and immersing yourself in some good reads.

Our last picks for 2021 feature wild herb chef Sami Tallberg’s new restaurant in Finnish Design Shop logistics centre, artist Albert Madaula’s dreamy home atelier in Barcelona, Hanna-Katariina Mononen’s thoughts about the soothing effect of ordinary objects, and a 1950’s architectural gem, Villa Koivikko.

Interior designer Petra Majantie restored a detached house designed by Aarne Ervi in Espoo, Finland, with piety. Even though Villa Koivikko was completed in 1958, its highly innovative use of space and living-room decor that reflects the past still manage to impress 60 years later.

The new lunch restaurant ST x FDS by Sami Tallberg, an ambassador of Finnish wild food, will be opened to customers in January 2022. In an interview with Design Stories, the award-winning chef tells us more about his food philosophy and how the restaurant serving seasonal food and surprising taste combinations came to be.

Ilmari Tapiovaara is best known for his interior and furniture design. Most people are familiar with the Domus chair and Pirkka collection, but did you know that he also designed lamps? One of the most beautiful is Maija, which is currently part of Santa & Cole’s collection.

“Are ordinary yet functional objects boring? Not in my opinion. In fact, I think they deserve to be praised for being so ordinary,” writes Design Stories columnist Hanna-Katariina Mononen.

Artist Albert Madaula is known for his expressive and colorful paintings. Design Stories had a chance to visit his beautiful home atelier, called Palmera Estudio, in Barcelona. Take a tour with us!