Where Colour Meets the Simple Danish Summer Life

Well hej there, friends! We’re back in snowy Malmö and dreaming of… summer. A dangerous game when it still feels so far away. But in the former Danish home of Sofie Amalie Rolandsen, who works at a design agency, sunshine never seems too distant.

Sofie loves to play with colour. You might remember her former Copenhagen home, which I featured way back in 2018, and you’ll see the same joyful approach in her current home, shared frequently on her Instagram @thusthefuss. She’s known for painting just about everything — walls, floors, ceilings, and more — in a plethora of bright, uplifting hues.

But in her former summer house, Sofie took a different approach. Here, the walls, floors, and ceilings were kept neutral, allowing the details to do the talking: kitchen cabinets in a beautiful sky blue, a cobalt lamp here, a green stool there, and burgundy shelves and a sofa. These carefully chosen touches bring her signature style to the countryside, while still keeping things simple and letting the surrounding nature shine.

After all, summer cabins are all about downing your tools, kicking back, and embracing the simple life — surrounded by family and visiting friends. Ready to take a look?

Did you notice how Sofie subtly mixes things up? Mustard and burgundy sofa modules combined, two very cool fire-engine-red garden chairs paired with traditional outdoor furniture, contemporary lighting mixed with 1970s rattan… the list goes on!

Could this be a sign that we should all be a little more daring in our homes? Quite possibly! Nothing creates a talking point quite like a standout piece — and I guarantee, everyone will love it.

You can see more of Sofie’s style (and gather plenty of colour inspiration) over at @thusthefuss.

And for more Danish homes with their clever use of colour, take a peek at: 

Prints, splashes of colour and playful prints in a Danish home
Embracing the blues in a Danish home
12 simple ways to add colour to your home, Danish style

I’ve been incredibly organised this week and am looking forward to returning on Thursday with a very cool Swedish home to share with you. In the meantime, I’ve been busy working on another article for IKEA — this time all about how to get your pantry in order. I actually learned a lot myself while writing it, and our kitchen has never been in such great shape… not a single stray strand of spaghetti lurking at the back of the cupboard to be found! For the moment. 

See you Thursday!

Niki

Photography courtesy of @thusthefuss, with thanks. 

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Two Dreamy Airbnb Cottages on the Swedish island of Gotland

It’s no secret that I absolutely love the Swedish island of Gotland. Granted, I’ve only been there once—when we sailed there on an East Coast tour and Per pretty much had to drag me away after five days (well past our original plan!). I was completely bowled over by the island’s beauty, creativity, and laid-back vibe, and I’ve been dreaming about returning ever since.

It’s only January, but after one sunny day my mind was immediately transported back there (even if the temperature is hovering around zero degrees!). In case you’re feeling tempted to visit this beautiful place, here are a couple of Airbnb cottages I stumbled upon today.

1. Jordkällaren beach cottage on Fårö

Just north of Gotland lies the tiny island of Fårö, connected to the main island by ferry. Rugged and wild, it has inspired creatives for generations. Film maker Ingmar Bergman called it home, and today his house is available as an artist residency. Imagine?

The island is rich in contrasts: deep, atmospheric forests, a long stretch of deserted beach, and dramatic stone stacks jutting straight out of the sea. True to Gotland style, it’s also peppered with ultra-cool yet wonderfully laid-back bakeries, cafes and restaurants.

Tucked away in Mölnorviken, you’ll find this little stone cottage. Its name translates as “The Earth Cellar,” a nod to its past as a jordkällare—a traditional underground storage space once used to keep food cool year-round. Today, the small stone cottage, with its sedum roof and location just 90 metres from the beach, offers a cosy place to stay, complete with a small kitchen (not pictured) and a barbecue spot looking out to sea. Perfect!

2. The Limestone Cottage

The main town on Gotland is Visby—where the ferries arrive (and where we also moored up during our first few nights). Dating back to medieval times, the town feels like a living village, buzzing with restaurants and cafés all summer long.

Just ten minutes from Visby and only 2 km from the sea, this limestone oasis is surrounded by meadows and quiet gravel roads. The interior is pared-back yet inviting, while the garden is beautifully wild – perfect for a barbecue dinner or a drink in the evening sun.

Lovely! I’d be perfectly happy whiling away long Swedish summer days, soaking up the pin-sharp Baltic light and fresh air at either of these beautiful stays — how about you?

It was sadly quite a while ago that I last visited Gotland, but if you’d like to take a look at my guide (alongside a few other Baltic islands), you can find it here.

I’ve also shared many other beautiful stays on the island, including:

A rustic Gotland cottage with a pool
A beautiful limestone barn stay
A summer island retreat with a pool for family and friends

And you can even take a peek inside a few private summer homes too — including:

Elsa's inspiring summer cottage
A converted school on the island of Gotland
A 19th century house ready for summer

Here’s to a little summer dreaming, friends!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Airbnb, with thanks.

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A Charming Cottage in the Heart of Södermanland

Hej there, friends! How are you today? I thought we could spend this bright Wednesday in autumn taking a peek inside a cosy cottage in the heart of Södermanland.

Welcome to Mosstorp Marieberg – a place where time seems to slow down and everyday life gently makes room for peace and stillness. This charming red cottage with its traditional white trims dates back to 1909 and has been carefully renovated over the years, always with great respect for its original soul. And it’s the kind of house that instantly makes you feel at ease.

Inside, the 53-square-metre (570-square-feet) home feels both bright and welcoming – full of character yet wonderfully relaxed and pared-back. There’s a cosy kitchen and a living room complete with a fireplace – perfect for those crisp Swedish autumn evenings - and bedrooms where everyone bunks up (after all, there's always room for one more in a Swedish summer cottage!). Keep an eye out for the choice of colour, no doubt inspired by the home of beloved Swedish artist Carl Larsson. 

Oh, and did I mention this lovely cottage is for sale? And those lucky enough to make it theirs will get a wonderful bonus: not one, but two extra buildings. There’s a converted storage shed that doubles as a guest room, and a separate guest cottage – ideal for visiting grandparents, older children (I do love it when everyone can be together, but not too together, don’t you?), or anyone seeking a quiet space to work remotely (Stockholm is only an hour away, after all). How great does that sound? 

Let's take the tour so you can decide for yourself! 

Wonderful in every way! It has just the relaxed nature I love. 

And how pretty is that little gazebo for meals and 'fika' (coffee and cake)? Perfect for rainy days when it's still mild in the air. 

Could you imagine flitting about in this home - and perhaps inviting friends up for the weekend? 

Are you up for a little Autumn home inspiration today? Check out these spaces: 

Autumn ideas from Laura and Nora's country home

11 autumn ideas to steal from a hyggeligt Danish home

5 cosy autumn ideas from a Swedish country home

Have a cosy Wednesday!

Niki

Images courtesy of Svenskt Fastighetsförmedling, with thanks.

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A Quiet Cabin Escape on a Danish Island

Hej hej! Welcome to a new week on MSH!

Over the years, my family and I have spent countless summers sailing around Scandinavian waters, and a few places have truly stolen my heart. One of them is the Danish island of Anholt — have you heard of it, or perhaps been there? Sitting out in the middle of Kattegat, about halfway between Jutland and Sweden, it’s the perfect stop when we’re heading from southern Sweden to the Gothenburg archipelago. It’s a good day’s sail from the mainland (which can feel extremely long in bad weather!), and when you finally reach the harbour, you’re rewarded with a lovely, easygoing buzz: people chatting over cold drinks, music drifting from little bohemian bars, and upside-down barrels doubling as tables.

The beaches here are soft and white and the water has an unreal shade of turquoise that makes you want to jump straight in (even if it can be a little bracing!). We always make time to hop on a bike and ride through the island’s woodlands and nature reserves, whizzing past relaxed cabins and cottages as we go. And today I stumbled across this one on Airbnb. Tucked away, it has a window seat that looks out over the trees, a little fireplace, and a cosy dining nook. Inside, it’s all warm wood, Le Klint lamps, Wishbone Chair dining chairs, and those quiet little details that make you want to slow right down.

The owners describe themselves as “a family of five — a doctor, a journalist and their three daughters — who have fallen in love with Anholt’s peace and natural beauty. They spend every spare moment on the island, enjoying the simple life between forest and beach. It’s their little paradise, which they now share with guests.” And it really shows. I can picture mornings over homemade sourdough at the local garden café, lazy afternoons on Vesterstrand, and evenings listening to the wind in the surrounding forest. Even though the island’s only 22 km² and neighbours aren’t far away, it feels wonderfully peaceful — like your own little world. 

Ready to dream of your very Danish own island escape? Here's the tour! 

A dream! 

Could you imagine staying in this lovely cabin on Anholt? 

You might also be wondering how to get there (other than a sailboat) - the answer is by ferry from Grenaa on the Danish mainland, which takes around 3 hours. 

Oh, and can we take a moment to admire the turf roof? So wild and lovely! 

There is something incredibly special about island life, don't you think? Do you have a favourite island? If so, I'd love to hear about it! 

Here are a few more Scandinavian island cottages and cabins to peek inside: 

Riika's waterfront cabin in Finland
Stonecutter's farm on the island of Öland
A fairytale escape on Sweden's 'happiness island'

And here are some of my island guides from Scandinavia:

Discover Hallands Väderö near my cottage
Swedish island hopping in the Baltic
10 beautiful islands to visit in the Gothenburg archipelago
A guide to the danish island of Bornholm in winter

Have a great start to the week friends! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Airbnb, with thanks. 

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