Inside An Idyllic Norwegian Island Getaway

Hej hej! Happy Friday! In case you’re wondering about the current mood in Scandinavia – it’s very much a case of “gone fishing” or, more accurately, “gone to the summer cottage, back in three weeks.” It’s July, and no one works in July unless they absolutely have to. After all, we’ve endured a long, cold, dark winter – this is the moment we’ve been waiting for!

One of Scandinavia’s best-kept secrets is the incredible array of islands that come alive at this time of year. There’s something for everyone – tiny skerries, uninhabited nature reserves with hiking trails and camping spots, and charming islands dotted with clapboard summer cottages, old fishing villages, and small harbours where life gathers in the evening. The days follow a simple rhythm: eat, swim, nap, repeat.

This delightful summer cottage is situated in Hvaler, a municipality made up of islands in the southern part of Østfold County, Norway, and perfectly captures the essence of the Scandinavian summer idyll. Its relaxed coastal interior, with blue and white accents, reflects the hues of the Skagerrak Sea, glimpsed through the windows. A sailboat here, a cluster of ornamental glass fishing buoys there – it’s all part of the charm.

Though modest, the cottage offers an effortless comfort: a relaxed sofa, soft blankets, sheepskins and cushions invite you to kick back and unwind. But if the sun’s shining, you’ll probably be tempted to join the alfresco gathering, where fresh prawns await – or slip away to the water’s edge for a quiet moment alone, soaking up the scenery and recharging for the season ahead.

Enjoy the tour!

Charming in every way!

It’s been captured so beautifully that I feel as though I’m right there – soaking up the sunshine on the warm rocks with a book in hand.

Do you feel it too?

Does it sound like your kind of summer? Is there anything that stood out to you? If so, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

If you’d like to see more snapshots, hop over to @hvalerlivet on Instagram – it’s a true feast for the eyes!

Would you like to explore more Norwegian summer houses today? If so, take a peek at: 

A magical Norwegian house by a fjord
An idyllic fjordside retreat in Norway
A charming little cabin by a Norwegian fjord

By the way, if you're curious about the scent of these islands - Skandinavisk have managed to bottle it up in the beautiful ØY collection and this July you can get 20% off all their fragrances (including candles, washes, lotions etc) with code ISLAND20. Just saying! 

Have a wonderful weekend – and thank you for stopping by!

Niki

Photography courtesy of @hvalerlivet, shared with kind permission. 

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A Serene Cabin Stay in Norway’s Wilderness

Why, hi there friends! I hope you had a wonderfully relaxing weekend. I also hope you have your bags packed, because we're heading off on a virtual trip to the Norwegian wilderness — to visit the newly built wood cabin of Lin Christin Mortensholm!

Now, as we’re enjoying the beautiful spring weather, you might be puzzled by the snowy picture above — but in some parts of Norway, the backcountry ski season is still in full swing.

Designed according to Lin’s philosophy of a "natural, quiet interior, and mindful living", the Scandinavian-style blond wood cabin was the well-deserved winner of "The Year's Cabin Gullfjæren". Naturally, I was keen to find out more — and discovered a beautiful, serene living space where the indoors blend seamlessly with the wild beauty of the outdoors.

Immersed in nature — where the contrasting seasons create an ever-changing series of striking landscapes — the interior has been kept wonderfully simple, allowing the surrounding scenery to take centre stage.

An open-plan design, the striking monochrome interior is furnished with an array of pieces crafted from natural materials like cork, wood and canvas. Freshly picked foliage, such as lupins and bracken, helps to capture the true essence of the season.

Ready to take a tour?

What a wonderful getaway! It's definitely the kind of place where you’d pull up, unpack and feel instantly relaxed, with nothing to do except immerse yourself in the incredible nature — whether walking, skiing, or simply sitting by the fire with a good book.

Can you imagine chilling here this week? Was there anything that caught your eye?

Hop on over to @lysthus_skrim to see more beautiful angles of Lin’s cabin.

It’s no secret that I absolutely LOVE Norway. It’s an incredible country. I’ve visited many times — for holidays, work, and to write travel guides for Simply Scandi magazine. Here are a couple of guides I’ve featured on My Scandinavian Home:

Spectacular Bodø and Lofoten

The Hardanger Fruit Trail

Is there anywhere you've been in Norway that you would recommend? 

Oh, and some beautiful Norwegian homes to feel inspired by: 

A magical rural escape by a Norwegian fjord

A summer fjord side retreat in Norway

A Norwegian house by a fjord

A ski chalet in Hafjell

Have a great start to the week! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of @lysthus_skrim, shared with kind permission. 

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A Beautiful Ski Chalet / Cabin in Hafjell, Norway

Happy New Year! I hope your 2024 has got off to a cracking start! I'm so happy to be back, here's to a great year of drool-worthy Scandi inspiration! 

It's no secret I think Norway is the most spectacular place on earth - and after Christmas, my family and I headed to the fells of Hafjell to blow away the cobwebs, ski, and generally relax by the fire. Temperatures reached minus 26 degrees celsius (-14.8 F), which shall we say, is fresh. But fortune favours the bold, as they say - and we wrapped up warm and headed out into the frozen landscape to njuta (savour) the vistas over the snowcapped forests and valley below. 

It's a place I hope everyone can venture to at least once in their lifetime whether you're into downhill skiing, cross country or simply relaxing by the fire! And if you do, I've found you just the cabin! Listed on Airbnb, I was immediately drawn to the the pared-down wood clad interior which has been kitted out in almost all natural materials to mirror the surrounding landscape. Meanwhile, a vast stone fireplace and a hot bath await to help thaw out your toes after a day on the trails. Ready to dream? 

What a beautiful cabin! Could you imagine staying here? You can find all the details on Airbnb here. 

Let me know if you think it would be interesting to feature a personal guide to Hafjell, Norway here on the blog - I'd be happy to share my experience as well as some tips for magical things to do in the area (ice bathing being one of them!). In the meantime, you can catch a glimpse of our trip in this instagram reel and my in instagram highlights if you'd like! 

How about taking a look inside a few other snowy mountain cabins today? Pull up a seat, pour a coffee and enjoy: 

A magical Norwegian mountain cabin

A contemporary Swedish ski chalet with a wonderful window seat

A lakeside Swedish log cabin in the snow

A dreamy scandi-inspired ski chalet in Whitefish

I am so happy to be back blogging again after the break. As always I'll be posting three days a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday). If you'd like to ensure you don't miss a post, you might like to sign up to my newsletter, 

*And in other news - my new book Njuta, The Swedish Art of Savouring the Moment has now launched! Thank you SO much to everyone who has already ordered a copy, it really means SO MUCH. I hope the tricks and tips I mention in the book will help elevate each and every one of your days in 2024. Njuta is currently available through all retailers and libraries in the USA and Canada (if your local bookstore or library doesn't yet have a copy in stock, please do put in a request!). The book is also available on Amazon pretty much worldwide and Waterstones in the UK. Although, I promise, there will be more languages and retailers to follow. 

Have a wonderful start to the week! 

Niki

*advert for my own work

Photography courtesy of Airbnb with thanks

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