Escaping to the Woods: Frederika's Swedish Summer Cabin

It’s a beautiful, sunny day in Scandinavia, which means my mind immediately drifts to the idyllic life at a Swedish summer cottage. Over Easter, many spent time preparing theirs for the season, and now we’re all counting down the days until July, when we can close the doors to our city homes and head to the countryside.

Since summer cottages are all about slowing down and spending quality time with family and friends, many choose to expand their living space by adding small garden dwellings – known as an attefallshus (25 m² / 269 ft²) or komplementsbostadshus (30 m² / 323 ft²). These charming little houses offer a perfect spot for extended family or visiting friends to stay.

I recently featured Frederika Palmstierna’s boho Stockholm apartment, and today, I thought I’d share the beautiful cabin she recently built on the grounds of her family’s summer cottage. Inspired by a design from Sommarnöjen, the cabin’s green wooden façade blends effortlessly into the surrounding woodland.

On warm summer days, large glass doors open wide, creating a seamless flow between indoors and out – making the most of the compact living space. On chillier days, meals are enjoyed in the cosy kitchen area, or the family (including their lovely dog!) likes to curl up by the wood-burning stove. Simply furnished yet wonderfully inviting, it’s the perfect little retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Let's take a peek! 

Lovely!

The light wood and white interior reminds me very much of our little cabin, which we too are layering over time. 

Could you imagine spending your summer here? Is there anything that stood out to you? 

In case you missed the link at the beginning, make sure you take a look at Frederika's charming Stockholm apartment, which is filled with art. 

And why not take a look at small space inspiration from Swedish attefallshus - they are great for small space ideas! 

Wishing you a happy mid-week!

Niki

Photography courtesy of @freddiepalmstierna, with thanks. 

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Inside a Charming Danish Summerhouse in Lammefjorden

It’s only a few days until the Easter holidays begin. For some in Scandinavia, that’s the cue to open up the stuga (summer house or cabin) after a long winter—sweeping out the cobwebs, airing the rooms, and letting the fresh spring breeze roll in.

No doubt the Danish owners of this charming summerhouse in Lammefjorden (a reclaimed fjord area in north-west Zealand, Denmark) are doing just that. The lovely wooden property consists of three buildings: a main house and two smaller outbuildings, including a rustic garden room designed to feel alfresco—even if it’s not quite warm enough yet to go without a roof!

Styled in soft tones of white, grey, and beige, the interiors are pared-back yet full of subtöcharacter. Much of the space has been thoughtfully handbuilt or furnished with vintage finds, giving it a relaxed, soulful charm. It has everything you need to unwind: a kitchen, dining area, sitting room, bedrooms, and of course, somewhere to spill out onto when the sun makes an appearance.

Oh, and a little birdie tells me it’s also available to rent—just in case you’re tempted to embrace a simpler life, Danish-style.

Let’s take a peek inside.

Lovely! 

Understated, simple, calm.

Could you imagine relaxing somewhere like this? If so, head over to Landfolk for more information. You might also like to see more pictures of the Danish summer house on Instagram (there are some great before-and-after pics!). 

Is there anything that stood out to you? 

This makes me excited to head up to our cabin at some point over the holidays and sit back and relax a little. Do you have any nice plans? 

While looking through the pictures, I couldn’t help but think of that Swedish summer cottage belonging to a photographer, and also the Danish Airbnb by the river I featured recently—they have a similar vibe, don’t you think?

Happy Monday friends!

Niki

Photography courtesy of @s.o.m.m.e.r.h.u.s.e.t, shared with kind permission. 

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A Rustic Surfer’s Cabin Above Roaring Beach, Tasmania

The Headland, Roaring Beach. Who wouldn't want a romantic address like that? A cabin at the end of a 1.5 km driveway, tucked above the sand and surf. But what if I told you it’s not just the rustic surfer’s cabin that’s for sale—but the entire headland directly above Roaring Beach, in Nubeena on the Tasman Peninsula, creating your very own secluded wilderness escape just an hour and a half from Hobart?

The current owners of this wonderful bespoke wild cabin, Jamie and Ingrid know a thing or two about design—they also 'rescued' The Little Black Shack, a cosy waterside eco cabin overlooking Mackerel Beach in Australia, and The Little Onsen Cabins in the mountains of Japan. And now, they have turned their hand to this charming cabin too, lovingly designing and restoring it and transforming the space into a solar-powered, handcrafted, off-grid retreat.

“With the help of neighbours (in between surfs), and using rough-sawn Tassie oak from the local timber mill, we rescued the original shed built by surfers over 30 years ago. We also recycled and repurposed existing materials and made everything else by hand. Then we filled it with pre-loved bits and pieces from our travels around the world—and Tasmania.”

Ready to take a peek inside the cabin and soak up views of the spectacular headland and coast? Pour yourself a coffee, and get comfy, this one is a dream! 

Incredible! I could totally see myself heading down for a surf (I can’t promise I’d be any good, mind you!) before wandering back up to the cabin to thaw out on the sofa by the fire. Can you imagine exploring the wilderness and then cosying up in this cabin, too? 

It must be so hard for Jamie and Ingrid to let it go—let’s hope the new owners will love it just as much as they have. If this sounds like your dream escape, a little birdy tells me the auction will be held by Sotheby’s on April 7th (contact David Medina). Ooooh, the opportunity! For more pictures, tap here. 

For those of us making do by soaking up these images and dreaming of a far-off life—did anything in the photos catch your eye? If so, I’d love to hear below! 

Have a lovely day,

Niki

Photography: Indiana Kwong & Oscar Sloane, shared with kind permission. 

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