Henri × Premium 2/3: Mindful about money

29. may 2026LHV

In the previous story, Copenhagen-based Estonian designer and photographer Henri Errol Vares shared how courage, curiosity and a willingness to step out of his comfort zone have taken him from Saaremaa to the international creative scene. In this second part, we talk about money – not as an end in itself, but as an opportunity to create a life with more freedom, quality, and peace of mind. Henri shares how his attitude towards money has changed over the years, and why he most values conscious choices and well-functioning solutions.

The goal is not money, but the freedom it brings

For Henri, money has never been an end in itself. Rather, he sees it as a tool that creates opportunities to move, experiment and do work that matters to him. According to Henri, his understanding of freedom has constantly evolved throughout his life.

When he was younger, money meant an opportunity to invest in his creativity: to buy a camera, to travel, and to take on projects close to his heart. Now, freedom means, above all, the ability to make conscious choices. He can live in an environment that inspires him, work on meaningful projects, and take time for the people who matter.

'For me, freedom is not a specific sum in an account. It is the feeling that I can make choices based on what truly matters to me,' Henri says.

Henri's financial ambitions have not disappeared, but their focus has shifted. Quality of life, balance, and solutions that make everyday life simpler have become increasingly important.

For those whose life and work are international, the assurance that their finances run as smoothly as their own rhythm becomes essential. This is precisely what Henri appreciates about Premium.

Photo: Silver Mikiver

Quality as a conscious choice and decision

Working in the design world, Henri has learned to notice the difference between price and value very well. He confirms that his time at Sfäär already taught him that an expensive item is not automatically of high quality, and quality cannot always be judged by appearance alone. One needs to understand what actually lies behind something: the material, the idea, the craftsmanship, the function or the story.

This mindset accompanies Henri both in his work and in his everyday choices. He believes that mindful spending means, above all, knowing how to choose better, not just more. ‘I am more interested in value than price. When you understand why something is well-made, you also know how to appreciate it more,’ Henri explains.

Danish design culture values durability, timelessness, and well-thought-out details, and working at Ferm Living has further deepened Henri’s belief in quality. For him, quality is not merely a matter of aesthetics, but something much broader: it is the feeling that an item lasts, works well, and improves everyday life.

Henri says that with age, his own consumption habits have also changed. Instead of making impulse purchases, he now thinks more about whether an item or service creates long-term value for him. This applies to clothes, furniture, travel experiences as well as work tools.

Henri applies the same logic to his high-flying dreams and goals. He does not hide the fact that he likes to dream big, but for him, this does not simply mean luxury for luxury’s sake. ‘It is mainly an opportunity to surround myself with quality that inspires, lasts, and supports a lifestyle,’ he says.

Henri confirms that he has also come to appreciate it when services support his life. For him, Premium represents precisely that quality which manifests in smoothness and reliability, giving the feeling that everything necessary runs naturally in the background.

Peace of mind is a luxury

Henri believes that being mindful of finances provides much more than just control over spending: it gives the opportunity to make choices without constant compromises. ‘A cosmopolitan life quickly teaches you to appreciate things that just work,’ Henri explains.

When you live in one country but travel extensively and work on projects worldwide, seamless solutions become highly necessary. Henri does not think much about financial services on a daily basis, and for him, that is a sign that everything is working exactly as it should.

In creative work, Henri's most valuable resources are attention and energy, because having to constantly deal with technical problems, unexpected glitches or complicated paperwork takes the focus away from what matters most.

'From a certain point, luxury does not just mean things. A great luxury is when your life runs smoothly and you have peace of mind,' he explains.

According to Henri, it is precisely in unexpected situations that the importance of a reliable partner becomes most evident. For instance, travel disruptions and other time-critical situations are the moments when a high-quality service is no longer just a convenience, but genuinely valuable support.

Henri recalls his first experiences after moving to Denmark, when everyday practical matters were by no means self-evident to him. 'I remember well the feeling when opening a bank account in Copenhagen took time. Such situations quickly teach you to appreciate systems and services that work,' Henri says.

Photo: Silver Mikiver

Henri considers one of the primary expressions of luxury to be the feeling that he can focus on creativity, ideas, and life itself, without having to constantly worry about everything else. LHV Premium helps him take care of his financial affairs.

The concept author, creative director, and technical producer of the ‘Estonians of Six Cities’ series is Silver Mikiver (TRACE Studio). The series is filmed on Super8 format and the photos are captured on 35 mm film.

‘I am moved by craftsmanship and the realisation of potential. With my projects, I wish to inspire and provide an impetus for more people to choose the most authentic and unique path. Walking your own path is not always easy, but for me, it is the only truly rich way to live,’ Silver Mikiver says.