Item: At Home with Finnja

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Mar 27, 2026

At Home with Finnja

Colour, Joy, and a Touch of Champagne

Finnja is the owner of the interior design shop Steinecke, an interior stylist, and a host with a big heart. She lives in Hamburg, right on the Elbe – in a colourful apartment she shares with her partner Guido and two fluffy companions. What makes her special? Her unwavering sense of style, her playful approach to interior design, and her courage to embrace colour – combined with Northern German honesty and a great understanding of people.

Welcome to a Colourful World

"And I love that no room here is white – although I did have to insist that we have a white ceiling in the bedroom. Because Guido said: White isn't a colour – we're not painting that."

A sunny old building by the Elbe, a short walk to work – and every corner lovingly curated. Finnja opens the door to her home for us and tells us how she went from functional office design to becoming a self-employed interior designer.

Vida: I've been here before, this is my second visit. We were down in your shop earlier and took some photos. Thank you so much for letting us get so excited – with a lot of trust. But now we're in your private apartment. Tell us: Where exactly are we, who do you live here with, and how big is the apartment?

Finnja: We're in a lovely 75 square metres, by the Elbe, on Große Elbstraße. I live here with my partner. I've been living here permanently for two years, he's been here for almost ten. The nice thing is that my shop is just a few metres down the road, so I have a very short commute. Yes, we actually only have two rooms – a large bedroom, a kitchen, this super long hallway that divides the apartment a bit. And yes, these are our cosy four walls with two sweet furry friends.

Vida: I think as soon as you walk in, you immediately notice that two people live here who have a passion for interior design, or have even made it their profession – not just you, but your partner too. And when was the decisive moment for you when you knew: This is going to be my life. This will define my life. This is what I want to do?

Finnja: I don't think there was ever a single moment. I actually come from the office design side and used to make offices look good. It was more about functionality. So, not: We work a lot with colour and are bold and vibrant and wild and loud – but rather, function was the focus. However, I've always individually designed all my apartments – I've moved so many times in Hamburg – and noticed this private passion. And then I met Guido, who was already an old hand in the interior business. And then came Corona – I was actually employed at Gewinner – and then it was like: Why don't you go freelance? And I was like: Absolutely not. Well, and now here I am – freelance for three and a half years, almost four. Yes, thanks to the support of someone who already has experience, who can help me. That we had a great shop space that we could make beautiful. And I knew: I'm not entirely alone in this. Otherwise, I don't think I would ever have dared to take this step. And it was quite difficult at first to find my footing – not just Guido finding me, but: This is now my business too. And it's worked out well and developed nicely. And it's very exciting. And yes, I think I just get along well with people.

Vida: Yes, I'd agree with that. You can definitely say that.

Finnja: My clients notice that too. Yes, absolutely. And that's really lovely.

A Home with Personality

We like to celebrate life here – just the two of us, or with friends. We always have a bottle of bubbly chilled in the fridge, and especially in the summer, we really enjoy life here.

Vida: And tell me: This apartment has a lot of character. In every corner, you've actually created – as a friend of mine would say – a little Instagram corner, which is wonderful to photograph because it's been so beautifully staged. By you both – and by you, I think, primarily – because I see a lot of bold colours here, a lot of cheerfulness. What do you think is the most characteristic thing in the apartment that describes you well? What brings you particular joy here in the apartment?

Finnja: I think all these pictures bring so much character – my character – into the space. Souvenirs. I think if we were to disappear one day and people were to come into our apartment, they would immediately know: Who are Finnja and Guido, and what connects them. And I love that no room here is white – although I did have to insist that we have a white ceiling in the bedroom. Because Guido said: White isn't a colour – we're not painting that.

Vida: Yes, he's not wrong. A non-colour.

Finnja: I also love all these plants. There wasn't a single one here before. And Guido now has a great green thumb and takes care of watering and fussing over the plants every Sunday. And so we complement each other beautifully here with all the elements.

Courage for Colour – and a Yellow Hallway

For Finnja, colour isn't an afterthought, but an attitude. The hallway, in particular, is a statement against grey days – and grey walls.

Vida: Especially the part about colours, which you just mentioned. Because I think our customers, in particular, love colours – our rugs are really colourful – but there are also many customers who then say: Oh God, that's too much for me, too much colour! And are then surprised – in a positive way – when they actually have it in their own home, because they realise how much cheerfulness and substance colour brings into a room. Where would you say has it worked best? I think the hallway here, in particular, is quite extraordinary in terms of colour.

Finnja: Exactly. We had an exciting makeover in the hallway too – the compromises you make in a partnership. It was previously painted in a lavender grey. That was like: Hamburg weather at its best. And I came in here and thought: Oh God, it's overwhelming. It's a nice colour, I suppose, but it really drags me down a bit. And I would have painted it white. But as I said: White wasn't an option here. And then – I've had this colour on my walls in my old apartments and really liked it – from Farrow & Ball, it's called "India Yellow", I believe. And then we painted it all over – and now the sun rises when you come home. I love it.

Vida: So you feel it too?

Finnja: Yes!

Vida: Yes, and others too – I certainly do. But guests who come here, too. So, would you advise being bolder when it comes to colour, or not?

Finnja: Definitely. Even if I only lived in an apartment for a year – I always painted them. I thought: Of course, it's a bit of work when you move out. But I think it makes such a difference when the walls aren't all white.

Vida: Quality of life changes.

Finnja: Yes.

Vida: Quickly. Quite quickly. After one brushstroke.

Playful Living – with Bubbly and Tetris Light

At Finnja's, living isn't just beautiful, but also a bit playful. Anyone who has a champagne bell means business when it comes to lightness.

Vida: What would you say is one of the most unusual objects you have here?

Finnja: One of the most unusual objects…

Vida: What's this with the champagne bell? I rang it, I waited – nothing happened.

Finnja: And the welcome mat outside the door: "Champagne is in the fridge". So, we like to celebrate life here – just the two of us, or with friends. We always have a bottle of bubbly chilled in the fridge, and especially in the summer, we really enjoy life here.
These are also three elements that have somehow found each other here: I think I gave Guido the bar cart as a gift because we always have a few fun drinks here. Then the mirror is an heirloom from my grandfather, which integrates perfectly – also with this bell, which then simply… yes… I'm a fan of childlike elements in an apartment sometimes, which encourage you to use them.

Finnja: Exactly – to play. A bit playful. Also this Tetris lamp. And sometimes I think to myself, when guests are here: Just dare to do something here.

Vida: It's not a museum. Touch it.

Finnja: Get inspired by the books on the bookshelf.

Looking Ahead – with Feeling and Hope

What does Finnja wish for? No business plans. But more humanity. And perhaps a few champagne bells around the city.

Vida: Is there anything you wish for the future – not just as an interior designer, entrepreneur, but also as Finnja? You said earlier that we're going through not-so-easy times – also in the industry overall. What do you wish for the future, or what do you see rolling towards us in the future?

Finnja: I'm not someone who makes annual plans or anything like that. So it's very difficult for me to look into the future because I just go with the vibe as it is. I wish that we all become a little more human, more heartfelt. I feel like we're all retreating into a shell somehow. We're becoming increasingly selfish.
Economically, I don't understand why no one understands the prices we have – what our value is. That it's simply accepted, that these constant sale games don't also destroy the bubble a bit. Just a bit more love, warmth, humanity. I think that would help a lot in the world.

Vida: So simple, isn't it? Perhaps we should simply distribute small champagne buttons around the city at regular intervals. Add a few playful elements here.

By Amin Ipektchi