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11/06
Hei hei, as they say in Norway! Friday calls for an escape, don't you think? And this lovely cabin in Aust-Agder, southern Norway, looks like just the place to get away from it all!Sissel Bjerga and her family fell in love with this beautiful spot and decided to buy the cabin during the pandemic. They then set about designing a new addition, joining it to the old cabin already on the plot. And what a lovely place they've created! With warm wood, huge windows and views over the lake and forest, it must be such a wonderful place to escape to.
Inside, they've kept things lovely and simple, mixing old and new pieces, including a rustic gateleg table and a big comfy sofa (an absolute must for a cabin, don't you think?). And really, with views like these, you don't need much else!
When they're not curled up indoors, there's plenty to enjoy outside too, from wandering through the forest and picking mushrooms to taking a dip in the lake.
Here are a few glimpses inside, with a mix of beautiful photographs by Mint Agency and relaxed snapshots of everyday cabin life taken by Sissel herself.
Lovely!It actually reminds me a little of our own cabin (although ours is a bit smaller, and we certainly don't have those magnificent views!). I can definitely imagine hanging out here this weekend, how about you?One of the things I love most about these little getaways is that you really don't need much. A crackling fire, a cosy sofa and somewhere to cook up something delicious. There's something so relaxing about the simplicity of it all, don't you think?
You can see more of Sissel's beautiful cabin over at @snuppedupp.
And can we just take a moment to appreciate the Norwegian wilderness? If you've never been, it's hard to describe the incredible light, the solitude and the sheer drama of the landscape. It's truly breathtaking, and a dream country to escape to!
Speaking of which, shall we take a peek inside a few more Norwegian cabins? I think you'll love these:
A serene cabin stay in the Norwegian wilderness
A fjordside Norwegian retreat
A beautiful ski chalet in Hafjell, NorwayThank you so much for all your lovely comments and emails about the new blog design, and for helping me celebrate My Scandinavian Home turning 15 – a true teenager now! I was amazed to hear that some of you have been following along since the very beginning. How wonderful is that? It really means so much!
I hope you all have a lovely, relaxing weekend, whatever you have planned. And as always, thank you for stopping by!
NikiPS My latest piece for IKEA is out if you fancy a read here - and this time it's all about the IKEA museum, which I had the pleasure of visiting a few weeks ago in Älmhult. I learnt so much about Swedish culture, it was quite incredible!Credits Mint Agency & Sissel Bjerga, shared with kind permission.
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08/28
Those of you who are regular followers of MSH will know that not every home I show is actually located in Scandinavia. In fact, I have a particular penchant for homes Down Under, Tasmania to be specific. And today I'm taking things one step further.
This home is on a small island off Tasmania, which is pretty much as far from Sweden as it's possible to get without starting to come back again! But hey, geography has never stopped me dreaming. I've promised myself I'll make it there one day. And for those of you who get there before me, here's a stay that would be very hard to resist.
On the southern tip of Bruny Island, interior stylist Tess Newman Morris and her husband Jack have transformed a century-old timber cottage into a wonderfully soulful retreat. Built around 1906 and perched above Little Taylors Bay, Fairweather stole Tess's heart the moment she saw it. She and her family bought it in 2018 and spent the next seven years slowly restoring it, largely themselves, using reclaimed timber, salvaged windows and doors, antique furniture and natural materials.
Rather than making the cottage feel new, Tess wanted to return it to something simpler, calmer and more handcrafted. The result is beautifully understated, with waxed timber floors, vintage pieces, natural fibres and plenty of breathing space, all surrounded by the wild landscape of Bruny Island. Days here are shaped by the sea, changing skies, sea eagles and dolphins, and for Tess there's an added emotional connection too, since her late mother once lived in a nearby bay.
Today, Fairweather is less about polished perfection and more about switching off, slowing down and feeling completely immersed in nature. Or, as Tess puts it, "Time feels different there, like the rest of the world is on pause."
Ready to take the tour? Photographer Lisa Cohen captured these beautiful images, so let's take a look inside...
Incredible! I can’t think of a better place to spend a weekend... can you? Actually, scrap that. The rugged wilderness, the beautiful, relaxed interior and the views have me wanting to settle in and stay a while.
Definitely one to save for my future ‘gap year’ on the other side of the world. It might be a long time coming, but oh, it’s coming!
Is there anything that struck you about Fairweather?
And if you fancy experiencing it for yourself, you can find Fairweather Bruny Island on Airbnb and book a stay.
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Niki
Interior styling: Tess Newman Morris
Photography: Lisa Cohen -
05/19
I have seen thousands of Scandinavian cabins in my two decades of living here (some in person, many online!), and while each one is unique, they usually share a few themes: heirlooms and second-hand finds, or traditional pieces that reflect a relaxed, down-to-earth lifestyle, and colour palettes that mirror their surroundings with touches of coastal blue or countryside green. Not this one. And that’s exactly why it caught my eye.
So cool and different!But the big question is - can you guess what's inside the beehive? I'll share the answer (and a picture) later this week. Oooooh, the suspense!Is there anything that you loved about this danish cabin? Could you imagine spending your summer here?It would be rude not to share a few more Danish summer houses today. If you have the time, please do check out:Thank you so much for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed the virtual trip to the coast of Denmark!NikiCredits / Property for sale via Alecsander Delfs -
02/13
I might need to rename this blog My Scandinavian Getaway. I can’t seem to stop sharing escapes that we can actually book. Sometimes I wonder if this little corner of the web is a subconscious reflection of my inner psyche, because every February without fail I announce to Per that it’s time to leave Sweden. Then spring rolls around, which leads to the magnificent summer, and I announce that I am, in fact, staying put. Relief all round! Do you have seasons in your country where you think they could do with being a little shorter?That was a very long way of saying I have another, very lovely escape to share with you. This time, in the shape of a cosy and rustic Craftsman Cabin (the name alone had my ears pricking up, how about you?). Nestled on the edge of the Somerset Levels and Moors in southern England, this little cabin has its very own meadow, with uninterrupted views and big skies. It’s built by hand and feels wonderfully considered without trying too hard. There’s even an outdoor roll-top bath, perfectly placed for soaking while taking in the view.Perhaps best of all, the Craftsman’s Cabin has been built entirely by hand and designed to sit quietly within its surroundings. Everything about it feels thoughtful and unfussy, from the way it opens out onto the Somerset landscape to the small details shaped by local skills and traditions. It's the perfect place to slow down, spend time outdoors, and enjoy being somewhere beautifully simple.Let's take a peek inside!
What a lovely, cosy cabin! Life looks so simple and relaxing.I love the simplicity of the decor: plenty of textiles in earthy colours and patterns, paintings in various forms, relaxed open shelving and a singing kettle. But above all else, I would happily soak in the outdoor tub and watch the murmurations of starlings as they dance across the sky. Magical. We often see this wonderful sight in the nature reserve beside our summer cottage in late summer, and I always find it so mesmerising. Have you seen a murmuration?Could you imagine staying in this cabin? If so, please do check out their website for more details.Is there anything that caught your eye? Maybe the full English breakfast?!If I've got you in the mood for more cabin inspiration today, check out:Riika's idyllic waterside cabin in Finland
Leanne Ford's woodsy cabin
A cosy, candlelit cabin in the Norwegian fjordsSpeaking of getaways, with the school half term starting today we’re heading off on a small family road trip to the Alps. It's become at a great time as the girls have been working so hard this term with lots of important exams (I don't miss those maths lessons do you?). I hope it'a OK that I'll be off next week but look forward to blogging again on Tuesday 24th February. Have a lovely week and see you then.NikiPhotography courtesy of @craftsmanscabin - including pictures taken by @davewattsphotography, @littlegreenshed, @luke_brady_johnson, @wishwishwish.
