Oh, are we in for a treat today! They say if you can't beat it, join it – and with the cold settling in, I’m taking you on a journey to the chilly North to the cosy, rustic cabin of artist Olly – one half of the creative duo
Olly Suzy. This British collaborative pair pride themselves on tracking, painting, and photographing endangered species in the wild.
Together with their children, Olly and his wife Lisa embrace life in their off-grid retreat, charmingly named ‘Bear’s Nest’. Perched high on a hill, it’s surrounded by wilderness in a remote part of Swedish Lapland, just south of the Arctic Circle. The cabin was a labour of love, designed and built from the ground up. Completely off-grid, with no road access, its core was constructed off-site and transported by a military truck – quite the logistical feat!
Now, the pair relish their remote, rustic lifestyle. At the heart of their home is a wood-burning stove, which serves as their source of heating, cooking, and even melting snow for water. Candles and lanterns brighten up the cabin after dark. They’ve also got an ‘utedass’ – a separate little hut with a dry toilet. The cabin’s interior is a delightful blend of Swedish and English antiques, creating a warm, relaxed, and deeply personal haven.
Photographer Mark Anthony Fox recently paid them a visit and captured these stunning images. Ready to take a tour? Let’s dive in!










How wonderful!
Imagine how quickly the stresses and strains of daily life would fall away here? There's something special about going back-to-basics, it's so good for the soul.
You can read more about Olly's fascinating line of work
here and there is a a full article about it and more pictures over at
House & Garden if you'd like to take a look.
Is there anything that stood out to you about Olly and Lisa's rustic off-grid cabin?
Do you remember the little
Danish cabin in the woods I once visited belonging to Conservationist Wildlife Photographers
Uri Golman and Helle Olsen? If not, do head over to the post to take the tour! Tragically, long after I featured their home, Uri suffered from a serious incident on one of his expeditions but his passion and work for the Wild Nature Foundation continues. You can read more about his story
here.
Thank you so much for stopping by this week–and for all your insightful comments and emails. I am so happy you have been enjoying the home tours!
Have a cosy weekend friends, see you Monday!
Niki
Thank you for your posts they are so beautiful and a bright spot in my life right now in the USA.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous - I wanted to let you know that there are many of us Canadians watching in horror about what is happening South of our border and we know that there are so many of you who did not want this. We think of you often and stand in solidarity with you. I hope that might bring you some comfort and we hope to avoid the same fate with our own upcoming election. Together we stand ♥️
DeleteThank you, your support is much appreciated. And best of luck to our neighbors to the North.
DeleteI want you to know that AMERICA IS BACK, BABY. And we don't need your kind of solidarity (although your "horror" is hilarious). Our country is coming back stronger than ever & we're so very happy not to be Canada.
DeleteI am so happy you enjoyed this virtual trip to a cosy cabin in snowy Lapland - the perfect Friday escape :)
DeleteLovely, Lovely!! We have cabins of this kind in Alaska, smaller and simpler than Olly and Suzy's. Loved the children's drawings, beautiful roof, and caught sight of portraits of three Native American chiefs. Think two were Red Cloud and Chief Joseph:) Have a nice weekend!
ReplyDeleteI love the sound of the cabins in Alaska! Wow, well spotted, thank you so much for sharing - there was an article in House & Garden UK and it talked about this influence for the cabin decor.
DeleteRustic and lovely. It looks like a comfortable respite in the midst of the natural environment. I admire their off grid commitment. I like that they have included art and soft textiles to make the cabin feel alive. It took a few scrolls, then I saw the hanging line for drying sweaters and such. Very clever!
ReplyDeleteYes, the off-grid commitment is admirable, I can imagine the toilet can get pretty 'fresh' in winter time! I can really imagine how going back to nature with tasks such as collecting firewood and melting snow for water can bring really bring you into the present moment. I completely missed the hanging line for drying sweaters, thank you for pointing this out.
DeleteA marvelous cabin! I enjoyed the polka dot washbasin! So fun! Thank you to the Canadian friend. Many of us in the states are sick about the political situation. Peace and love to all.
ReplyDeleteThank you for pointing out the polka dot washbasin - it's so cute! Peace and love to all in USA and Canada :)
DeleteI'm waving at the Canadian neighbor (I'm in Michigan). Life is full of challenges, but thankfully there are spots of respite, such as this blog. Anyway, the cabin is similar to "up north" cabins in Michigan (and also in many places where we have visited in the western states) and it gives me a comforting sense of nostalgia to see it. Olly's and Lisa's lifestyle and interests are similar to my family's; I look forward to reading more about what they are doing.
ReplyDeleteI do love the sound of the cabins in Michigan! So fun that you have similar lifestyle and interests to Olly and Lisa, perhaps it's a sign that one day you'll also have a charming off-grid cabin somewhere?
DeleteI love these off grid cabins! In the Netherlands we unfortunately have few old cabins. In our garden we have a tiny off grid cabin; definitely not as fantastic as this one, but sometimes back to basics is nice. I also read your blog about the Danish cabin. Both are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI am so happy you felt inspired by these off-grid cabins. I love the sound of the one in your garden! :)
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