Escaping to the Woods: Frederika's Swedish Summer Cabin

It’s a beautiful, sunny day in Scandinavia, which means my mind immediately drifts to the idyllic life at a Swedish summer cottage. Over Easter, many spent time preparing theirs for the season, and now we’re all counting down the days until July, when we can close the doors to our city homes and head to the countryside.

Since summer cottages are all about slowing down and spending quality time with family and friends, many choose to expand their living space by adding small garden dwellings – known as an attefallshus (25 m² / 269 ft²) or komplementsbostadshus (30 m² / 323 ft²). These charming little houses offer a perfect spot for extended family or visiting friends to stay.

I recently featured Frederika Palmstierna’s boho Stockholm apartment, and today, I thought I’d share the beautiful cabin she recently built on the grounds of her family’s summer cottage. Inspired by a design from Sommarnöjen, the cabin’s green wooden façade blends effortlessly into the surrounding woodland.

On warm summer days, large glass doors open wide, creating a seamless flow between indoors and out – making the most of the compact living space. On chillier days, meals are enjoyed in the cosy kitchen area, or the family (including their lovely dog!) likes to curl up by the wood-burning stove. Simply furnished yet wonderfully inviting, it’s the perfect little retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Let's take a peek! 

Lovely!

The light wood and white interior reminds me very much of our little cabin, which we too are layering over time. 

Could you imagine spending your summer here? Is there anything that stood out to you? 

In case you missed the link at the beginning, make sure you take a look at Frederika's charming Stockholm apartment, which is filled with art. 

And why not take a look at small space inspiration from Swedish attefallshus - they are great for small space ideas! 

Wishing you a happy mid-week!

Niki

Photography courtesy of @freddiepalmstierna, with thanks. 

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Inside a Charming Danish Summerhouse in Lammefjorden

It’s only a few days until the Easter holidays begin. For some in Scandinavia, that’s the cue to open up the stuga (summer house or cabin) after a long winter—sweeping out the cobwebs, airing the rooms, and letting the fresh spring breeze roll in.

No doubt the Danish owners of this charming summerhouse in Lammefjorden (a reclaimed fjord area in north-west Zealand, Denmark) are doing just that. The lovely wooden property consists of three buildings: a main house and two smaller outbuildings, including a rustic garden room designed to feel alfresco—even if it’s not quite warm enough yet to go without a roof!

Styled in soft tones of white, grey, and beige, the interiors are pared-back yet full of subtöcharacter. Much of the space has been thoughtfully handbuilt or furnished with vintage finds, giving it a relaxed, soulful charm. It has everything you need to unwind: a kitchen, dining area, sitting room, bedrooms, and of course, somewhere to spill out onto when the sun makes an appearance.

Oh, and a little birdie tells me it’s also available to rent—just in case you’re tempted to embrace a simpler life, Danish-style.

Let’s take a peek inside.

Lovely! 

Understated, simple, calm.

Could you imagine relaxing somewhere like this? If so, head over to Landfolk for more information. You might also like to see more pictures of the Danish summer house on Instagram (there are some great before-and-after pics!). 

Is there anything that stood out to you? 

This makes me excited to head up to our cabin at some point over the holidays and sit back and relax a little. Do you have any nice plans? 

While looking through the pictures, I couldn’t help but think of that Swedish summer cottage belonging to a photographer, and also the Danish Airbnb by the river I featured recently—they have a similar vibe, don’t you think?

Happy Monday friends!

Niki

Photography courtesy of @s.o.m.m.e.r.h.u.s.e.t, shared with kind permission. 

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Slow Living: My Peaceful Little Cabin in Sweden

Glad Alla Hjärtans Dag! (Happy Valentine’s Day!) Today is all about celebrating love in all its forms, so I thought—since this blog is all about our shared passion for the home—why not shine a light on the places we cherish most? Those spaces where we instantly relax, the ones we long for when we're away, and where we feel truly at peace. It might be a house, a room, or even just a cosy nook somewhere.

For me, that place is our little cabin. Members of this community will know we designed and built it a few years ago, carefully considering every detail (Per might say a little too carefully, but now he agrees it was worth the effort!). Nestled on Sweden’s west coast, it's just 30 square metres (322 square feet), but it has everything we need: a place to cook, eat, gather, listen to music, play games, and sleep. In winter, we arrive eager to light a fire; in summer, life flows effortlessly between indoors and out (hopping between the two depending on what the Swedish weather gods decide to throw our way!). We divide our time between the terrace, the beach, long coastal walks—and of course, the local pub—soaking up the changing seasons.

My heart belongs to this little retreat, where I'm happiest, surrounded by family and visiting friends. I hope you enjoy these pictures—some might be familiar, while others are new. I’ll share some details in case anything catches your eye!

Above: Wooden floor and panelling from Norrlands Trä. Windsor chairs, Skovby extendable table, IKEA kitchen (with a slight hack!) - complete guide here.

Plums from our neighbours garden in a bowl from Mölle Krukmakeri.

Monarch chair and Plico chair, Contura woodburning stove, Tense light by New Works

Children's wishbone chair

The ladder and railings were handmade by a local carpenter. 

Little wooden stools from Skovby

Complete guide to our bathroom here.

We've felt so honoured to see our cabin feature in Simply Scandi magazine and also Cate St Hill's forthcoming new book The Japandi Home. This year we hope to focus a little more on the garden (is it just me, or are gardens really tricky? I think it's going to take some trial and error to create the oasis we hope for, but we'll have fun trying!

In case you're curious about the layout and exterior, you can find more info here. 

I'd love to hear about the place you most cherish, if you'd like to share. 

Today, in southern Sweden there's a little extra love floating around as the sun is shining and it's the start of the 'sportslov' (meaning 'sports break'–or what others refer to as half term). I'll be taking a short break with my family and will be back on the blog on Monday 24th February. In the meantime, if you'd like to see a few more tours, you might want to cosy up and delve into these archives: 

Swedish cottages

Danish homes

Norwegian homes

Boho style homes

Vintage inspired abodes

Thinking of visiting Scandinavia this summer? You can find all my travel guides here. 

Looking to fill your home with a little Scandinavian romance? Skandinavisk have just launched a KYSS (Swedish / Norwegian for 'kiss') scented candle with notes of blackberries, rose, sugar candy and cloves and it's divine! 

Right friends, I'd best be off. Have a wonderful week and a very happy Valentine's Day! 

Niki

PS I came across this lovely rustic Swedish cottage earlier which I had completely forgotten about, take the tour here. 

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Dreaming of Summer: A Gotland Island Retreat with a Pool

It's grey and cold in Malmö today. In moments like this, nothing lifts my spirits more than dreaming of summer—when I think Sweden shows its finest side. 

A few summers ago, my family and I went on a sailing trip up the east coast of Sweden. Halfway through, we almost abandoned ship due to bad weather. We had two choices: leave the boat where it was and come back for it once the wind had died down and the sun reappeared, or turn the trip into an exciting adventure and set sail for the Baltic island of Gotland. We chose the latter, and it became a journey I'll never forget (see my guide).

Blessed with wildflowers, rugged nature, and incredible light, Gotland is dotted with pretty villages, beachside restaurants, and countless artist ateliers—making it impossible not to fall in love with the island.

Needless to say, I've been dreaming about returning ever since.

For now, I'll get my fix of the island through this Gotland summer house that has just come on the market. Made from wood and stone—reflecting the surrounding nature—the coastal villa is beautifully pared-back while also offering a spa-like touch with its pool and sauna. Best of all? I can almost feel that incredible  warmth from the sun on my skin.

Let's take a look around!

Look at that coastline! So rugged and beautiful and the light is pin sharp thanks to the clean air.

Do you live by the coast too? 

Could you imagine spending your summers here or visiting Gotland? If so, take a look at my guide for all the things to see and do. For somewhere to stay, try The Stonecutter's Farm, a rustic summer cottage with a pool or limestone barn in Faludden. 

Fancy seeing a few more cottages from the island? Here are a few others - some more rustic than others:

Elsa's inspiring cottage on Gotland 

A summer oasis on the Swedish island of Gotland

A converted schoolhouse on Gotland

Have a great start to the week! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Bertwig, with thanks. 

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