my scandinavian home: Summer cottage

City Escape: An Allotment Cottage Oasis Tucked Away in Gothenburg

When I look for homes to feature here on My Scandinavian Home, I’m naturally a little dictated by the season. In the property market, winter is all about selling flats, while now, in late spring, it’s all about houses and summer cottages with nature on their doorstep. And just like you saw in Wednesday’s post, it’s also the season for the charming allotment cottage.

So, indulge me a little this Friday while I share another lovely kolonistuga with you – tucked away in a tranquil corner of Änggården’s growers’ association, a green oasis in the heart of Gothenburg. This little cabin is only 25 square metres (269 square feet), but the outdoor space plays a big role too, with its expansive terrace, tables and chairs, and even a pizza oven.

Inside, the green interior mirrors its lush surroundings. There’s enough space for a kitchen, dining area, and a sofabed, making it the perfect urban escape and one of those rare gems that seldom come on the market.

Ready to dream this weekend?

Can you imagine sitting here with your closest friends, sipping wine under the string lights this evening? Maybe a board of cheeses around the fire… or perhaps pizza? (It would be rude not to make the most of that outdoor oven, after all!) Lovely.

It may be simple, but sometimes, you really don’t need much more than that. Do you agree?

It’s also the perfect place to get into a bit of gardening – I’m sure the soil here is far more forgiving than the sandpit I’m currently battling with at our summer cottage (yikes!).

You can see more inspiring allotment cottages here, and if you’re in the mood for a little more city living, don’t miss these Gothenburg apartment tours:

Izard's earthy green apartment (one of the most popular tours of the year).
A beautiful Gothenburg apartment with a hint of English style
Inside Anna's coastal home on an island just outside Gothenburg

Thank you so much for all your thoughtful and interesting comments this week. I’m really looking forward to taking a bit of time out this weekend to reply to each one. You make this such a warm and welcoming community, and your insights truly add so much to every post.

Trevlig helg!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Stadshem

A Charming Swedish Allotment Cottage in the Heart of the City

While many Swedes head to the coast or countryside in summertime, there’s another delightful retreat that truly comes into its own come spring – the allotment cottage!

These charming little cottages are tucked away in garden communities – often right in the heart of the city. They offer a unique blend of urban living and nature, where you can grow and harvest your own flowers, fruit and veg just a short cycle from home.

You can stay there from spring to autumn, after which the water is turned off for the season. Despite their simplicity, they’re incredibly cosy – typically featuring a small kitchen, dining area, sitting room, and a place to sleep. They're perfect for spending a few days at a time tending your garden and enjoying a slower pace of life.

This pretty example on 'The Pea Trail' in Slottskogskolonin in the cetnre of Gothenburg offers a glimpse into the quintessential Swedish allotment cottage – and guess what? It’s for sale! Oh, the possibilities… Enjoy the tour!

Although it’s pared back, I can really see the charm and potential in this lovely cottage. It offers the best of both worlds – a countryside feel right in the city's heart!

Can you imagine owning an allotment cottage? And are you into growing your own fruit and veg? This year I’m growing cucumbers and tomatoes from seed – they’re looking good so far, so here’s hoping we’ll be enjoying fresh summer salads before long!

Let’s peek at a few more beautiful allotment cottages today – who knows, you might find your dream plot:

This swedish allotment is a true summer oasis - see the tour once the new owners moved in here.
Charming details in a Danish allotment
A Swedish allotment in summertime
A charming allotment cottage in Malmö

Happy Wednesday!

Niki

Photography and interior styling: Krister Engström & Martina Mattson for Kvarteret.

FILED UNDER: Summer cottage tiny house

A Dreamy Lakeside Swedish Cabin Escape on Airbnb

It’s Fredag (Friday), the sun is shining, and after a few days at our cabin over the Labour Day holiday watching blackbirds and oystercatchers roam around our garden, I’m fully immersed in the Swedish nature. In a country with just 10 million people (not far off the population of London) and land that stretches 1,574km (978 miles) from north to south, it’s easy to find the perfect solitude.

If you’re planning a visit, there are plenty of idyllic and remote Airbnbs to be found – like this gem. Tucked away in a forest clearing in Näsum, Skåne (southern Sweden), LakeView Cabin is a classic Swedish wooden cottage that’s been lovingly renovated with a fresh, minimalist yet comfy feel. With it's own pier and bathing deck, it's perfect for those who love a morgondopp (that bracing pre-breakfast dip!), plus there’s an outdoor shower and a sauna for warming up afterwards. All of it nestled in the kind of peaceful, whispering forest that makes you forget what day it is.

As the owners put it: “It's perfect for couples, winter bathers, life lovers and nature lovers who appreciate nature and peace and quiet as much as we do.”

For those of you who may live a little too far away to book this, there’s still plenty of inspiration to be gathered – from the way they’ve embraced the great outdoors, to the little thoughtful details indoors, like nature-themed embroidered cushions in an otherwise minimalist white room.

I hope you feel inspired and that this gives you just the virtual getaway you need to ease into the weekend!

What a perfect getaway—and by my calculations, it's only a 1.5-hour drive from Malmö, so maybe I should book a long weekend there myself.

Could you imagine relaxing here? If so, you can find more details on Airbnb.

Keen to discover a few more Scandinavian Airbnbs? Here are a few lovely ones I've featured in the past:

The Stonecutters' farm on the Swedish island of Öland

A beautiful Danish summer cottage

A fabulous Copenhagen home that's available to rent

A beautiful limestone barn on the Swedish island of Gotland

A cosy riverside cottage in Denmark

An architect's calm home (and Airbnb) in Copenhagen.

A magazine-ready cabin on a Swedish island

Getaway from it all in a Swedish lakeside cottage

A rustic pool villa on the island of Gotland

So many wonderful places to stay – perhaps this will entice you to this part of the world this summer? Välkommen!

On another note, I’m sorry for being so slow to reply to comments this week. Poor Alice has been home sick all week, and with work and the Labour Day holiday thrown in, it’s been a bit of a juggle. But I’ve loved reading every single one of your messages, and I’m so grateful that you take the time to write and share your thoughts and observations. I’m looking forward to sitting down with a coffee tomorrow and replying properly.

Have a relaxing weekend and see you Monday!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Airbnb with thanks.

FILED UNDER: airbnb holiday rental rural retreats Summer cottage swedish cottage

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!