Before & After: A Swedish Fire Station becomes a Family Summer Home

I've shown many awe-inspiring homes on My Scandinavian Home over the past decade (yes - it'll be ten years since I started this blog in November!), but I've never featured a converted fire station! When Swedish pair Petra and Anders Jönsson turned 50 they felt like doing something a little crazy. The answer came in the form of a dilapidated fire station in Stora Köpinge, Skåne - which they spotted for sale online for a cool 750,000 SEK (€75,000 / 89,000 USD). The pair had the vision of transforming the four-storey property into a summer holiday home for themselves and their five children - a perfect weekend and holiday retreat from everyday life in Stockholm. The project quickly drew the attention of popular Swedish TV program Husdrömmar, who followed the entire renovation. Ready to find take a look?

Exterior Before

The fire station was built in the 1930s for the purpose of serving Stora Köping, a village in the beautiful region of Österlen in South Sweden. The couple had grand plans for the property, including changing the colour of the exterior, but planning permission restrictions meant the existing facade should remain relatively untouched. Instead, they freshened up the exterior and replaced the double doors (previously used for the fire engine) into glass doors. 

Exterior after

The pair also added an extension onto the rear to make space for a dining room and also replaced the back of the tower with glass windows - weighing 800 kg each! 

Interior before

When the couple acquired the property, the interior was basic to say the least! The ground floor hadn't been touched since its days as a fire station, while the tower was a corrugated iron shell with a ladder.  

The floorplan

The property is four storeys high, which the couple planned on converting into a living area, sleeping quarters, a bathroom and lounge area. 

Interior after

Underfloor heating was installed and the ceiling was knocked through to create a beautiful, light-filled living space.  The pair decided to keep the decor simple and pared-down and used neutral tones throughout. 

Stairs were added to the left of the property (rather than centrally placed) in order to make space for a kitchen. A trap door which gives access to extra storage. 

The family enjoy uninterrupted views of the Österlen countryside to the rear of the property. 

Wooden stairs add warmth and a contemporary touch to the tower - and are a major improvement on the rickety ladders! 

Although small, the bedrooms feel spacious thanks to large windows. 

The top floor has been converted into a 3 metre x 3 metre lounge area in which to chill! 

How fantastic!! 

There's no denying that this was an incredibly brave move and required a copious amount of work (and money) - but the results are worth it. After all, not many people can say they live in a converted fire station! 

Could you imagine taking on a project like this? 

Live in Sweden? You can view the entire project on SVT here. Otherwise, see more pics over at @brandstaionenstorakopinge. 

Did I mention that Petra and Ander's home in Stockholm is in a converted water? Perhaps that's a tour for another day! 

Up for a little more inspiration today? Take a look back at these fabulous property conversions: 

A home in a converted carpenters workshop

The home of a fashion designer in a converted bar

My friend Louise's home in a converted school

There are plenty more incredible before and after projects in this archive too! 

Wishing you a wonderful day - I hope the sun is shining for you. 

Niki

Photography: all photos courtesy of Petra and Anders (@brandstaionenstorakopinge) with the addition of two photographs taken by Lina Östling and Mari Strenghielm. The floorplan is courtesy of SVT / Husdrömmar. 

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A Dreamy 17th Century Swedish Summer Cottage With a Focus on 'The More the Merrier'

Hello there friends! I hope you had a lovely weekend? On Saturday we had beautiful blue skies and warm weather here in Skåne (let's not talk about Sunday!). For a day, we dared to dream of the Swedish summer when many flock to cottages in the countryside. The cottages are usually geared up to cater for as many as possible - with beds at every turn! Take this wonderful summer cottage in Breven, just east of Stockholm. Tucked away among meadows and forest, this 17th century timber cottage comprises two dwellings - a main house (seen below), and an outhouse (featured above). The first serves as a gathering place (when times allow) as well as bedrooms for the owners. The second is for overnight guests and extended family- with one large room kitted out with a double bed, a bunkbed and two sleep alcoves. Pretty curtains help to block out the midnight sun - or the light of a lamp, for those who like to stay up and read! My children would love this - especially Allie, who thinks it's really cosy when we all bunk up together as a family! Roll on Swedish summer days. 

Look closely and you'll notice a painted diamond wood floor - a popular feature in traditional Swedish dwellings. I also the uneven wood logs - which add to the character of the space. 

The master bedroom has such a wonderful romantic air to it. And is that a TV on the ceiling I see?!

The thick walls pave the way for windowsills which are wide enough to double up as seating. A perfect spot for a morning coffee!

The guest house:

If you're ever invited to stay at someone Scandinavian summer cottage, remember to bring your own bed linen. I've been caught out on a few occasions... and I'd hate for you to make the same faux pas! 

The pool house (below) is kitted out with a sauna and extra bathroom - for cooler days. 

Saunas are a common sighting in Swedish homes (Especially in the basement) - although not quite as common as in Finland! The jury is still out on how much people use there here, with some enjoying regular sessions amongst the steam with their family, and others admitting they simply use it as a fancy place to dry their clothes! 

How dreamy! A perfect summer oasis. And with all those fireplaces, a wonderful place to visit all winter long too! 

Could you imagine spending your summer here? 

Find out more about this property over at Historiska Hem. 

Feeling intrigued about the Scandinavian summer cottage having seen this? Check out the entire archive here. 

Wishing you all a wonderful start to the week!

Niki

Photography Lina Östling

Styling: Stories by Chaundy

For: Historiska Hem

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A Charming Danish Summer Cottage With a Coastal Vibe

Saturday marked the spring equinox - which to me is a pinnacle moment in Scandinavia! From now on the hours of daylight will exceed the darkness, what a wonderful thought! It also gives us the license to dream that summer is around the corner (even if great swathes of the region are still blanketed in snow!). Many Scandinavians will be heading to their cottages over easter to start preparing them for the summer ahead. And no doubt, Helle Rye of @anordicmoment will also be making the trip (sanctions permitting). Helle loves to spend weekends and summer holidays at her charming cottage on North Zealand. The relaxed coastal vibe of the cottage contrasts sharply with the modern vibe of her city apartment. It's a place where she comes to relax, make the most of the great outdoors or read a book beside the woodburning stove. Enjoy the tour!  

Summer cottages are very much a pared back affair, with a strong focus on drawing the inside in. A simple shell poster in the kitchen is a lovely reminder of the nearby beach (and will help to find shell seekers identify their finds!). Source a similar one here*. 

Simple rattan furniture in the dining room helps to add a relaxed beach vibe to the space, while soft sheepskins make them feel a little more cosy!

In winter and colder summer days, Helle warms the cabin with the help of a wood-burning stove (something I'd love to install in my future cabin). Do you have one in your home?

A large jute rug (I recognise this one from IKEA) and light blue textiles add to the coastal vibe. 

I love the idea of using a jute rug on the wall as a headboard. I guess, it's really important to find a nice soft one - but it looks fab in this cottage! 

An outdoor bed? Sign me up! 

Bamboo furniture is always pretty - if you're interested in a similar look, keep an eye out for ones that can withstand all weather otherwise they'll quickly deteriorate. 

A popular addition to gardens across the world this winter: the outdoor fire pit! This one has been made extra cosy with a bench made from palettes and laden with cushions. So hyggeligt! 

Such a lovely, charming cabin! 

I love it how Helle has taken the opportunity to decorate the space in a completely different way from her city home. 

Could you imagine hanging here with friends or family, and a good book - all summer long? 

For more inspiration, check out the summer cottage archive - one of my favourites! 

Har det så fint! 

Niki

Photography: Helle Rye

*this post contains affiliate links which means if you click on a link and buy something I will make a very tiny commission, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting My Scandinavian Home! 

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