A Charming and Relaxed Danish Cabin By The Sea

Spring is in the air in southern Scandinavia. This means three things: the welcoming sight of crocuses and irises, flocks of birds migrating home - and it's time to dust down the summer cottage! Many Scandinavians use the Easter holidays as a perfect opportunity to open the shutters, sweep the hearths and dust down the surfaces at their summer cottage. As opposed to city dwellings, the cabins and cottages are often relaxed, pared back affairs, and designed specifically to be a place to relax, unwind and reboot. 

At the weekends, Pernille Normann and her family exchange the hustle and bustle of Copenhagen (as relaxed as it is for a big city), for a few days at their cabin by the coast in Gudmindrup Strand, North Zealand. 

The timber cabin serves as somewhere the family can be together in a relaxed way - without interruption. And the decor reflects this. Simply furnished and clutter-free, it has everything the family need to be comfortable and make the most of the indoor-outdoor lifestyle. 

The timber walls and A-framed ceiling have been given a fresh lick of white paint, while a wood accent wall and pale blue / green floor help to break up the look and add interest. 

The furniture, lamps and accessories are largely thrifted and subtle shades of blue as well as nautical stripes as well as art featuring maps, ships and sea-life connect the cabin to its coastal location. 

Danes are masters at creating an ambience with lighting. If you think about it, many of the classic lamps the country is so famous for (like the Louis Poulsen PH5) are designed to divert direct lighting away from the eyes and create a soft pool of filtered, diffused light, helping to create a warm and cosy ambience after dark. 

If you look closely, you'll see there are no lamps directly overhead - instead they've been placed lower down in various spots around the cabin. When lit, these will create pools of light - accentuating each of the cosy set-ups. 

Note the rattan / bamboo furniture which helps to give the cabin a lovely summery vibe. 

A cosy bed doubles up as a reading nook by day. Or, as you can see below - the perfect den! 

The above picture also gives you a sneak peek of how the pine wood floor looked before they painted it. It feels so much calmer in the new tone, don't you think? 

What a wonderful oasis! 

I love the subtle touches and simple, laidback way it's been furnished, how about you? 

I'll definitely be pinning some of these images as inspiration for our own little cabin. 

You can see more of Pernille and her family's cabin over at @nullsterliving - it also features their beautiful apartment in Copenhagen which has a very different style! 

Interested in looking around a few other danish cabins this weekend? Here are five of my favourites: 

Before and after: a rundown cabin becomes a vibrant summer cottage

A charming cabin on the Danish island of Orø

A little Danish cabin in the woods

A beautifully simple, white-washed Danish cabin

Take a tour of a danish family's inviting cabin

So, friends. That's it from me this week. Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you have a great weekend. 

Vi ses på Måndag! See you Monday! 

Niki

Photography: @nullsterliving

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Before & After: A Rundown Cabin Becomes a Vibrant Danish Summer Cottage

It's safe to say that when Ida Lundsteen and Edward first bought their summer house in Ejby Ådal - an hour west of the danish capital - it needed a lot of work! But the handy Danish pair could see its potential - both inside and out - and set to work themselves to transform it. Today, their hard work has paid off and they have an idyllic retreat in which to unwind in their spare time. Read on to see the before and after pictures and feel truly inspired!

Dining area before

Dining area after

The wood panelling was painted white, and the floor sanded down and treated with a white soap finish. A window was added to allow light to flow through from the side extension. Today, the dining area is bathed in natural light - a perfect spot to enjoy meals on chillier days! 

Kitchen before

Ida and Edward reconfigured the house, moving the kitchen to an area in the sitting room - formerly occupied by an old electric heater. 

Sitting room before

Looking at the pictures above, you can understand the sheer level of work that they have put into the renovation - completely gutting parts of the house. 

In the sitting room they added a lovely nook (with storage) in which to unwind with a book.   

Sitting room nook after

Bathroom before

Bathroom after

The small bathroom was completely updated. The sink was moved to the opposite side of the room, tiles ripped out and a new floor laid. Today it looks fresh and modern in black, white and brass. 

Side extension before

Side extension after

Ida and Edward built an extension onto the side of the house - adding a work space and practical mudroom. 

Garden and terrace before

Life at a Scandinavian summer house is all about enjoying the great outdoors. Doors are thrown open in the morning - and life spills outside to take in the long summer days. 

But for Ida and Edward - there was work to be done. The garden was completely overgrown and although there had been some form of patio, it needed to be worked over from scratch.

The pair built a large wood deck completely by hand - almost doubling their living space in summertime. They also capitalised on sloping land by adding built-in seating to the side of the decking. 

But my eye is on the sunk-in bath. So simple, yet such a clever idea. 

Patio before

Patio after

After a lot of hard graft, clearing foliage, pulling up the old patio and creating new decking - the family now have a wonderful outdoor dining area where they can gather and enjoy summer days long after the sunsets! 

How incredible! It's even more impressive knowing that they did it themselves, don't you think? 

Is there anything that stood out to you in particular?

The decking before and after couldn't have come at a better time for Per and I as we were discussing laying our own decking up at the cabin this summer. We were already feeling inspired by Per's brother who laid decking himself last summer - and now, after seeing this, we're feeling really empowered! 

I hope this lovely danish cottage as given you plenty of inspiration too. You can see more pics over at @bare_byg.

Other Danish summer cottages to love: 

A danish summer cottage oasis on North Zealand

Two idyllic Danish cottages available to rent

A beautifully simple, white Danish cabin

You also might like to check out the before and after archive for other renovations. 

And finally, I can't sign out without a final comment on the bath. I've seen many outdoor baths before (see 15 outdoor bath and shower ideas) - and the incredible wood burning bath at Settle hideaway, but this is the first time I've seen a simple, ordinary bathtub sunk into decking. What a great idea! I could just see myself having a soak there, glass of wine in hand. How about you? Would you like to see how it looks in winter? Here goes: 

Perfect! 

Niki

PS I mentioned yesterday that I would be sharing my latest studio update today, but the post isn't quite ready - sorry! I look forward to sharing it on Monday instead! 

Photography: Ida Lundsteen, shared with kind permission. 

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A Magical Rural Escape by a Norwegian Fjord

I am constantly astounded by just how magical some Scandinavian summer residences are. Not because they are luxurious - far from it. You see, Scandinavian summer houses tend to be pretty pared back affairs. The focus is on kicking back and allowing the nature to help you unwind. Slipping away for the weekend or for an entire summer, there are no flights to catch and no schedule to keep. It's a simple life which dances lazily to the tune of eat, sleep, swim repeat. This enchanting summer house on the banks of a fjord in Northwest Norway belonging to Monica (AKA @tante__monica) is a fine example of how the Scandinavians have got it exactly right! 

"The summerhouse has no electricity or water and no road. Usually we arrive by boat," Monica tells me about her family summer house. "But at this time of year we have to walk through the forest since the boat is on land due to winter storms."

So where do they get their water? 

"We retrieve water for washing from a well, and we either get our drinking water from a nearby waterfall or we bring it with us on the boat." 

And the electricity? 

""For cooking we use propane, for light we use old oil lamps and candles and for heating we use the wood burning stoves," Monica explains. "We listen to music on our phones. We love to be there and not have to think about what's on TV. Instead we sit on the veranda and watch the sun go down as the birds fly or swim by and the fish jump from the fjord."

"It's quite romantic, but of course a lot of work," Monica says. "We have no animals, so we have to cut the grass ourselves. We do this once a year in order to allow for the wild flowers and plants to grow and attract a variety of insects. Every year we look forward to seeing if any new species appear." 

"Norwegian flower meadows are now in huge decline and our goal is to make our meadows rich in species again." 

The house is beautiful with a fascinating, if not tragic history. 

"My father grew up in the house. It was built during the war in 1942-43. Sadly the older house which stood there before burnt down. It was a huge tragedy for the family. My father was only nine and had to jump out of the kitchen window and my great grandmother was helped out through the window of her bedroom."

Today, the property, which was built after the fire, has been decorated in a serene, understated way. Vintage and antique pieces pop against a white and grey backdrop, and touches of blue and green mirror the surroundings. 

"I like to use items that have always been here. If we are in need of something new, we tend to buy old furniture and accessories. They are more charming and go a lot better with the house," Monica explains. 

Plates and other items were stored in a wall mounted cabinet with a subtle blue / brown theme and a simple rag rug can be seen on the floor. 

This lovely picture - captured for a feature in Lev Landligs - a Norwegian country life magazine - shows a pair of vintage beds, which had already been painted green when Monica found them. 

What a truly magical place to spend your summers. 

I can almost feel the warmth on my skin and I'd never ever tire of the view, how about you? 

See more of Monica's beautiful summer residence over at @Tante_Monica. Monica is also a keen knitter and sells handmade Christmas stockings through her shop Tante Monica (@christmasknitting) and Norwegian jumpers together with her friend Katrine via @mokkastrikk. 

Keen to take a peek inside a few other Norwegian summer residences today? I love: 

A serene Norwegian home for the weekend

An idyllic fjord side summer retreat

The cosy and relaxed home of a Norwegian blogger

Niki

Photography: Monica Almskår Heggset & Lev Landig 

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A Cosy Swedish Cottage In The Snow

If we'd seen an alfresco winter table setting two years ago, we'd have thought the idea was crazy - but in today's world, it not only seems like a perfectly normal scene, but also at times the only way to gather with friends and family right now! So, friends, don your best snow boots, wrap up warm and pull up a sheep-skin lined seat - it's time to take you on a tour of a snowy Swedish cottage, and temperatures here are well below minus right now! 

Located around 45 minutes outside of Stockholm, the charming cottage consists of a main house and barn - both of which provide bunks for overnight guests and can also be used for cosy gatherings! 

In wintertime a table is set up outside, in the shelter of the barn. I have to say, the idea reminds me a little of Christmas at my Swedish Father-in-law's house. We often gather outside for glögg and pepperkaka before heading indoors to thaw out over a Julbord (Christmas buffet). 

A pathway has been carved out with a shovel and lit by large outdoor tea lights. Do you have these in your country? In Scandinavia they're often placed either side of a front door when you're entertaining and provide a warm welcome! 

The fire pit has also come into its own in the past 18 months (see '7 winter warmer essentials for outdoor gatherings). 

Meanwhile, indoors, the charming cottage is full of pretty details including beams, angled ceilings and fireplaces - making it a cosy place to while away winter weekends! 

Isn't it lovely?

I read yesterday that there's a group of people stuck in a pub in England for the third day running due to treacherous weather. My question is - would you rather be snowed in here or an English pub? I guess it depends a little on the supplies and who you are with, but I'd definitely vote for this cottage! 

Would you like to see other snowy Scandinavian homes today? 

A cosy rural country home at Christmas 

A charming festive Swedish cottage in wintertime

A cosy Norwegian country home at Christmas

A candlelit Norwegian cabin deep in the fjords

Stay warm friends! 

Niki

Photography Melinda Rönnberg, styling Stories by Chaundy courtesy of Bosthlm

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