Young Finnish couple buys island to build dream summer retreat
A young couple living in Finland was searching for their place on Earth. The students ultimately wanted to buy a summer cottage for their free time. Instead of their own four walls, the couple became owners of something much better.
16 September 2024 18:04
Holiday cabins in the mountains, by lakes, or by the sea are common investments for people dreaming of a private place to relax. Owning your own four walls in a tourist-attractive city significantly reduces holiday costs. Still, it also means taking care of the house throughout the year, including repairs and various property tasks. Despite this, many people believe their own peace oasis is worth the extra work. The young couple from Finland decided to take a step further in creating their sanctuary.
Students bought their own island
Oliver Russell is half Finnish and half American, having spent most of his life in Finland. Ultimately, he returned to Europe before his studies because attending university is costly in the United States. In Finland, Russell can study for free. Shortly after returning, he met Helena Tomaszewska, with whom he quickly entered into a relationship. After two years of living together, the couple decided to look for a summer cottage where they could spend time. While browsing the listings at a real estate agency, they came across something much better.
Oliver Russell and Helena Tomaszewska noticed an offer to sell an island located three hours by car from Helsinki. Initially, the unusual plot was listed for sale at £29,000, but Oliver managed to negotiate a lower price - £25,000. For this price, the couple acquired 1 hectare of tree-covered land. The uninhabited island had no buildings, but Oliver and Helena were not intimidated by the potential work. Instead, they quickly got to work.
There is currently a brushwood field here, but there will be a summer cottage
The couple purchased the island in March 2024. The first thing to be erected on the wooded land was a platform on which they set up a tent. Currently, the island already has a shower, an outdoor toilet, and a sauna, which is crucial from the point of view of Finns. Ultimately, the young students plan to build a summer cottage on the island. The construction will take longer than an average project because Helena and Oliver want to build everything themselves, combining the "island" project with their studies. They document their journey towards their dream summer retreat on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Their profile on the first of these social networks is currently followed by over 293,000 people.
