Garden sauna by the sea: A journey from dream to reality​

Our sauna project got going when we came across Ehta's sauna cabins on social media. We had long dreamed of a shore sauna with extra space for guests, to go alongside our summer cottage built in the 60s.

Our summer cottage is in Kustavi. The plot is lovely but challenging, as it's a little way from the parking area to the shore, and the terrain is hilly and rocky. So right at the start we realised that a finished sauna cabin couldn't be lifted into place. Carrying the logs and other materials down to the shore turned out to be the only option.

The job began with excavator work, as there was plenty of surplus soil and a few trees where the shore sauna was going to stand. We also studied the regulations on siting thoroughly, and the final cabin ended up anchored quite precisely within its limits – 15 m from the shoreline. The actual work started with the foundations, which we watered in the midsummer heat like freshly planted flowers. Soon we could start to picture how big the building with its decks would really be. Wow – the plot was about to gain a whole new dimension. 

Once the foundations were done, we began waiting for the logs and the kit delivery. We were a little nervous about how big a job it would be, as all the cabin materials would have to be carried down the slope to the shore. Finally the kit arrived, and the driver skilfully manoeuvred it between the trees to the parking area on our plot. Then we started wondering what each package contained. We didn't want to open packages unnecessarily, as we wanted to keep the materials well protected from the weather. But Ehta was able to tell us in great detail which pallet each item was on. 

Stacking the logs was a pleasant job. Two friends put them up as my father and I carried the logs down. Little by little, the cabin began to rise. The unsettled summer weather caused some difficulties, though, and we kept a close eye on the forecasts during the build. At times we played Wimbledon, pulling tarpaulins over the logs when rain caught us by surprise from the sea. 

We knew that in our case the building phase would be slow. It was a great relief when we finally got the roof on and the log surfaces treated. So the frame was up and protected, and we could start building the deck around it. Now it was time to move on to the next phase of construction. For us, fitting the floor and ceiling symbolised that we had somehow reached the second half of the build. In reality, the inexperienced builder was surprised by how much the stages after putting up the frame required learning and how much time they took.

We chose Tikkurila's ”Piki” as the colour. Piki blends nicely into the landscape and is modern Scandinavian. Inside, we used a light, translucent finish. Winter caught the builder by surprise, and as the air grew colder I hurried to finish the last stages of the build. The floor and the ceiling still had to be fitted. Even so, the floor and ceiling panels were in place before the first snow, though at times we were working with numb fingers. The sauna cabin began to take on character. Little by little, the fireplace, sauna heater and chimney went in. We were really on a roll and couldn't wait for our first sauna. The final inspection was carried out in November, and our dream of a Christmas sauna came true.

The sauna turned out dark, and a large panoramic window is the crowning touch. The view is amazing, as you can look straight out to sea from the window. You can spot passing boats and waterfowl right from the sauna benches, and my father and I have even started keeping our own sauna birdwatching scores.

The new cabin brought a lot of new character to our summer place. The plot is used more widely, and there are many more ways to spend time there. The sea, which matters a lot to us, has become part of everyday life more than ever. Our own shore came into its own, and in summer I noticed that thoughts and people began to gather around the sauna and the shore. The new sauna cabin brought out nature and the special features of the plot in an interesting way. There is still a lot to do around our new sauna building. In future, though, life at the cottage will centre even more around our new shore sauna, which represents a new generation.

– Ilari Välimäki