15 things you probably don't know about me
What began as a side project became a whole new chapter
I wrote a similar post on my blog years ago, and thought it was a good way to get started, posting an updated version of it here.
I started my Instagram account, shnordic, about eight years ago after stepping away from my pharmaceutical research career to focus on my family. At the time, I was looking for a creative project, and Instagram seemed like a fun way to document the renovation of our then-home. I’d just completed an interior design course to help me plan the project and a photography course to make sure my pictures did it justice (or at least didn’t look like I’d taken them in the dark with my thumb over the lens).
What started as a little side hobby turned into so much more. Since then, I’ve grown my following to over 1.3 million across Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. It’s been a steep learning curve—especially for someone who hadn’t heard of hashtags back then—but an incredibly rewarding one. As an introvert who values privacy, putting myself out there wasn’t easy, but it’s pushed me to step out of my comfort zone.
Now, I get to connect with a wonderful, supportive community and share small snippets of my life, talk about interiors and style, beauty and food.
I’ve already shared a fair bit about myself in the about me section, but here are 15 random things you (probably) don’t know about me:
I’m secretly fascinated by the idea of living off-grid. I love reading about self-sufficiency and the art of going back to basics—though I’ve not quite gone as far as assembling a bug-out kit yet. (Give it time...) For now, I’ll stick to dreaming about growing all my own vegetables and surviving off the land, while still ordering takeaway when life gets too busy.
I grew up on an old farm in Finland. My tiny village school had three students in my year—two boys and me. There were about 20 students in the school, two teachers and a cook who made lunches for us.
(Christmas concert, I don’t know how old I am here but there are two year groups singing. It’s looking a bit more boy-heavy than I remembered…I’m the grinning one in the front. Thankfully, there was another girl in the year above—we were best friends by proxy.)
I’m easily excitable when it comes to projects. The moment an idea sparks, I’m all in—researching, planning, and getting started as quickly as possible. But somewhere around the second coat of paint or the endless sanding stage, I start questioning my life choices. To make matters worse, I’m usually dreaming about the next project before the current one is even halfway done. It’s a love-hate relationship with DIY, but somehow, I keep coming back for more.
Our wedding had fewer than 20 people. It was small, relaxed, and perfect for us. No fuss, just close friends, family, and a lot of love.
As a child, I was a cross-country skiing champion. Well, sort of. I won a fair few trophies despite my impressive talent for avoiding practice.
(yes that is me, number 20, raring to go)
I took piano lessons for six years. I was utterly hopeless and equally unmotivated to practise. Safe to say, I didn’t become the next Mozart. My mum still jokes that my long-suffering piano teacher retired shortly after I finally gave up.
My first science job involved feeding fruit flies. I worked as a research assistant in a lab studying the genetics of fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster). My glamorous duties included making malt porridge for the flies and transferring them between containers when they’d eaten it all.
I adore period houses. Love, love, love them. Always have, always will. There’s just something about them—they feel different, like they have a soul. I have an undeniable weakness for ornate plasterwork, creaky floors, hidden quirks, and the sheer history embedded in the walls. I’ve always been drawn to homes with a story to tell.
Our previous house was Victorian, but I’ve dreamed of living in a Georgian house for as long as I can remember. And yes, I know they come with plenty of problems, but I’m willing to forgive a lot for a pretty face!
If you are familiar with Meyers-Briggs, my personality type is INFJ.
I really dislike calling people I don’t know. Something about introducing myself and explaining why I’m calling makes me feel incredibly awkward. Whenever possible, I rope my husband into making the call instead. Oddly, if someone calls me first, I’m perfectly happy to call them back—it’s like the hard part (the introduction) is already done.
The strangest part? I have no issue introducing myself to people in real life. It’s just phone calls that get me. Go figure!
I have an irrational fear of ants. One or two? Fine. A whole line of them marching with military precision? Absolutely not. Something about the way they appear out of nowhere and seem to take over sends me running every time. Mice? Cockroaches? Wasps? I don’t mind. Ants? Nightmare fuel.
I’ve been drinking coffee since I was about 5. Yes, five. I still remember the day I decided to stop adding sugar to my coffee at the ripe age of 9—it felt very grown up. Parenting was different in the 70’s.
I have aphantasia, which makes decorating a bit of an adventure. I can’t visualise things in my mind, so imagining how a room will look finished is impossible for me. It means I rely heavily on mood boards, samples, and plenty of trial and error. While it can be frustrating at times, it’s also taught me to trust the process—and embrace the occasional happy accident!
I’m working on becoming a dual citizen. After living in the UK for nearly 2 decades, I probably should make things official.
I have the world’s worst sense of direction. If you need someone to get lost on a straight road, I’m your person. Satnavs and I have a love-hate relationship—I love them, but they don’t always love me back. Case in point: I once got lost in a sports hall toilet and couldn’t find my way out. It was a humbling moment, to say the least.
Any surprises?