Olympic skier Iivo Niskanen’s home – a place of natural warmth and tranquility

A professional athlete’s life follows a precise rhythm – training, competitions, and travel. The days are full, and recovery is essential. When you finally return home, it must give you room to breathe and a place where both the body and mind can unwind.

With this in mind, Olympic skier Iivo Niskanen and his family built their new home in Kuopio, Finland — a home shaped by natural materials, timeless design, and the everyday ease that supports life at the highest level of sport. In the rooms that matter most, Tulikivi is present: in the living room fireplace that anchors family life, and in the sauna a heater that supports recovery after demanding training sessions

Iivo has been familiar with Tulikivi since childhood. For him, the fireplace represented warmth, safety, and the unmistakable feeling of home — the kind of memory that stays with you and shapes what you want your own home to feel like. So when the family began planning their new home, the decision to include a heat-retaining fireplace felt natural — almost inevitable.

The fireplace chosen for the living room continues this story.,It is sleek, timeless, and perfectly balanced in the high, open space. Beyond its visual presence, it performs its core task effortlessly: storing heat and releasing it slowly, providing comfort throughout the day and well into the evening. As a bonus, the fireplace includes a wood-fired oven — a much-loved feature for the family. It’s always ready for slow cooking or even a post-workout pizza after a long day outdoors. But perhaps the greatest value is peace of mind.

“The fireplace gives us a sense of security,” Iivo says. “It works without electricity and always provides the warmth we need.”

Manufactured entirely in Finland, the fireplace reflects the precision and craftsmanship for which Finnish stonework is known. Every line, every joint, every surface is refined with care — just as every movement in an athlete’s routine is shaped by discipline and intention.

After the intense training sessions going to the sauna is just as important to Iivo as stretching and proper rest. In the busy every day life, it is important that the sauna is easy to use.  For Iivo, the sauna is not a luxury — it is part of the essential cycle of training and recovery. After intense sessions on skis or in the gym, the sauna becomes a place where the body rests and the mind resets. In everyday life, convenience matters:“It’s great to be able to turn the heater on remotely on the way home, so the warmth is ready when I arrive.”

The sauna’s gentle heat comes from a Tulikivi heater crafted with genuine Finnish soapstone — a natural material known for its exceptional heat-retaining properties. Soapstone absorbs heat during the heating phase and releases it slowly, creating steam that is soft, deep, and lingering. This is the kind of steam that soothes muscles, eases tension, and prepares the body for the next day’s challenges.

Temperature and timing can be adjusted easily by phone, making the sauna ready whenever the day allows even a moment for quiet recovery. Adjacent to the sauna, a dark stone bench in the dressing room completes the experience. It is timeless, durable, and calming, supporting a smooth transition from heat to rest. A subtle detail — but one that contributes profoundly to the feeling of serenity in the entire space.

 

For the Niskanen family, choosing Tulikivi wasn’t only about heat sources — it was about trust. High-quality materials and proven heat technology. Products crafted in Finland with generations of expertise.

“From one Finnish manufacturer, we found everything we needed, Iivo says. A fireplace for our living room and a heater for our sauna — both built to last.”

In a home designed for balance and recovery, these elements are more than functional. They are part of the rhythm that supports everyday life — morning routines, post-training evenings, and quiet moments with family.

Warmth, balance, and natural calm define the Niskanen family home.

Whether it is the glowing fire on a winter evening or the soothing steam of a Finnish sauna, the home offers a grounding presence in the middle of a demanding athletic journey. This is the essence of Finnish craftsmanship — heat that comforts, materials that last, and design that feels naturally at home.

Stone carries — on the ski track, and at home.