Young couple turns student dream into island oasis

A young couple living in Finland was searching for their place on Earth. The students ultimately wanted to buy a summer cottage for their free time. Instead of their own four walls, the couple became owners of something much better.

Holiday cabins in the mountains, by lakes, or by the sea are common investments for people dreaming of a private place to relax. Owning your own four walls in a tourist-attractive city significantly reduces vacation costs. Still, it also means taking care of the house 365 days a year, including repairs and various property tasks. Despite this, many people believe their own peace oasis is worth the extra work. The young couple from Finland decided to take a step further in creating their sanctuary.

Oliver Russell is half Finnish and half American, having spent most of his life in Finland. Ultimately, he returned to Europe before his studies because attending university is costly in the United States. In Finland, Russell can study for free. Shortly after returning, he met Helena Tomaszewska, with whom he quickly entered into a relationship. After two years of living together, the couple decided to look for a summer cottage where they could spend time. While browsing the listings at a real estate agency, they came across something much better.

Oliver Russell and Helena Tomaszewska noticed an offer to sell an island located three hours by car from Helsinki. Initially, the unusual plot was listed for sale at $36,569 CAD, but Oliver managed to negotiate a lower price - $31,000 CAD. For this price, the couple acquired 1 hectare of tree-covered land. The uninhabited island had no buildings, but Oliver and Helena were not intimidated by the potential work. Instead, they quickly got to work.

The couple purchased the island in March 2024. The first thing to be erected on the wooded land was a platform on which they set up a tent. Currently, the island already has a shower, an outdoor toilet, and a sauna, which is crucial from the point of view of Finns. Ultimately, the young students plan to build a summer cottage on the island. The construction will take longer than an average project because Helena and Oliver want to build everything themselves, combining the "island" project with their studies. They document their journey toward their dream summer retreat on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Their profile on the first of these social networks is currently followed by over 293,000 people.