A Dreamy Rustic Cottage in a Hidden Corner of Tasmania

I always try to stick to scandinavian homes here on the blog, but every now and again I go off-piste in a spectacular way! Like today. Those of you who know me well, will confirm my lifelong dream of visiting Tasmania, and I'm sure I'm not alone. Despite being on the opposite of the world and no doubt a very different climate, there are a few similarities with the Nordics (at least from what I have seen!). Firstly, Tasmania appears to be characterised by incredible, wild untouched nature. And secondly, this nature often inspires the decor in a beautiful way. 

I feel so drawn to the relaxed vibe of the cabins and cottages I so often discover on Airbnb! And this charming little rustic cottage is no different! Beautifully captured by Lean Timms who tells me 'it's such a special space, you'd love it' (I have no doubt!), the 160 year old cottage is hidden away in a secret, secluded corner of Tasmania, inviting guests to 'slow down, unplug and reconnect.' 

Owner Christine Hansen - founder of The Patina Factory,  recently returned from an eight year Hiatus in Sweden and has loving restored the one-bedroom cottage using only locally-sourced natural materials which compliment the antique timber frame. The result is a charming and relaxed cottage in which to kick back, unbind and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. 

Ready to take a look? 

"Living in Sweden, I really came to understand some fundamental things about what makes a building beautiful" - Christine Hansen. 

I'm already on that daybed looking out over the Mersey river, how about you? 

The style reminds me a of a farmhouse high up on a hill in Vermont that I captured for my first book Relaxed Rustic (formerly known as Modern Pastoral). Which also took my breath away! 

See more pictures of this luxury rustic cottage in Tasmania on Airbnb here and follow Christine for more over at @twissstreet. 

Have you been to Tasmania? Or perhaps you're lucky enough to call it home? If so, please do share your experiences in the comment section below! Did anything stand out to you? 

Here are a few other dreamy Tasmanian properties I've featured in the past: 

Captain's Cottage - a bolthole in Hobart

A wabi-sabi getaway in the Bay of Fires

A relaxed artist's cabin by the sea

Whale song shack 

Have a great start to the week friends! 

Niki

Photography by the talented Lean Timms, shared with kind permission. 

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Riikka's Idyllic Waterside Cabin in the Eastern Gulf of Finland

Today, I'm excited to be taking you on a journey to Finland and the beautiful island of Rääntiö (try pronouncing that one?) in the stunning Eastern Gulf of Finland. Rather than tell the story of the island and this charming cabin myself, here's the owner Riikka to tell the fascinating tale herself! So, friends, pull up a seat and enjoy the tour, I hope you'll feel as inspired as I am! 

Can you describe Rääntiö island?

Rääntio is quite a small island, with nine cottages altogether, the island is less than 1 km long. We own maybe 25% of the island with our properties on the north, east and south side of the island - so, we have nice paths to go for a little walk or picnic on other side. 

How do you get to the island?

We have our own boat and it takes only 5-10 minutes from the mainland. The sea is normally frozen from January to March / April so then we arrive via ATV (form of quad bike) or snowmobile. 

How did you find the property?

Our cabin life started in August 2011 when we saw the island for the first time. We had heard that this place was for sale and even though we had decided that we would definitely never buy a cabin (as we had just built a house), and especially not on an island - Rääntio captured our hearts instantly! Maybe it was destiny that we came here, the feeling was so strong. We spent our first weekend here with our three sons three weeks later! 

Can you tell us more about your cabins? 

We bought Pohjoisranta (meaning 'North shore') twelve years ago. I just fell in love with the island! It's the first cabin we renovated and it's become our second home and our happy place. It was so nice to see how an old cottage received new life and to create some new spaces as our kids grew bigger. We have since bought two more cottages including Eteläranta (meaning 'south shore') and and Itäranta (east shore). They were lonely, sad and forgotten when we found them, and we have loved renovating them to give them a new lease of life. Itäranta is available to rent via Airbnb. 

It would be wonderful to hear more about your main family cabin 'Pohjoisranta' - which all these pictures are from. Did it require a lot of attention? 

At first the cabin was very little - around 30 sqm / 322 fsq, but it was big enough for us at the time. The following summer we renovated the existing cabin and then after a few years, as our sons grew older, we built an extension with a second kitchen and a glass terrace to create more space - and for when friends come to visit. The cabin now has 5 sleep alcoves and two separate living spaces. We also have a guest cottage. These days we have really great weekends or holidays with our grown up sons and many friends! 

Note the stick which has been used as an impromptu kitchen roll holder, love that!

What facilities do you have at the cabin? 

We have an electrical (burning) toilet inside cabin for dark or stormy winter nights but mostly we use the bio toilet outside - here it feels important to live as environmentally friendly as possible. 

Do you have running water? 

We have a well, so in the warm season (around the end of April to end of November) we have normal running water (including warm water and a dishwasher in the kitchen and a washing machine). We have cold water in the sauna and toilet. During the winter when it's minus degrees, we carry the water from the well and do the dishes by hand. 

Are your decor choices also influenced by sustainability? 

We have many recycled or reused items in the cabin - and we've also made many items by hand. That's our way to save nature  and I hope also to have somehow a timeless, personal touch which hold special memories from past years with loved family members. 

What is one of your favourite things about the cabin interior? 

I think one of the best things is the functionality. For example, we have only tiny sleeping places / alcoves, which saves space for living areas which gives the possibility to gather more people. It's great to have two separate living spaces - one in the old part of the cabin, and one in the new as this allows for privacy and flexibility. My husband and I like to wake up at 6am when our sons surely want to sleep! 

Would you say the furniture is functional, too? 

I like to ensure the furniture is functional. For example I have 3 similar tables which I move around and change according to the time of year, In summer they are in the glass terrace but in winter I move 1-2 tables inside. Some benches serve as storage etc. 

The glassed-in terrace adds a large living space in summertime. Note the tables which can be combined to create a larger one, or divided up according to what is required. 

I have heard that there are more saunas than cars in Finland! Do you have one on the island? 

We have a traditional Finnish sauna in a separate little cottage by the water, 71 steps down from the main cabin. We use the stove in the sauna to heat the water in order to wash - we have no separate bathroom or shower. The traditional sauna is so relaxing  - heating it up is a calming ritual and then just lying on the benches in a the dark, warm sauna, listening to the sound of the burning wood. During the winter it's very dark, and the only light comes from the sauna stove and maybe some lanterns. 

What is daily life like at the cabin when you are there?

Cabin life is very peaceful (when we don't have a project going on!). We follow nature and birds and listen to the wind and waves. We enjoy a a simple life, often starting the day by making a fire on which to boil our coffee, then heating the sauna, swimming in the sea in all weather and seasons or taking short boat cruises around the archipelago. 

Thank you so much for sharing an insight into your life in the beautiful Eastern Gulf of Finland Riikka, it sounds truly idyllic. I think I might just be booking my family into your Airbnb very soon! 

See more snapshots of daily life on Rääntiö island and Riikka's lovely cottages over at @raantio_suomenlahti and book a week or weekend stay in Itäranta here. Perhaps I'll see you there? 

In the meantime, would you like to see a few other rural Finnish homes? Here are a few I often dream about: 

An idyllic Finnish summer cabin on the water's edge

Ilkka's charming rural retreat

A magical rustic farmhouse in Finland

Have a fabulous start to the week! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of @raantio_suomenlahti, shared with kind permission. 

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A Danish Summer Cabin with 10 Garden Elements for a Dreamy Oasis!

Are you a fan of instagram? I have to confess I find it a little hit and miss these days, but right now it's fantastic as I'm trying to figure out what to do with our garden at the cabin and my feed is full of dreamy garden inspiration. Which is how I stumbled upon this Danish cabin! 

Lærke Hentze and her family bought a piece of land in the beautiful village of Gilleleje, North of Copenhagen in 2017 and have since built a charming cabin from the ground up. You'd be forgiven for thinking it's old thanks to a traditional Danish coastal vibe - in part due to the beaded wood panelling and earthy tones which have been carefully selected to reflect the surroundings.

In Scandinavia, summers are sacred, and the garden is an important part of the living space! Scroll on down to discover ten ways Lærke has made the most of their outdoor space to ensure a true summer oasis.  

But first, let's start with the indoors: 

The darker blue cabinets in the kitchen help to add contrast and interest and also nod to the nearby Kattegatt sea. 

The main living area is completely open-plan with a kitchen, dining room and sitting room in one - emphasising the idea of togetherness, an important element of the Scandinavian summer cottage. 

A wood-burning stove is an essential piece of kit for a touch of Danish hygge! 

A striped sofa cover adds a subtle coastal vibe while a designer lamp and safari style chair elevate the room. 

Books are an essential element of any summer cottage, as hopefully you finally time to catch up on some reading! 

I love how vases are filled with flowers and foliage from the garden - no matter the time of year. 

A bar? Now we're talking! 

And how beautiful is the vintage rattan bar cart? There are lots of similar ones to buy here* (affiliate link).

Rattan has been hugely popular for a while now, and I can understand why, it adds an instantly relaxed atmosphere, and on warmer, dry days it can be moved outdoors too! 

Possibly one of the most popular lamps in Denmark (and something I covet for my own cabin, is a Le Klint scissor lamp - beautiful! 

Time to move outdoors? Lærke has created a dreamy oasis from scratch. I discovered ten elements she has included for an idyllic Scandinavian summer cottage garden:  

1. The outdoor kitchen: When you have to endure the long winters that we do in Scandinavia, it's important to embrace every moment of the warmer weather. Outdoor kitchens have become increasingly popular and don't require much in the way of equipment. Freestanding units, a sink, and a gas or electric stove should do the trick. 

A spot under the eaves is used to dry flowers such as crown dill. 

2. Dining area: an obvious one, but oh how I dream about meals alfresco! Do as the Scandinavians and add cushions, blankets, oil lamps and lanterns so you can stay outside for longer after sunset.

3. A parasol: while we all love sunshine, it's not so comfortable if you're feeling the heat! The best parasols have a tilting function and should be around 50 cm to 1 metre wider than the space you would like to cover. 

4. An outdoor living room: why lounge around on the sofa indoors when you can lounge around outside in comfort! The rattan outdoor chairs are from Cane-line and the table is by Fermob. 

5. Summer flowers: the key, I have learnt from my Scandinavian friends, is to create a garden that requires as little maintenance as possible (after all, you're there to relax!) and also flowers when you intend to use it - which in most cases in Scandinavia means June, July and August. 

'Annabelle' hydrangea, with its spectacular white pompoms is hugely popular here - and requires little maintenance. Lærke has combined hers with tall grasses for a more wild, natural look. 

6. An annex: seen here across the flower beds, an annex is ideal for extra guests and afternoon siestas - if you have the space! 

7. The fire pit: a log fire is great way to spend time outdoors in wintertime without feeling the chill! But they are also lovely on chillier summer evenings too. Keep it simple and surround the fire with a few logs for seating. 

8. The sleep shelter: If you head out into the wilderness in Scandinavia, you'll spot these open-sided shelters along the trails. Made from wood, they provide shelter over lunch or at night - just add a sleeping bag and pillow for a good night's slumber! I love how Lærke has included one in her garden so her family can sleep out under the stars. 

9. A hammock: so simple, yet so perfect to spend some alone under the boughs of a tree with a book! 

10. Somewhere to take a dip: Since a morning and evening dip are an essential part of summer life, Scandinavian summer cottages are rarely far from water - whether a lake, river, fjord or the sea. No water nearby? Add a simple bath like this danish cabin - or a small plunge pool! 

I hope Lærke's idyllic summer oasis has given you some inspiration for your own home / outdoor space today. If you'd like to see more pictures, hop over to her instagram at @creating_a_cottage. 

Could you imagine spending your summers here? 

Would you like to see more today? Take a scroll through the Scandinavian cabins archive - there are so many dreamy ones in there! 

Have a wonderful start to the week! 

Niki

Photography: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 , 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 ,15 by Copenhagen based photographer Chris Opander Tonnesen. Others by Lærke Hentze / @creating_a_cottage. Shared with kind permission. 

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Julie's Bright Danish Summer Cabin by the Sea

This weekend, the clocks went forward in Sweden - which always feels like a giant leap towards summertime (even if it was painful when the alarm clock went off!). In honour of the occasion, I couldn't resist sharing a dreamy Danish summer cabin with you. 

But it hasn't always been dreamy. In fact when Julie Løwenstein and her husband Simon Schack first discovered the cabin in Rørvig, it was dark, dank and had been on the market for an age. As a stylist for Bolig magasinet, Julie knows her way around a renovation and how to give homes a lift. The couple found that painting the interior white was key to creating a bright living space - and they also put in a new kitchen and bathroom.

Today, the simple, yet vibrant cabin has everything the family need to enjoy weekends and holidays away from the city. 

See the full tour and floor plan here and read more about Julie's cabin at Bolig Magasinet (in Danish). 

For more charming cabin / summer cottage inspiration, I love: 

A danish cottage oasis on Zealand

A dreamy danish cottage with an outdoor bathroom

10 idyllic Scandinavian summer cottages

Have a fab start to the week friends! 

Niki

PS This post has been edited. 

Photography: Anitta Behrendt

Styling: Julie Løwenstein - shared with kind permission

Featured in: Bolig Magasinet

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