{"id":1116,"date":"2025-04-16T17:58:45","date_gmt":"2025-04-16T17:58:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.camperscorner.net\/?p=1116"},"modified":"2025-04-18T18:09:32","modified_gmt":"2025-04-18T18:09:32","slug":"budget-breakdown-this-250k-prefab-cabin-is-an-ode-to-the-finnish-sauna","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.camperscorner.net\/index.php\/2025\/04\/16\/budget-breakdown-this-250k-prefab-cabin-is-an-ode-to-the-finnish-sauna\/","title":{"rendered":"Budget Breakdown: This $250K Prefab Cabin Is an Ode to the Finnish Sauna"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Near Helsinki, expat designer Jussi-Pekka Kajaala and Olympic medalist Adam Rippon build a tiny summerhouse dedicated to Finland\u2019s favorite pastime.<\/p>\n

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There\u2019s a particular kind of longing that comes with living far from home\u2014and for many expats, it\u2019s important to find a way to stay connected to their culture. For Finnish entrepreneur Jussi-Pekka Kajaala\u2014who founded design studio Super Finnish<\/a> and is now based in Pasadena, California\u2014that longing lingers in memories of his grandparents\u2019 sauna: the scent of birch smoke, the rituals of sauna culture, and the space to slow down and disconnect from the world.<\/p>\n

Before moving to the U.S., he wanted to build a place to evoke these memories, where he and his American husband\u2014Olympic figure skating medalist Adam Rippon<\/a>\u2014could return to each year to reconnect with Finnish traditions, nature, family, and each other. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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The house is about 520 square feet, and there\u2019s a separate sauna building with a guest bedroom, which is under 200 square feet. The project cost just over $250K\u2014about 5 percent under budget. “Sticking to the budget is one of my favorite challenges,” says Jussi-Pekka. “With my long history in real estate, I understand the importance of keeping costs low, even if I never plan to sell this house. You never know what life brings, and it\u2019s always wise to build with future value in mind.”<\/p>\n

Photo by Petri Hiltula<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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The answer lay in a modest prefab kit m\u00f6kki<\/i> (a Finnish summer cottage) with a separate wood-fired sauna, located in the countryside about an hour from Helsinki. Built with his father, the project is deeply personal. A tribute to Jussi-Pekka\u2019s memories of home and love for traditional sauna culture, the retreat\u2014which cost just over $250,000 to purchase and build\u2014is where the couple spend four to six weeks each year, with hopes to one day spend entire summers.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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The guest bedroom faces the sunrise, and the sauna is located to the left. A breezeway separates the two spaces, creating distinct functional zones.<\/p>\n

Photo by Jussi-Pekka Kajaala<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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“Our m\u00f6kki is our own little piece of beautiful Finland,” says Jussi-Pekka. “I always thought having a house in Finland would be important, but living in the U.S. has made me realize just how much it truly means to me. It\u2019s perfect for bringing everyone together. Our little, secret hideaway home is where time stops and worries disappear.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
$22,464<\/b>
Land<\/td>\n		$1,080<\/b>
Ground Survey<\/td>\n		$21,534<\/b>
Ground Building<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
$8,208<\/b>
Foundation<\/td>\n		$26,568<\/b>
Structural Sauna Building<\/td>\n		$44,280<\/b>
Structural Main House<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
$21,600<\/b>
Log House Assembly<\/td>\n		$2,631<\/b>
Flooring<\/td>\n		$6,958<\/b>
Plumbing<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
$16,837<\/b>
Electrical<\/td>\n		$864<\/b>
Paint<\/td>\n		$1,080<\/b>
Ceiling<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
$3,583<\/b>
Fireplace & Chimney<\/td>\n		$2,106<\/b>
Air-Source Heat Pump<\/td>\n		$1,938<\/b>
Sauna Stove & Chimney<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
$324<\/b>
Sauna Benches<\/td>\n		$1,296<\/b>
Fireplace & Sauna Stove Installation<\/td>\n		$734<\/b>
Water Heater<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
$5,626<\/b>
Waste Water System<\/td>\n		$4,717<\/b>
Well<\/td>\n		$6,373<\/b>
Kitchen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
$2,700<\/b>
Countertops<\/td>\n		$3,451<\/b>
Appliances<\/td>\n		$2,721<\/b>
Bathroom Furniture<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
$1,991<\/b>
Bathroom Tiles<\/td>\n		$1,359<\/b>
Bathroom Tiling<\/td>\n		$864<\/b>
Lighting<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
$921<\/b>
Walk-In Closet Cabinetry<\/td>\n		$1,674<\/b>
Interior Doors<\/td>\n		$5,400<\/b>
Furnishings & Decor<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
$1,751<\/b>
Permits<\/td>\n		$9,304<\/b>
General Contractor<\/td>\n		$1,348<\/b>
Electrical & Plumbing Plans<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
$502<\/b>
Landscaping<\/td>\n		$1,080<\/b>
Waste Recycling<\/td>\n		$8,640<\/b>
Patios<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
$2,075<\/b>
Shipping Container Storage<\/td>\n		$10,800<\/b>
Misc (“this & that”)<\/td>\n		<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Grand Total: $257,390<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Returning to My Roots<\/b><\/h4>\n

Jussi-Pekka Kajaala: <\/b>I live in the U.S. now with my husband, but I wanted a place in Finland to return to every year\u2014a place that felt like home. Building this house and sauna was my way of holding on to my heritage. I grew up immersed in construction, as my family has always worked in the industry. I started flipping apartments in my twenties, and I loved the process of renovation. But this was the first time I built something entirely from the ground up.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Looking<\/a>
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A view of the sauna and guest bedroom from the field. “The moss on the bedrock is protected, and the bedrock is surrounded by natural meadows,” says Jussi-Pekka. “Butterflies, insects, and wild animals thrive here, with many deer frequenting the area.”<\/p>\n

Photo by Jussi-Pekka Kajaala<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

See the full story on Dwell.com: Budget Breakdown: This $250K Prefab Cabin Is an Ode to the Finnish Sauna<\/a><\/b>
Related stories:<\/span><\/p>\n