Cities and towns across Scandinavian are starting to buzz with life again as people slowly return from the countryside and head back to work. But for some, like me, their heart remains at their summer cottage. There's something magical about the laid back, simple lifestyle they afford - and of course, their lush surroundings. Curious to sample Swedish summer cottage life yourself? This idyllic croft from the 1800s just came on the market! Located a short distance from Stockholm - the traditional Falun red and white cottage is fairly small (50 sq m / 538 sq ft), but definitely big on personality - and wouldn't look out of place in an Astrid Lindgren tale. There's only one foreseeable drawback - and I'm curious to hear if it would be a deal breaker for you or not. Read on to find out!
And the deal beaker (or maker)? The only loo is a compost one in an outhouse. This is not unusual for an old croft which is yet to be modernised. Helen (as in the interior designer I work with) has an outdoor loo at her cottage too. They once lived there for a year and she remembers waking up in the night and trudging out in the snow to go to the loo! But she says they got used to it and in the end and don't give it a second thought any longer. My granny had one too (as well as an indoor one upstairs) - and I remember it being full of spiders! But the one at this croft is charming in every way. Would it work for you?
Could you imagine spending your summers here?
If so, this pretty cottage has your name on it, and we'd all love to be the first to visit (bringing our bed linen of course - as is the Swedish way!).
Feeling tempted? Read more about it here.
Fancy seeing some more pretty cottages over the weekend? Here are a few others that belong in an Astrid Lindgren tale:
All this talk of Sweden, and I'm actually in Denmark right now. Having been double vaccinated, we've taken the opportunity to head over the Öresund bridge for a couple of days. Our first stop was Camp Adventure (for a press trip) - which has treetop climbing (have you ever done it? Once you get over the nerves, it's so exhilarating!) and the kids absolutely loved it!
As well as an awesome 45-metre tower you can climb (the structure is magnificent - and has won several architectural awards (not my picture below!):
And best of all (for me, not the kids, they spent 8 hours in the tree tops!), Northern Europe's largest 'pick your own bouquet' flower farm! It was beautiful:
Keep an eye out for the yurts / cabins (they're pretty booked up so you'd need to plan in advance to stay the night). You can also pair it with a long weekend in Copenhagen since it's only a 50 minute drive away.
Right, I'd better put the kettle on - the rest of the family will be waking up any moment and I need to take the most of the peace and quiet before the mayhem begins and a day at the worlds oldest amusement park: Bakken.
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend - I hope you've got some fun / relaxing plans.
Niki
Cottage photography: Historiska Hem
What a lovely cottage Nikki! I enjoy your blog so much and have read for years now. I’m actually rereading Lagom. Summers for us are at our treehouse tiny house and the philosophy of time in nature and more minimal living is a helpful alternative to the consumption model.
ReplyDeleteWe have a bathroom added on to the side of our house- so we zip around the deck to it- the shower and toilet are roofed, but unheated, so the composting toilet is fine with me- and the loveliest setting I’ve seen for one. These types of things are common in my rural area where a number of folks live off the grid. I actually think keeping the house separate is healthy- especially for small spaces.
Your flower picking adventure sounds dreamy!
An outside compost loo? No problem. Once you've done the London Marathon, and experienced the portaloos used by literally thousands of people on a hot afternoon...well, I am sure you can see what I am getting at. I rather like the idea that it is away from the house. And a pick your own bouquet farm?! That is one of the best and most sociable ideas ever. Lucky you.
ReplyDeleteOutise loo? No problem, we have that at both our cabins. You get used to it. But we do have a Cinderella at the cabin by the se, an Incineration-toilet. No smell, all you need to do is every so often empty the bucket with ash. Basically feels like using a normal toilet. The can also be placed inside, so we will be moving ours to the basement at some point. But that flower farm? How lovely, I would LOVE to go there some time! Look forward to travelling again - got both my vaccine shots, but will wait until the pandemic calms down a bit more, after the summer, before we go anywhere.
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