Inventory: New opening / Finland
Call of the wild
A quaint yet impeccably styled hotel in the Finnish countryside has opened its doors to help guests get back to nature.
Billnäs Gård, a six-room boutique hotel, is a repurposed 1912 manor in a quaint village an hour’s drive from Helsinki. The villa’s white columns and mansard roof lend it a stately, even Mediterranean look that is accentuated by the rectangular saltwater pool and manicured garden beyond. Perched on the Svartå river and enveloped by vast ancient oaks, it has all the hallmarks of the Franco-Finnish couple who run it.
Taina Snellman-Langenskiöld worked for design brands such as Artek and Tikau, while her partner Chris Langenskiöld is an entrepreneur. “We believe that surrounding yourself with beauty helps you feel better,” says Snellman-Langenskiöld, who is responsible for the hotel’s interiors, as she leads Monocle around the restored two-storey building. As she talks, she runs her hand over the wool, wood and rattan that define the palette. The colour and material choices are different in each room, as well as in the common areas, and the natural patina makes the space feel lived in. “I chose materials and colours befitting the historic building,” she says. “Opting for vintage design is both sustainable and practical – they used better materials before and this helps us keep this place running.”
Billnäs village is the site of a historic ironworks, founded in 1641, which is now operated by Fiskars (which makes its famous orange-handle scissors here). After centuries of manufacturing, the area is also home to a community of artisans, artists and farmers who Billnäs Gård works with to offer art and craft workshops, as well as to supply the villa’s restaurant, which relies on local produce to craft its French-Finnish seasonal menu. “We also grow our own vegetables and forage for wild herbs and berries in the forest,” says Snellman-Langenskiöld.
The villa’s cellar has been converted into a sauna and spa; its low ceilings and exposed brick walls imbue it with a monastery-like ambiance. The hotel also offers a programme of yoga retreats, nature walks, stargazing and communal dining. “We all need to slow down and take a step back every once in a while,” says Langenskiöld. “Everything about this place – its design and elegance, the pure air and the untouched nature – helps you do just that.” — billnasgard.fi
