Our Summer Cabin - and a new Collection from Skandinavisk!

Sponsored by Skandinavisk - I only work with brands I love, thank you for supporting the small business that make My Scandinavian Home possible. 

Hej kompisar! Do you have a place which is close to your heart? Somewhere special where you feel instantly happy and relaxed? The Swedes refer to this as your 'smultronställe' meaning 'wild strawberry patch'. It might be a secret picnic spot you've been visiting since your childhood, a beach you love, or even a corner of your garden. 

Mine is our summer cottage. When we arrive in the small fishing village in Northwest Skåne, Sweden all my worries fall away and I flit about with my family, barefoot and fancy free! It's a laid back place where the forest and sea meet and the scent of the salt spray and sea kelp from the Kattegat Sea blends with the scent of beach rose and hawthorn from the shore. 

I know many of you live far away from Scandinavia, but if you're ever intrigued about the subtle scents of the landscape - Skandinavisk have captured them in their new, locally made, organic hand, hair and body care collection - quite incredible! The collection includes an absolutely divine shampoo and conditioner, wash, lotion and hand cream, as well as other items and comes in fragrances HAV (distant shores) - my favourite!), SKOG (calm of the boreal forest), FJORD (carved from glaciers), and ØY (island solitude). 

Now that the warmer weather has arrived in Sweden, we spend as much time at our little cabin as possible. Here are some snapshots from a recent visit - as well as our newly stocked little cabin bathroom! Välkommen! 

Per is great at swimming in the sea all year round, but I am what Swedes like to refer to as a badkruka (swimming pot) - i.e. someone who is a little afraid of getting in very cold water! So, before the water temperatures rise, I prefer to shower back in the cabin. 

Although little, our bathroom is wonderfully cool and refreshing - in part thanks to the stone floor and shelf (made from the same tiles) - but also because the door opens to the garden, so you feel like you're showering alfresco. 

I try to stock our cabin bathroom with the most beautiful products so that we can feel really pampered when we're here (seen above: the HAV (distant shores) hand cream). 

The cool waters of the Kattegat Sea are so refreshing - and a perfect place to collect 'tång' seaweed. When I first moved here, I learned that you can use it as a body scrub and it leaves your skin silky smooth, so sometimes I collect a small sample to take back to the cabin.  Have you tried this? 

The HAV (distant shores) fragrance from the new hand, hair and body care collection from Skandinavisk beautifully captures the scent of the rugged Scandinavian coastline and includes a 500 ml wash and lotion - with packaging made from 98-100% recycled PE plastic, 200 ml wash and lotion both in glass bottles, shampoo and conditioner, a 200ml and 200ml lotion and hand cream. The fragrance is also available in a scent diffuser and a scented candle (both with refill options). 

I love that the new collection is made from locally sourced active ingredients (which are combined with existing certified organic ingredients) - including Swedish rapeseed oil (the fields are in bloom now and so beautiful!), known for its proven soothing skin protection properties, beta glucan extract from Swedish oat fibre to soothe, care for and moisturise the skin and scalp in washes and shampoos. And Nordic beets is blended into conditioners to reduce friction and help the hair shine. Nature at its finest! 

I have to say, Per is not big on body care items - but he does wax lyrical about the SKOG (calm of the boreal forest) wash (seen above - now available in a 200 ml glass bottle with refill option). He's been coming to the cottage since he was little and spent summer's roaming the forest with his brother, which is maybe why I think it resonates with him so much! 

Today, we love to go walking in the forest on a hot day as the canopy provides so much shade. It also shelters you from the wind on a cold day, and a perfect place to collect decorations at Christmas time - and whatever time you visit, you can always here the babble from the stream and the hushed sounds of woodland creatures going about their business. This time round we could hear a woodpecker hard at work, and one of our neighbours tells us they recently spotted an Elk - although we've yet to see him! 

If you're curious about the SKOG scent, Skandinavisk has captured it in the SKOG hand, hair and body care collection with subtle notes of pine needles, woodland lily, birch sap, and fir cones - all of which bring the calm of the Scandinavian boreal forest alive. Although sadly, the sound of a woodpecker and the light footstep of a deer is harder to capture! 

I hope you enjoyed these snapshots from our little cabin by the sea and forest - and hearing about the new collection from Skandinavisk. 

The small team in Copenhagen are so lovely and have made a discount code just for you guys here on the blog in case you'd like to treat yourself or a friend! Use the code myscandinavianhome20 to get 20% off all individual products from Skandinavisk before 31st August 2024. I'd love to hear which scent from Scandinavia you like the sound of the most! Or perhaps you already have a favourite? 

FYI the new collection is available in Europe and USA, with other items from their assortment available in retailers in 40 countries and also online here. 

If you're curious about anything in my bathroom like the tiles, paint, taps etc, check out this post for the complete lowdown! 

Have a great start to the week friends! 

Niki

All photographs and words by me.  

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Our DIY Budget Powder Room Makeover

Not your standard opening picture. But I thought I'd show an honest 'before' picture of our downstairs bathroom - swimsuits and all. 

We've been putting off renovating this room ever since we moved in fifteen years ago and it's still sporting the same red ceiling and blank walls. There was nothing wrong with it per se, it was just very plain and a little dated. Nothing that warrants ripping the entire room out and starting from scratch at least. Even so, it had become unloved and a dumping ground - there were even some skis in the shower! 

Renovating a bathroom, no matter how small, can be hugely expensive. But having painted the tiles in our laundry room, I felt optimistic that something could be done to our downstairs loo on a budget too!

Here is what we did. 

The first step was to paint the ceiling (I can't tell you how satisfying it was!). We used a white from the Jotun Lady Aqua range. The floor also got a makeover with 3V3 tile paint in Tarmac. 

And then came the rest:

Ta daaaa! 

There's quite a lot at play here. We removed the glass shower door and hung up an L-shaped shower rod (we bought a simple white one and then painted it in the same paint as the floor). The shower curtain (light stone from Humdakin) and rattan matt add a softness to the room and help to dampen the sound - always good in a guest bathroom!  

We kept the wall tiles (one of the biggest costs when renovating bathrooms is the work that goes into replacing tiles) - but since the walls were so vast and blank, we decided to put up a glass cabinet (Hastrup from Jysk). It was no easy feat; we had to use a special sensor to detect what was behind the wall. The last thing we wanted to do was drill through a pipe or electric cable. This is a major danger when drilling into bathroom walls, I'd highly recommend calling in an expert to avoid any accidents! 

When it comes to budget makeovers, I am a firm believer that the devil is in the details. Picking out smart pieces really help to elevate a room. The brushed brass toilet brush and toilet roll holder are both from Danish brand D-line. 

I've had the little rustic stool for years (pick up a similar antique stool here*). And the art is by Swedish painter Carola Kastman. 

The next step was to give this corner an overhaul:  

Here is the result, drum roll please....

We tried to keep the existing bathroom cabinet and sink but it simply wasn't practical for numerous reasons, so in the end we swapped it out for this very reasonably priced cabinet, sink and tap from Hornbach. 

I updated the colour on the cabinet using Mohair from Jotun Lady (thinking about it now, I probably should have used a specific bathroom paint, so let's see how it fairs!) and added knobs and a towel rail from D-line. 

I have never liked the plastic silver lights that were here when we moved in. The problem was we didn't want the faff and expense of changing the mirror so we had to find a light that exactly fitted the holes! I was very relieved to finally stumble across this bathroom light in Bauhaus! 

The final corner to get a simple makeover was this one: 

We swapped out the existing aluminium towel hooks for pretty handcrafted ones from D-Line (which match the other details). 

I'm a big fan of baskets (these are from Granit and IKEA) - they make each hook go a lot further and now we have a lot more space for bits and bobs like swimwear, slippers (from Humdakin), hair stuff etc. 

This is how this corner looks now: 

Right folks. That covers everything I think!

I hope you have enjoyed reading about our budget DIY bathroom makeover! If you have any questions just give me a shout below and I'll do my best to help. 

By the way, have you noticed how tidy it looks? I'd love for it to stay this way. But will I still find empty loo roll cartridges on the side when I go in? Definitely (does this drive anyone else nuts?). Will it be filled with drying swimwear and ten thousand towels within 24 hours? No doubt! 

But for today at least, I will be enjoying it in all its neat and tidy glory!

I hope you have a wonderful, relaxing weekend! 

Niki

A big thank you to Per for helping with so much of the DIY - I'm so lucky to have a handyman and physicist in the house! So much appreciation for the brainstorming and advice from Helen Sturesson too! 

Also, thank you for the press gifts D-line, Humdakin and IKEA.  

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Our Little Cabin Bathroom Reveal + Get The Look

GSI Ceramica and CRISTINA Rubinetterie kindly partnered on our project. 

Hej kompisar! We've been spending some days up out our little cabin and I finally had a chance to snap some pictures of the bathroom! You might remember, back in December I shared the plans. With a room measuring 3.66 m2 / 38 f2, we didn't have a lot to play with. Even so, I was keen to create a beautiful and serene, spa-like space that also worked well with the main cabin living space. It was exciting to see it all come together little by little. And today, I'm excited to share the final result with you! But first let me provide a quick recap of the floorplan and design. 

Floorplan

The bathroom is located in the corner of the cabin underneath the sleep loft. It has a door out to the garden and one into the main living area. 

 

Design

GSI Ceramica helped draw up this plan / design which felt perfect for the space! 

Entrance

When we first announced that the main cabin entrance is through the bathroom everyone looked at us like we were completely nuts - and even we had a few doubts! However, it's actually worked out brilliantly for three reasons: the bathroom has tiled floors, making it a perfect entrance in all weather, the hooks can double up for towels and coats, and finally, the shower is ideal for washing off sandy feet! 

Once in the cabin you can then open up all the other doors and windows and use those to enter and exit.

The reveal! 

I was eager to create a timeless bathroom with high quality fittings. I have to say, the calm tones, matt surfaces and stone floor create such a wonderful sense of serenity and it feels way more airy than the 3.66 m2! 

Here's the low down on all the details in case you're interested: 

Sink and cabinet

The floating Kube X Washbasin (60 x 47) and Prisma Unit cabinet are both from GSI Ceramica (available through Cosani in Scandinavia) who offer really high quality, well thought out units. I love that the sink has plenty of space at the back for soap / toothbrushes etc and the cabinet is really spacious (perfect when you have teenagers at home!). 

Loo

The wall-hung loo (WC Kube) is also from GSI Ceramica. At first, we were concerned about eating into the wall space - you need to move the wall out by around 20 cm to create space for a cistern (in this case we went with Geberit). But actually, it created a wonderful shelf which has proven to be invaluable! 

The best thing about the loo is the soft closing lid and Swirlflush technology - known for being the quietest flushing system in the world - which is absolutely ideal when you live in close quarters! I love the matt finish on the ceramic (inside the bowl it's glossy to guarantee maximum hygiene). 

Taps

As you know from the various kitchens I've designed (including our cabin kitchen and cottage kitchen), I am a firm believer that a high quality tap can add SO MUCH to the overall experience. We chose a wall mounted tap (CRIT257) and shower (CRIT486) from the Tricolore Verde collection by CRISTINA Rubinetterie - in brushed old brass which has a raw look and lovely rich patina and feel beautiful to use! 

I especially like the addition of the hand shower, it's so well, handy! 

Shower door

 Thank you to everyone who offered tips and advice on the shower door, it was so helpful. Based on your input, I went with one glass shower wall which is 800 mm (the shower measures 800 mm deep and 700 mm wide) with bronze fittings and no door (it works great without a door). It's very sleek and barely noticeable. I'll need to add a cross bar across the top to secure it (it came with one so it's just to put it up). 

The mirror

For years at the cottage we've been using a mirror that's so mottled you can barely see your face. This time, we went for a modern Four Season Mirror with LED (60 cm) which is really practical!  

The walls 

The walls have been painted in Kalk from the Jotun Lady Aqua range which is certified specifically for use in bathrooms. 

The matt white tiles are from Stone Factory and have a beautiful hand cut feel. We used white grouting for a more minimalist feel. 

We really splashed (sorry!) out on the Tumbled Turtle tiles from Stiltje. I fell in love with the matt natural stone with its rich patina - it brings a sense of the rugged coastline into the bathroom. We used leftover floor tiles for the shelf above the sink and a corner shelf in the shower.

The hooks

I bought the simple wooden peg rail from Norrgavel. I might add another row at some point but for now, this will do nicely! 

Blinds

And finally, another great discussion was what to do about the glass door since there's no way you'd feel comfortable showering and worst still, sitting on the loo if people can see in! Thank you so much for all your input, in the end we chose this special Plissé blind that fixes to the door and moves with it when you open and close it. It can be pulled up from the bottom of the window and also pulled down from the top so you can basically move the blind to wherever you need it and still see the lovely nature outside!  

I hope you like tour bathroom as much as we do! I have to say, it's an absolute joy to use and well worth all the extra effort! 

I hope it may have given you some ideas if you're also planning a small bathroom renovation. If you have any questions, please do give me a shout below! 

Would you like to see more of our little cabin? Check out the kitchen, dining area and bedroom. 

Have a wonderful weekend friends. See you Monday! 

Niki

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Tiny Cabin Bathroom Sneak Peek - Plus a Few Questions!

*GSI Ceramica and Cristina Rubinetterie are kindly partnering in our project. 

I can't tell you how much progress we've made in the bathroom at the cabin* since I shared the original plans. After a copious amount of work (who knew a 3.6 m2 (38f2) bathroom could take up so much time?), it's finally coming together! In fact, it's almost finished, woohoooo! Here are some snapshots of the progress which I snapped with my phone. Oh, and I'd love to hear your thoughts on some of the final details too. 

It's been fun to see the space come together - one layer at a time, starting from the bare bones. 

Wall tiles

For the shower and lower section of the wall we chose matt white square tiles with a simple white grouting (I felt this would give a cleaner, less fussy look in such a small space). 

Wall mounted loo and taps

I love a wall hung loo (specifically the WC Kube X from GSI Ceramica) they look so sleek and also help to contribute to an airier feel in a small space. I was also keen to install wall mounted taps (I selected the Basin Mixer CRITV257 from series Tricolore Verde by CRISTINA Rubinetterie). However, in order to achieve this we needed to build out a section of the wall by 15 cm (wide enough to fit a Gerberit cistern). I was a little nervous as it's already a narrow bathroom - but actually, I'm thrilled with the result. The shelf has turned out to be a real bonus!  

Bathroom paint colour

For the ceiling and walls (without tiles) I went for Kalk from the Jotun Lady Aqua bathroom range. It's a lovely, soft, warm tone which compliments the matt white sink and loo as well as the stone floor. 

Wall mounted sink and cabinet

Here's a close up of the sleek, timeless Kube X washbasin (60 x 47) in matt white. I'm so happy with it as well as the Prisma Unit cabinet (also from GSI Ceramica) - it's perfect for storage, and since the entire unit is mounted, it gives the illusion of space. 

Taps and shower

Above and below you can see a close up of the basin Mixer CRITV257 and External Thermostatic shower mixer with overhead and hand shower CRITV486 from CRISTINA Rubinetterie. The 'brushed old brass' finish has a beautiful patina and adds so much texture. 

Shower door

We still need to add a glass wall (80 cm wide) between the shower and sink. However, I haven't decided if we also need a shower door (70 cm wide) across the front, what do you think? 

Floor tiles and details

And finally - the stone floor. I sourced the Tumbled Turtle tiles from Swedish brand Stiltje (I love the owner Pamela; she has incredible taste!). We really splurged on these and once the floor had been laid, there were a few tiles leftover which we used for the ledge above the sink and a corner shelf in the shower.  

I hope you like what we've done so far! I'm so excited the bathroom is nearly finished. We're on the home straight! 

 

The next step is to add:

1. A shower wall and potentially a shower door 

2. A privacy film inside the garden glass door (or should we go for a blind?) 

3. A loo roll holder - any thoughts on where this should go? 

4. Hooks for towels, robes, swimwear etc. 

5. All our toiletries! 

I'd love to hear your two pennies worth! 

Hopefully it will all be finished in the next few weeks - I'm so looking forward to sharing the final reveal once everything is in place!

Niki

All photos taken with my iPhone. 

*For those of you who are new to My Scandinavian Home - Per and I are building a 30 m2 (323 f2) cabin in the garden of my Mother-in-law's summer cottage on Sweden's West coast. You can see the plans here. 

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