Ulla-Maija Lähteenmäki

Winner of Kodinhaltija Awards 2026

Lähteenmäki is well known among interior design professionals but less familiar to the wider public. Rather than seeking attention for herself, she has spent years highlighting the work of others: photographers, stylists, writers, designers and many more. This long-standing commitment to showcasing other people’s talents and raising the profile of Finnish interior design culture was a key reason for her selection.

Lähteenmäki has enjoyed a long career as a photographer and lifestyle producer in magazine publishing. She has photographed homes, interiors, fashion and food around the world. She later founded Cozy Publishing, which released its first book in 2014. Today, the publishing house is known for its visually striking books on interiors, food and lifestyle, which have also found readers beyond Finland.

“Lähteenmäki is a true behind-the-scenes influencer who has promoted Finnish interiors, design and lifestyle both at home and internationally for decades. Her most important medium has been print. In an age like ours, a sustained commitment to high-quality print publishing is an achievement in itself. Few have made such a significant contribution to the visibility of Finnish homes, interiors and design while drawing so little attention to themselves,” the award jury stated in its citation."

“She is, in the truest sense of the word, a guardian spirit working quietly behind the scenes in the world of homes and interiors,” says jury chair Tapio Anttila.

The Kodinhaltia Award jury included:

  • Tapio Anttila, interior architect/designer SIO, jury chair

  • Elina Siltanen-Sjöberg, Interior Architect, Interiors By ESS

  • Jaana Kivipelto-Tulkki, Editor-in-Chief of Koti ja keittiö magazine