An Idyllic Swedish Summer Cottage That Dreams Are Made Of!

Say the words 'Swedish summer cottage' and I immediately conjure up a picture of a little red and white cottage surrounded by lush, vibrant nature and somewhere to bathe a short "nakenfis" (I love this Swedish word - it literally translates as 'naked fart' but it's generally used to describe being nude!)  sprint away!! In fact, this idyllic croft in a village near Tierp an hour or so North of Stockholm is spot on! Dating back to 1909, the croft is made up of a main house and a series of little outhouses which wouldn't look out of place in Astrid Lindgren's 'Children of Noisy Village'. Step inside and you're greeted with white wood panelled walls, pretty wallpaper and painted wood floors. The furnishings are typically understated and a perfect blend of vintage and antique pieces. Ready for a little Swedish summer dreaming? 

Oh wow. This has me dreaming of 24 hour sunshine, morning dips and long, lazy lunches alfresco! 

Could you image wiling away a lazy summer here?

This is where I say - "well, it could be yours..." - and it was actually on the market for a very reasonable 750,000 SEK (€70k / $76k) via Länsförsäkringar (try pronouncing that!) but as you can  imagine, it was snapped up immediately! 

Up for a little more Scandinavian summer cottage dreaming? Pull up a chair and enjoy:

A photographer's charming summer cottage in the woods (absolutely love this!) 

A cosy rural cottage in North Sweden

An idyllic hideaway on the island of Dalarö

Actually, do you know what? I think I'll just share the link to the entire archive - there are hundreds of charming summer cottages in there from all across Scandinavia. And since it's a public holiday here tomorrow I hope it will tie you over until I return on Monday! 

Wishing you a wonderful long weekend friends - stay safe, stay well! 

Niki

Photography: Johan Fornstedt / Husfoto

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Oh, How I'd Love to Buy This Swedish Island Summer Oasis!

Last night I was scrolling through Swedish real estate (a favourite past time of mine - does that make me weird, or do you do the same in your country?!) and I discovered Emma Sundh's wonderful summer cottage has been placed on the market - complete with caravan! I turned to Per and said, 'we need to buy this'. I mean, I've been dreaming about this little red, white and blue cottage since I featured it two summers ago - and our visit to the beautiful island of Gotland last summer. Built in the late 1800s, the future buyer would benefit from relaxing in the cosy wooden cottage (which has two bedrooms plus the caravan!) and enjoy beautiful views over the garden which is bursting with lilac, clematis and roses throughout summer. Sadly, Per isn't quite ready to take the plunge (story of my life - te he he!) - so I'm hoping that one of you might snap it up and enjoy this lovely summer haven on my behalf! 

Any takers?

It's available through Bertwig (just sayin'!).

If you do snap it up, can I stop by for a cup of tea next time I'm on Gotland?

In case you're as curious as I am about this idyllic Swedish island in the Baltic, here are a few other of my favourite houses:

A rustic summer cottage with a lovely pool - for rent!
A charming 19th century house on Gotland
Swedish island life in a limestone cottage

You know what? I was feeling a little low before writing today's post (I try to stay positive, but I have to admit this whole thing gets to me every now and again, do you feel the same?) but dreaming about this lovely cottage on Gotland has perked me up no end and given me a spring in my step once again.

Here's to dreaming about long summer days!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Bertwig

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A Rustic Summer Cottage On The Swedish Island of Gotland

Thank you for sharing all your thoughts on Thursday. I've been thinking about you all and also how to approach all of this here on MSH. After some thought, I've decided to do what I (hope I) do best: provide somewhere where we can all come each day, pour a coffee, put our feet up and feel inspired - even if just for a few moments at a time. What do you think? 

With that in mind, today we're heading on a virtual trip to the Swedish island of Gotland. I paid my first visit during our Baltic sailing trip last summer (you can read / see pictures of our trip here) and I've been dreaming about it ever since. Located off the east coast of Sweden, the island offers everything you can possibly imagine: breath-taking scenery, rolling hills, great swathes of deserted sandy beaches, roads lined with banks of wildflowers, hundreds of ateliers, galleries and farm shops, you name it! It's a truly magical place! 

Tempted to add this to your 'future holidays' file? If so, this traditional limestone cottage with pretty blue window frames is waiting for you! It sleeps 8 and made up of a main house and guest house both of which have been decorated in a charming pared-down, rustic way. Oh, and it has a heated pool (after all, the Swedish summer can be highly suspect at times!). Ready for the tour? 

Beautiful!

This is EXACTLY my type of holiday home! Could you imagine staying here too?

Have you been to Gotland? If not I can highly recommend it, and when you do, this place is available to rent through Airbnb (totally one to add to your list!).

In the meantime, here is some more beautiful inspiration from the island:

A charming 19th century house on Gotland
A relaxed Swedish summer cabin by the sea
Your island retreat on the island of Gotland
A pared back Swedish summer house on Gotland
A Beautiful Gotland home in soothing shades of grey

And if you'd like to add one thing to your own home to get a taste of the island - and feel that little more cosy, it's a Gotland sheepskin throw*. I've had mine for 5 years and it's invaluable!

Think I might just go back and look through my pictures of our trip to the Blekinge archipelago and Gotland again and re live it!

Nothing like starting the week with a little dreaming, don't you think?

Niki

Photographs courtesy of Airbnb. 
*Affiliate link

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Could This Beautiful Danish House Be Your Summer Residence?

Where do Copenhagers go for their summer holiday? Not as far as you might think. Many flock to the Danish riviera and the small fishing villages dotted along the coastline of North Zealand (unless the forecast is dreadful in which case, you might just see a mass exodus to Mallorca!). I had the pleasure of visiting Tisvilde, a small coastal town several years back for my book The Scandinavian Home. The former fishing village comes alive in summertime and is a mere 50 minute drive from the Danish capital. And one lucky family will get to enjoy the vibe from this listed early 20th century house! Referred to as a 'historical gem', the estate overlooks the Kattegat Sea and comes with an annex and cottage (in other words, plenty of space for extra guests!). The only setback? It's on the market via Adam Schnack for a cool 23,500,000 DKK (approx 3.5 million USD). Let's take a peek inside!































Can't quite stretch to this figure but would still love to visit the area? How about a couple of nights at Helenekilde Badehotel? Overlooking the Kattegat Sea, this family-run hideout dates back to the late 19th century and is overseen by former ballet dancer Alexander Kølpin. Think summery rattan furniture, lovely linens and jute rugs and a view to die for. The breakfast is said to be divine too!







Could this be your home from home this summer? I've had my eye on this hotel for a while - and it's only a 1 hour 20-minute drive from Malmö - not sure what's holding me back!

Or perhaps you're thinking of snapping up the house? If so, perhaps I can stop by for a coffee and smørrebrød when I make that road trip?!

Thank you so much for the tip Frida / Trendenser!

Mind if I share a few other beautiful Danish homes today?

A dreamy Copenhagen home full of books and art
A charming Danish home on a shoestring budget
The colours in this Danish home will be hot in 2020!

Hav en god dag! 

Niki

Photography: House courtesy of Adam Scnhack / Hotel pictures courtesy of Helenekilde Badehus

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