A Swedish Cottage Straight from an Astrid Lindgren Story

While the city might be a little dark and grey right now, the countryside is bursting with vibrant autumn colours, and country homes are truly having their moment. Cue: endless daydreams about swapping city streets for gravel driveways and apple trees (it’ll likely never happen, of course, but it’s fun to imagine!).

That’s exactly where my mind wandered when I stumbled upon this dreamy house in Malmby, west of Stockholm. The fairy tale-like property dates back to 1927 and feels like something straight out of an Astrid Lindgren story. 

And something extra special happens when a house like this finds the right owner, and this one clearly has. Green is the colour of choice throughout, flowing from the conservatory and kitchen to the living room and bedroom. It’s a calm, grounded shade that ties the whole home together, natural, timeless and wonderfully traditional. 

Meanwhile, every corner tells a story: a ceramics collection lined up on the windowsill, a cupboard brimming with textiles, patterned upholstery and curtains, and perfectly chosen vintage pieces. It’s the kind of home that feels cherished. I can’t help but hope the next owner will treasure it just as much. Could that be you? Take the tour… but fair warning, you might just fall in love!

Wonderful – so much soul! Did you feel it too?

I bet this house is as cosy as can be at this time of year, but it also comes into its own in summertime, when you can throw open all the windows and doors.

Is green your shade? I have surprisingly little of it at home in the city, but I think it’s a particularly lovely shade for a country home. Do you agree?

Would you like to see a few more country homes on this autumn day in November? 

Emilia's laidback Swedish country home
Jessica's idyllic Swedish country croft
A relaxed vintage inspired home in the French countryside

Have a great start to the week and month! Is it really November already?

Niki

Credits: BOSTHLM, with thanks. 

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Autumn in our little cabin

Hello, it’s 'höstlov' (autumn half-term) here in Sweden, and since the clocks went back this weekend, it suddenly feels so much more moody, cosy, and autumnal. Gloves are on, winter coats are making their first appearance, and the world outside is wrapped in gold. There’s that unmistakable damp chill in the air, and candles are glowing even in the middle of the day — the perfect excuse for hearty stews, hot drinks, and a slightly slower pace.

Do you get an autumn break where you are, too? 

I’m officially putting down my tools for a few days to spend some time at our cabin — my absolute favourite little place for long walks, a crackling fire, lazy breakfasts, and the odd (very competitive) board game with my family before the crazy school days begin again on Monday.

Wishing you all a lovely long weekend — and a happy Halloween to those celebrating! Leaving you with a few pics from our cabin!

See you on Monday friends!

Niki

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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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Finding Calm in a Swedish Forest Cabin

It appears another week has just swished by — blink and it’s Friday again. I’m very ready to hit pause a little this weekend and chill. While we’ll probably be in Malmö, my heart’s already halfway to the forest… ideally parked in a cosy Landet cabin with zero plans except maybe snacks, fresh air, and wearing the comfiest knit I own.

In Swedish, landet basically means “the countryside,” but it’s more than that — it’s about sneaking off somewhere calm and relaxed. That’s exactly what Landet is all about: a true escape without any of the faff. Think nature, fresh air, good design, and zero stress. 

The cabins themselves are dotted around some of Sweden’s most beautiful rural spots — close enough to get to easily, but far enough to feel like you’ve actually escaped. It’s the brainchild of Ted and Umberto, who were looking to help others to enjoy the Swedish countryside without needing to own a cottage (or chop wood, unless you want to). You can sauna, do yoga, take long walks, drink coffee on the deck, or just do absolutely nothing at all — which honestly sounds perfect to me! 

Ready to take a peek at what would be instore?

And relax. 

Could you also imagine spending your weekend here? 

Inhale, exhale and read more about a stay at landet cabins here.

Meet you at the sauna? 

Have a wonderful weekend friends, thank you so much for stopping by this little corner of the web and for all your lovely comments - I'll get back to you soon! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Landet, with thanks. 

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Step Inside This Charming Cottage in Limhamn, Sweden

One day, when the children have flown the nest (sniff sniff), I can imagine us downsizing to a little cottage that’s just big enough for Per and me. A cosy place with lovely old features and a fireplace, not far from the sea.

And that’s exactly how I ended up sending Per a link to this little gem yesterday while he was at work (subject line: “priority,” of course!). Needless to say, he agreed that this charming home in the old Limhamn part of Malmö would be the perfect little nest for us.

Maybe it was the hand-made bricks, the exposed beams, or the elegant ceiling rosettes. Or perhaps the solid joinery, mullioned window arches, lofty ceiling height, vintage kitchen, classic stove, and mirrored doors. All the charming details of yesteryear have been beautifully preserved in this semi-detached house from the turn of the century.

Equally lovely are the newer touches that blend seamlessly with the old, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere throughout.

Either way, it’s a little too small for our family right now — but whoever snaps up this cottage is very lucky. Could it be you? I hope you enjoy the tour!

I love the idea of a garden bedroom for guests, too - or maybe it could be converted into an atelier? 

Is there anything that stood out to you about this southern Sweden semi? Could you imagine living in a house like this? 

I once shared another little cottage in Limhamn here - also charming! 

On another note, I completely forgot to share Monday’s post in the newsletter — sorry about that! It’s been a bit of a whirlwind this week as I’m in the middle of a really exciting interior design project here in town.

You might remember that I offered an interior design service a while back — and recently, I decided to bring it back to life. It’s something I truly love doing, and I’m thrilled to be working with more people to create homes that feel just right for them.

If you’re feeling a bit stuck with a corner of your home (or the whole thing!) and could use a friendly helping hand, just drop me an email. My (very lovely) team and I are happy to help — no matter where you are or how big or small your project may be.

Wishing you a happy mid-week! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Bjurfors, with thanks. 

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