Blog

29.09.2025

Capturing Life as It Truly Is

At Studio Aarre, every photograph tells a story. From unique details to a fleeting emotion, Studio Aarre captures everything in its truest form. They are about honesty, atmosphere, and the beauty found in genuine encounters.

In July, Studio Aarre visited Pinecrest Villa. Despite the less-than-favorable weather, he managed to capture both people and nature with the quiet charm and bring out warmth and detail. His eye for composition made each shot look natural yet striking.

Photographs by Studio Aare: www.studioaarre.com

22.07.2025

Celebrating Love This Summer at Pinecrest Villa

At Pinecrest Villa, we are truly delighted to be part of so many unforgettable love stories this summer. Our villa has welcomed numerous happy couples who chose to celebrate their most cherished moments with us.

From intimate garden ceremonies to joyful seaside receptions, it’s been a joy to see our spaces come alive with laughter, dancing, and heartfelt vows. Every ceremony brings a unique spirit, and we’re honored to provide a setting that blends nature, comfort, and a touch of magic.

Summer in Finland can be full of surprises, but our venue is ready for them all. We've seen magical photos taken in soft summer rain and heard laughter echoing through the villa even during stormy skies. It's all part of the charm—and the memories.

Photos provided by Nikita N.

This summer has already been filled with beautiful memories, and we can’t wait to welcome even more couples as the season continues. Whether it’s a romantic elope or a full weekend celebration, Pinecrest Villa is here to make your special event feel personal, relaxed, and truly unforgettable.

At Pinecrest Villa, every moment matters. And we’re proud to offer a space that supports love, joy, and celebration, no matter what the weather brings.

To all the couples who’ve chosen us this summer—thank you for letting us be part of your special day. 💛

Warm wishes,

The Pinecrest Villa Team

Photos provided by Victoria Apasova

21.05.2025

A Heartful Thanks to our Amazing Volunteers

On May 1st, we welcomed more than 20 friends to help us clear reeds from the beach in Pinecrest Villa, and May 1st became a true Labour Day.

Armed with gloves, rakes, and plenty of energy, our volunteers made a big difference. By removing the reeds that washed ashore during the winter, we have not only improved the beauty of the beach but also created a healthier ecosystem for the wildlife.

After our hard work together, we were enjoying home-made foods, sauna, and also cards games. It was not just a cleanup; it was a celebration spring and love for the environment.

Thank you very much! Your presence made Pinecrest Villa full of vitality😊. We look forward to hosting more event like this. If you are interested in joining us next time, please send a message to us (info@pinecrest.fi), we will contact you when we organize it again.

28.04.2025

A taste of Japan Comes to Pinecrest Villa

This Easter weekend, Pinecrest had the honor of welcoming Chef Saki from Murasaki, a renowned Japanese restaurant nestled inside Hotel Helka in Helsinki, for a relaxing evening together.

Jari brought very special gifts from his Japanese colleagues, a brand-new Japanese iron pot (Kamada) and premium Japanese rice.

After one and a half hours, three traditional home dishes were ready on the table: Japanese Meat and Potato Stew (Nikujaga), Teriyaki chicken, and thick Japanese omelet (Atsu-yaki tamago). Chef Saki demonstrated these traditional dishes that transported us straight into a cozy Japanese home.

As we gathered around the table to enjoy the feast, it wasn't just the food that made the evening special; it was the shared experience of learning and connecting through culinary traditions. Chef Saki's passion left us inspired and grateful. We actively encourage Saki to come to Pinecrest Villa to host a pop-up restaurant in the summer 😊.

Thank you, Saki-san! Wish to see you again in Porvoo.

08.04.2025

Spring Welcome Gathering

The first spring gathering was held last Saturday at Pinecrest Villa. More than 30 of Pinecrest Villa's neighbours gathered to share the joys of spring. Although the weather dropped to freezing and the barbecue preparation was challenging, our international menu was a hit with the guests.

A yard tour of the villa was very popular as it was the first time visiting Pinecrest Villa for some of our neighbours. The flowers from the guests made Pinecrest Villa full of spring colours. This is the kind of gathering that we will make into a tradition, enjoying the beauty of nature and the food together.

27.03.2025

Original American Car Show, Miss Americana

We had the honor of providing a memorable experience for the finalists of the beauty contest that taken place in connection with the Original American Car Show 2025 Helsinki (Original American Car Show ACS25 - Messukeskus, Helsinki), (MISS AMERICANA | ACS25) gathered at Pinecrest Villa last weekend.

Surrounded by stunning scenery, the contestants enjoyed a relaxing and luxurious stay. Moments like these remind us of the beauty of sharing experiences in a place that feels like home.

Photographs by Petri Mast: www.petrimast.com

31.12.2024

Happy New Years from Pinecrest Villa!

20.12.2024

Let our guests discover the joy of wild berry, mushroom picking and cooking at Pinecrest Villa

When you think of Finland, what comes to mind? Endless forests, pristine lakes, and the serene beauty of nature. For many of our guests, this idyllic image becomes a reality when they visit Pinecrest Villa.

In 2024, we’ve been delighted to welcome more international visitors who’ve embraced many Finland's most cherished traditions: berry and wild mushroom picking

Guided by Lumin, our guests ventured at our land, baskets in hand, to uncover nature’s hidden treasures—wild berries and mushrooms. Just walking 5 minutes, the thrill of spotting boletes under the Scots pine trees was an experience in itself. Under careful guidance, they learned to identify and safely collect mushrooms, connecting with the land in a way that’s deeply rooted in Finnish culture.

But the adventure didn’t end in the woods. Back at the house, the real magic began. Guests teamed up to prepare, cook, and taste their harvest, creating dishes that celebrated the fresh, earthy flavors of Porcini (Picture 1, 2). Our guests wrote to us when they retuned back to their home country that it wasn’t just a accommodation—it was a journey of discovery, bonding, and joy

We’ve heard it time and again from our visitors: their stay with us was unforgettable. Many have already shared plans to return next summer, bringing their families along to experience the same magic. This is our aim in running Pinecrest villa, to share the gifts of nature to together!

This growing enthusiasm for experiences tied to Finnish nature reminds us of how much it has to offer. From mushroom foraging to simply breathing in the fresh forest air, Finland’s natural beauty is an irresistible draw. It’s no surprise that Finnish nature is becoming a globally recognized brand —one that represents purity, tranquility, and authentic experiences.

If you’re looking for a getaway that’s more than just a vacation, we invite you to join us next season. Whether you’re an experienced forager or a curious beginner, our mushroom-picking and cooking experiences promise memories you’ll treasure for a lifetime.

In the end of 2024, we would also like to thank all our guests for choosing Pinecrest Villa for your special events and special days. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season and a happy 2025

26.09.2024

Nature Grown Flowers for Welcoming Guests

After three years of different kinds of renovations, we finally have time to take more care of our yards’ plants. Also, thanks to the good weather this year, the plants and flowers in the garden are growing very well.

Every time we have new guests, we offer floral arrangements made from the blooms right outside our doors. They are hand-picked, locally grown, and artfully arranged to create a sense of place and tranquility. This also creates a personalized touch, as the flowers reflect the local landscape and the changing seasons. Using own yard material for flower arrangements supports a more eco-friendly and sustainable practice, which we know our environmentally conscious guests appreciate.

Using garden plants for flower arrangements not only elevates the guest experience but also enhances our connection to the natural world. These locally grown bouquets are a beautiful way to welcome guests, share a piece of our garden with them, and offer a sustainable, creative touch that sets the perfect tone for a restful stay.

12.08.2024

TV show filmed at Pinecrest Villa

In May of 2022, we had the opportunity to host our villa for the filming of a TV show. EXIT (2022) is a Finnish TV drama, and was first released in October 2022. Now the TV show is back on MTV3. If you watch the show, you may find scenes with familliar locations!

Content warning: the show features mature themes.

04.05.2024

A New Experiment Creating Paper

Last month, we tried to make handmade paper from paper waste materials and to explore its use. We found that the eggs cartons in various supermarkets in Finland were of different colors and basically pure monochrome, and we were interested in whether it was possible to reuse such paper fibers to make some handmade artworks. We tried to add a paper mulberry fiber to increase the strength of the handmade paper first, and then used the rougher paper to make small flowers that were closer to the natural unevenness and had a more natural charm.

Creating beautiful papercrafts from recycled materials like egg cartons is a wonderful way to repurpose materials and unleash your creativity! We love this idea, can have both environmental and social impacts, which contribute positively to sustainability and community engagement.

If you are interested in this workshop, you can contact us at info@pinecrest.fi or calling us at +358406283113. We can arrange handmade paper and paper flowers workshops for 2 to 8 people.

03.05.2024

Cultural Baking Workshop

The first cultural baking workshop was hosted by Ecoyard (Ecoyard.fi) and held at Pinecrest Villa on 24.03.2024. Bringing the forest in to our kitchen is one of the missions of Ecoyard. We utilized forest berries, sea buckthorn, and cranberry powders from Natural Nordic (Naturalnordic.fi), and created a receipe for a Forest Berry Terrine. The participants from Emäsalo, Mäntsälä, Riihimäki, and Helsinki all gathered to share their favorite nature fragrances and their uses. Then they followed along with the recipe to create this special dessert. Enjoy and taste NATURE, What a great experiment for all of us!

28.12.2023

End of year at Pinecrest Villa

As the year draws to a close, we find ourselves reflecting on the wonderful moments we shared with our guests during their stay at Pinecrest Villa. It has been our utmost pleasure to welcome our guests from all over of world into our beautiful island, and we sincerely hope that our guests' time with us was enriching, enjoyable, and memorable.

We want to take this opportunity to express our deepest gratitude for choosing Pinecrest Villa as their destination. All the support and encouragement from our guests mean the world to us, and we hope that everyone felt a sense of belonging during their stay.

As we bid farewell to 2023, we extend our warmest wishes for the holiday season and the coming year. Thank all of you once again for being a part of Pinecrest Villa family. Wish you a joyous holiday season and a Happy New Year!

12.10.2023

Enjoying nature and tasting nature at Pinecrest Villa

The busy month of september has passed. Pinecrest Villa attracted this year's peak number of international visitors last month, especially the longer stay visitors. We took the opportunity to try out a series of healthy, natural, and private breakfast recipes with the aim of enjoying the taste of nature together.

We served breakfast using a lot of home-grown vegetables, berries from our own forests and local Finnish products. For example, home-grown pumpkins, zucchini, cowpea were time by time appearing at the breakfast table.

We baked desserts and blended fruit smoothies according to our own recipes created at Ecoyard Natural studio (www.ecoyard.fi), and lastly we tried to offer a different variety of food every day thanks to the extreme diversity of the Finnish food market. Although we spend more time preparing and purchasing the food every day, it is very gratifying to hear that our guests send photos of our breakfasts to their families every day. We believe that their stay here has left them with wonderful memories.

Pinecrest Villa is located along the beautiful Porvoo river. End your days with breathtaking sunsets that paint the sky in hues of orange, pink, and purple. It’s a sight that will stay with you long after you leave our beaches. We look forward to guests from all over the world enjoying the beautiful scenery and delicious food gifted by nature with us.

We're happy our guests enjoyed their stay and we appreciate that they left their positive thoughts on our google business page!