A Swedish Island Getaway by the Baltic Sea

Many years ago, Per, the girls and I sailed to the long, slim Baltic island of Öland. It's a fascinating place. to the mainland via a bridge, it's where the Swedish royal family spend much of their summer at nearby Solliden Palace. Funnily enough, while we were walking through the forest, Prince Carl Philip went past on his daily jog!

Anyway, this is a very long-winded way of saying, sorry, but I have another rustic coastal home to share with you this week, which I couldn't resist, not least because it's located right on the shore with spectacular views over the cool blue waters of the Baltic Sea.

Inside, the house is simply furnished with antiques and family heirlooms, evidence of it having remained in the same family for over a century. Whitewashed timber walls, worn wooden furniture and a handsome masonry fireplace create a wonderfully relaxed, unfussy feel, while touches of greenery and wildflowers bring the outdoors in. I also love how the owners have kept the interiors pared back, allowing the sea views to do the talking. Every window seems to frame the Baltic like a work of art.

Ready to take a look around? Let's step inside and enjoy the complete tour.

Imagine waking up here each day, spending your days at the water's edge before falling asleep to the sound of the waves. Helt magiskt (completely magical!), as they say in Sweden. I'll certainly be dreaming about this place all weekend.

I hope you enjoyed the tour of this idyllic rustic cabin too!

I'm looking forward to sharing an extra post with you on Monday - with a guide to my adopted home town of Malmö and all the wonderful things you can do here by the sea - from cafes and restaurants to sauna and sailing! 

A little note to say thank you for all your comments and emails lately. We have a little rain on the forecast this weekend, so I thought I'd take some time out with a coffee and sit down to reply to each and every one of you. I so enjoy reading your observations, and you often pick out details I've completely missed. Tack så mycket!

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Wrede, with thanks.

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The Craftsman Cabin: A Cosy and Simple Place to Unwind

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 fjords

Speaking 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.

Niki

Photography courtesy of @craftsmanscabin - including pictures taken by @davewattsphotography, @littlegreenshed, @luke_brady_johnson, @wishwishwish.

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5 extra-cosy Scandinavian cottages in the snow

The snow arrived in Sweden yesterday and oh, how I scoured the web for a snow cottage to share with you today. But alas, it’s been a cazry week and an equally crazy day, and I’ve completely run out of time. And now, with it being 5pm on a Friday night — and our own getaway beckoning this weekend (we really need to hit the road soon; with all the ice, it’s getting more and more treacherous after dark!) — I thought I’d share a throwback to five beautiful, extra-toasty Scandinavian cottages and cabins in the snow with you instead.

I hope they put you in a cosy, wintery mood! 

1. Hanna's Finnish country home in the snow at Christmas

2. A Swedish log cabin by a (iced-over) lake

3. A Swedish country home in snowy North Sweden

4. Pretty DIY Christmas decorting ideas from a Swedish country house

5. A cosy off-grid cabin in Lapland

How wonderful! Is there anything better than a log cabin in the snow with a roaring fire, a ton of books, and a stack of games?

Speaking of which, it’s time for us to head down to Ystad! I hope you have a wonderful weekend — and stay warm if it’s as cold where you are as it is here.

I’m looking forward to getting started with some more Christmassy posts next week… it’s time!

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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