my scandinavian home

A Swedish Island Getaway by the Baltic Sea

Many years ago, Per, the girls and I sailed to the long, slim Baltic island of Öland. It's a fascinating place. to the mainland via a bridge, it's where the Swedish royal family spend much of their summer at nearby Solliden Palace. Funnily enough, while we were walking through the forest, Prince Carl Philip went past on his daily jog!

Anyway, this is a very long-winded way of saying, sorry, but I have another rustic coastal home to share with you this week, which I couldn't resist, not least because it's located right on the shore with spectacular views over the cool blue waters of the Baltic Sea.

Inside, the house is simply furnished with antiques and family heirlooms, evidence of it having remained in the same family for over a century. Whitewashed timber walls, worn wooden furniture and a handsome masonry fireplace create a wonderfully relaxed, unfussy feel, while touches of greenery and wildflowers bring the outdoors in. I also love how the owners have kept the interiors pared back, allowing the sea views to do the talking. Every window seems to frame the Baltic like a work of art.

Ready to take a look around? Let's step inside and enjoy the complete tour.

Imagine waking up here each day, spending your days at the water's edge before falling asleep to the sound of the waves. Helt magiskt (completely magical!), as they say in Sweden. I'll certainly be dreaming about this place all weekend.

I hope you enjoyed the tour of this idyllic rustic cabin too!

I'm looking forward to sharing an extra post with you on Monday - with a guide to my adopted home town of Malmö and all the wonderful things you can do here by the sea - from cafes and restaurants to sauna and sailing!

A little note to say thank you for all your comments and emails lately. We have a little rain on the forecast this weekend, so I thought I'd take some time out with a coffee and sit down to reply to each and every one of you. I so enjoy reading your observations, and you often pick out details I've completely missed. Tack så mycket!

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Wrede, with thanks.

A Timeless Beach House on Denmark’s North Coast

It’s a beautiful day here in 'Sverige', and with midsummer now just a whisper away, we're all longing for slow days by the water.

And if there was ever a place made for that kind of summer daydream, surely it’s this charming beach cottage in Liseleje on Denmark’s north coast.

Built in 1914, and even winning an architectural award at the time, the house sits perched on a cliff above the Kattegat Sea with its own private steps winding down through wild rosehip and soft sand dunes to the beach below. Can you imagine wandering down there first thing in the morning, coffee in hand, for a brisk dip before everyone else is awake? Would you brave the cold water? I havwe already had my 'badpremier' here and it was 16 degrees C - 'fresh' but invigorating!

The cottage has belonged to the same family for 80 years, and there’s something wonderfully unspoilt about it all. Many of the original details remain, while the interior has been kept simple and relaxed with family heirlooms, antiques and just enough furniture to let the surroundings do the talking. Because really, with that location and view from every window, how could the sea not steal the limelight?

Welcome in for a peek inside this very special Danish summer house.

I especially love how quietly understated everything feels. Nothing competes with the landscape.

Is this your kind of summer house? Would you keep the interiors this simple, or would you be tempted to add more colour and pattern? The good news is, if you buy it, you can do whatever you like with it and make it entirely your own!

Treat yourself to more Scandinavian summer cottages here:

Simple, nostalgic and charming wrapped into one

A rundown croft becomes an idyllic summer cottage
A charming open-plan summer cottage

Have a lovely, sunny afternoon!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Adam Schnack, with thanks

FILED UNDER: beach home danish home Summer cottage

A Dreamy Farmhouse in the Skåne Countryside

Stop the press. This beauty is for sale, and honestly, it’s taking every ounce of restraint not to jump on a train to Ystad and demand a viewing on the spot! If you’re into Scandi noir, you’ll probably recognise the nearest town as the home of detective Wallander. They even keep a table permanently reserved for him at the Grand Hotel. But I assure you, life out here in the countryside is far more about birdsong, long lunches and windswept walks than dramatic crime scenes!

Set among the rolling Skåne countryside near the Hagestad and Backåkra nature reserves, this farmhouse feels wonderfully private. It’s easy to imagine slow mornings here with a cup of tea by the window, watching the landscape shift across the farmland with the changing light and seasons.

Built in 1937, the house has been carefully restored by peeling things back rather than adding more, with the owners allowing its original soul to shine through once again. The moment you step through those sunny yellow doors (tell me, would you actually use the front entrance every day, or do you think there’s a side door everyone naturally gravitates towards instead?) you’re greeted by wonderfully generous rooms with an easy, airy feel. Exposed beams, natural materials and a soft, muted palette create a beautiful balance of rustic charm and understated elegance.

Ready to enjoy a private viewing right here on MSH? Step this way!

Such a beautiful home!

I love the architecture, the wonderfully open rooms and the peaceful setting. Although, if I’m honest, my hay fever would probably be completely out of control living here. Such a pity!

Could you imagine living here?

As always, I can’t resist sharing a few more beautiful Swedish country homes for you to enjoy, so don’t disappear just yet. Instead, pour yourself a cuppa and settle in with these fine specimens:

Emilia's laidback Swedish country home
A cosy country home in rural sweden
An idyllic red and white Swedish farmhouse

Oh, and one last thing! In Tuesday’s post, there was plenty of curiosity surrounding the unusual honeycomb-shaped structure in the garden. Thank you so much to everyone who joined in with guesses about what might be hidden inside. A few of you got it absolutely right... it was a sauna! Although I have to say, I also loved Flora’s idea of it being a tiny one-person library. How cosy would that be?

Thank you, as always, for stopping by. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Trevlig helg!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Eric Olsson, with thanks

FILED UNDER: country style living farmhouse swedish home

Past and Present Meet in a Danish Thatched Cottage

I have seen thousands of Scandinavian cabins in my two decades of living here (some in person, many online!), and while each one is unique, they usually share a few themes: heirlooms and second-hand finds, or traditional pieces that reflect a relaxed, down-to-earth lifestyle, and colour palettes that mirror their surroundings with touches of coastal blue or countryside green. Not this one. And that’s exactly why it caught my eye.

Currently for sale, this thatched cottage on the Danish Riviera blends old and new beautifully. Copenhagen-based Studio Force Majeure collaborated with the founders of Ferm Living to decorate the space, creating an interior that feels both contemporary and rooted in tradition. Original architectural wood panelling and exposed beams, washed in a warm cream, provide the backdrop to a modern stainless steel kitchen, very cool animal print sitting room furniture, and an on-trend wave mirror. But you’ll also spot the hallmarks of a traditional Scandinavian summer house throughout; a woven basket here, an urn there, which of course, I love!

Keep a close eye on all the details as you look through, there are plenty of touches to feel inspired by!