The captain and forward of Finnish ice hockey team Tappara, Otto Rauhala, is known on the ice for his determination and perseverance. Success on the ice is built on small, precise choices – and the same applies to building a home. When Otto and his wife Eveliina set out to make a long-held dream come true and began designing their own house, the Rauhalas made one decision right at the start of the project: their new home would have a Timberwise floor.
“We’ve just completed a three-year building project, and a few months ago we were finally able to move into our new home. The Timberwise floor was definitely one of the first and easiest decisions we made throughout the entire project,” Otto says with satisfaction.
In addition to Otto and Eveliina, the new detached house is also home to the family’s three-year-old son. For their home, the Rauhalas chose two different Timberwise products: Design Parquet Oak Chevron in the Nordic shade and Oak Nordic plank flooring. Timberwise planks in the Nordic shade were also used for the risers of the home’s staircase.
The First Choice for Their Dream Home
Otto and Eveliina have been together for more than ten years, and the dream of having a home of their own has been close to their hearts for a long time. When the Rauhalas’ house project got underway, the flooring was one of the first decisions they made. “We didn’t actually compare that many other options, because Timberwise oak parquet was exactly the kind of flooring we had always dreamed of. We didn’t quite build the whole house around it, but almost,” Rauhala says with a twinkle in his eye. Timberwise’s Finnish origins and striking appearance also played a significant role in their choice of flooring. “It was definitely the fact that it’s Finnish-made, and of course its beautiful appearance, that appealed to us and made us choose Timberwise for the floors in our home,” he adds.
Finding the Right Shade and the Joy of Designing
Timberwise’s extensive range of shades offered the Rauhalas plenty of options to choose from. Interior designer Johanna Hernesniemi, who was involved in the project, made the decision easier and gave them confidence in their choice. “It wasn’t particularly difficult, but we did go through quite a few different options. Luckily, we had Johanna involved in the project, so we could exchange ideas with her and bounce different thoughts around. That’s how we ended up finding the right shade,” Otto explains. The shade they chose together ties the home’s other elements seamlessly together, creating a harmonious whole where the floor now serves as the heart of the home and a stunning foundation for everything else.
First Steps in the New Home – Warmth and Durability
After a couple of months of living in their new home, the flooring has proven to be not only beautiful, but also remarkably durable. For a family with a young child, durability is important, but the Rauhalas also appreciate the everyday comfort and atmosphere the flooring brings to their home. Timberwise combines a warm, inviting feel with the durability needed in the everyday life of a family with children. “The floor has worked really well in everyday life: it feels warm and comfortable underfoot, and it’s simply very pleasant. At first, we were a little worried about how the floor would hold up to our three-year-old son’s play, but so far, there hasn’t been a single scratch. We’ve also moved furniture around and bumped into things here and there, but there are no marks at all – that has definitely been a pleasant surprise,” Rauhala says.
Timberwise Tampere Showroom Made an Impression
Around the time the family submitted their building permit application, Timberwise opened a new showroom on Aleksis Kiven Katu in the heart of Tampere. The Rauhalas visited the showroom and were impressed by the experience. “We really liked the Timberwise showroom! It almost made us wonder whether we had made the right choice, because there were so many other beautiful options on display. In the end, we decided to stick with the choice we had already made,” Rauhala says. “We really got a beautiful and impressive showroom here in Tampere!” he adds.
The Complete Package Under One Roof – Timberwise Flooring Masters
For the installation of their new home’s flooring, the family chose the Timberwise Flooring Masters service, which proved to be a valuable addition to their building project. Timberwise’s certified Flooring Masters are experts in both installation and maintenance, whether the flooring is installed as a floating or glued-down floor, or whether the choice is patterned parquet or traditional plank flooring. “The Flooring Masters service turned out to be an excellent choice for us. Especially when you’re building a detached house, there are a lot of moving parts and many different people involved, so it was really helpful to have a service like this available. I don’t know that much about construction myself, so it was easy to put our trust in the professionals. Everything was done smoothly and to a high standard,” Rauhala says. The Flooring Masters service also covers additional work, such as installing skirting boards and mouldings, removing old flooring and installing acoustic underlays. Clear pricing upfront also brings peace of mind to the project. Rauhala highlights the ease and reliability of the collaboration: “It was straightforward and professional service all around. We were able to check the flooring subfloor several times, and the cooperation with the carpenters worked really well – the scheduling and everything else was well taken care of. It was a huge relief that even the final skirting boards were installed, and we were able to move into our new home with everything finished. It was important to us that when we moved in, the home would be completely finished, right down to the very last piece of trim – and that’s exactly how it was,” Rauhala says with a smile.
A Recommendation for Families with Children
If they had to choose their flooring all over again, the decision would be clear. “I think we would make exactly the same choice. We haven’t even looked at any other options since, and we’ve been so happy with the floor that there’s really no need to consider anything else,” Rauhala says. Otto Rauhala also recommends Timberwise flooring to others, particularly families with children and anyone looking for durability and practicality in everyday life. “I would definitely recommend it to everyone, and especially to families with children. The durability has proven to be excellent. We don’t have any experience with pets, but if the floor can handle children, I’m sure it can handle pets too,” Otto says.
The Floor of a Lifetime
When asked whether the Rauhala family has found the floor of their dreams, Otto Rauhala’s answer is unequivocal: “Absolutely – that’s exactly what we can say!” Otto Rauhala says with a smile.
Just as every pass and shot in ice hockey contributes to the final result, every carefully considered choice made for a new home helps create a harmonious whole. In the Rauhala family’s home, Timberwise oak parquet serves as a reliable foundation that carries the family through both everyday life and special occasions.
