A Soulful Cottage in the Wilds of Bruny Island

Those of you who are regular followers of MSH will know that not every home I show is actually located in Scandinavia. In fact, I have a particular penchant for homes Down Under, Tasmania to be specific. And today I'm taking things one step further.

This home is on a small island off Tasmania, which is pretty much as far from Sweden as it's possible to get without starting to come back again! But hey, geography has never stopped me dreaming. I've promised myself I'll make it there one day. And for those of you who get there before me, here's a stay that would be very hard to resist.

On the southern tip of Bruny Island, interior stylist Tess Newman Morris and her husband Jack have transformed a century-old timber cottage into a wonderfully soulful retreat. Built around 1906 and perched above Little Taylors Bay, Fairweather stole Tess's heart the moment she saw it. She and her family bought it in 2018 and spent the next seven years slowly restoring it, largely themselves, using reclaimed timber, salvaged windows and doors, antique furniture and natural materials.

Rather than making the cottage feel new, Tess wanted to return it to something simpler, calmer and more handcrafted. The result is beautifully understated, with waxed timber floors, vintage pieces, natural fibres and plenty of breathing space, all surrounded by the wild landscape of Bruny Island. Days here are shaped by the sea, changing skies, sea eagles and dolphins, and for Tess there's an added emotional connection too, since her late mother once lived in a nearby bay.

Today, Fairweather is less about polished perfection and more about switching off, slowing down and feeling completely immersed in nature. Or, as Tess puts it, "Time feels different there, like the rest of the world is on pause."

Ready to take the tour? Photographer Lisa Cohen captured these beautiful images, so let's take a look inside...

Incredible! I can’t think of a better place to spend a weekend... can you? Actually, scrap that. The rugged wilderness, the beautiful, relaxed interior and the views have me wanting to settle in and stay a while.

Definitely one to save for my future ‘gap year’ on the other side of the world. It might be a long time coming, but oh, it’s coming!

Is there anything that struck you about Fairweather?

And if you fancy experiencing it for yourself, you can find Fairweather Bruny Island on Airbnb and book a stay.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Niki

Interior styling: Tess Newman Morris
Photography: Lisa Cohen

READ MORE...

5

Inside a Magical Swedish Summer Retreat

Hi there sailors! 

Sweden is in full summer mode. Boats zig-zag across the fairways, dropping anchor beside tiny islands for picnics, swims and long, lazy picnics. Everyone seems to be dressed in crisp blues and whites, and across the Stockholm archipelago, families are loading up the boat and escaping to their summer houses for a few blissful weeks by the water.

But... how many people can say they're heading to a cottage with its very own tower?

This incredible summer retreat centres around a turn-of-the-century villa, complete with a tower dating back to 1890, set on a sun-drenched waterfront. There's a private jetty, a guest house, beautiful original details... and, as if that wasn't enough, a magnificent little stone tower that has watched over the property for generations. Can you imagine the stories those walls could tell?

And the best part? Despite its history, nothing about the interiors feels stuffy or precious. Instead, it's all wonderfully relaxed. Blue-and-white stripes, old oil lamps, weathered furniture and beautiful antiques create that effortless coastal look Scandinavians do so well. 

As for the children? I doubt they'd spend much time indoors. Would you, if you had a tower to explore, rocks to scramble over and the sea waiting at the end of your own jetty? I have a feeling they'd disappear after breakfast and only reappear when someone called them in for 'middag'. 

Ready to dream a little? 

Beautiful, in that wonderfully understated, yet traditional Swedish way.

It must be heartbreaking for the family who are selling it.

I recently heard that it's actually quite rare for summer cottages to stay in the same family for more than three generations. As families grow, more and more people have a stake in them, making it increasingly difficult to divide the time, agree on the upkeep or buy one another out. It must be with a very heavy heart that a much-loved place like this changes hands.

But then I like to think about the next chapter. Another family gets to arrive by boat every summer, children get to race up the tower, grandparents sit on the jetty watching the boats drift by, and new traditions are made. 

Could that be you and your family? And if it is... is it OK if I drop by? By boat, of course!

Have a happy wednesday! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Mäklarhuset

READ MORE...

10

A Swedish Island Getaway by the Baltic Sea

Many years ago, Per, the girls and I sailed to the long, slim Baltic island of Öland. It's a fascinating place. to the mainland via a bridge, it's where the Swedish royal family spend much of their summer at nearby Solliden Palace. Funnily enough, while we were walking through the forest, Prince Carl Philip went past on his daily jog!

Anyway, this is a very long-winded way of saying, sorry, but I have another rustic coastal home to share with you this week, which I couldn't resist, not least because it's located right on the shore with spectacular views over the cool blue waters of the Baltic Sea.

Inside, the house is simply furnished with antiques and family heirlooms, evidence of it having remained in the same family for over a century. Whitewashed timber walls, worn wooden furniture and a handsome masonry fireplace create a wonderfully relaxed, unfussy feel, while touches of greenery and wildflowers bring the outdoors in. I also love how the owners have kept the interiors pared back, allowing the sea views to do the talking. Every window seems to frame the Baltic like a work of art.

Ready to take a look around? Let's step inside and enjoy the complete tour.

Imagine waking up here each day, spending your days at the water's edge before falling asleep to the sound of the waves. Helt magiskt (completely magical!), as they say in Sweden. I'll certainly be dreaming about this place all weekend.

I hope you enjoyed the tour of this idyllic rustic cabin too!

I'm looking forward to sharing an extra post with you on Monday - with a guide to my adopted home town of Malmö and all the wonderful things you can do here by the sea - from cafes and restaurants to sauna and sailing! 

A little note to say thank you for all your comments and emails lately. We have a little rain on the forecast this weekend, so I thought I'd take some time out with a coffee and sit down to reply to each and every one of you. I so enjoy reading your observations, and you often pick out details I've completely missed. Tack så mycket!

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Wrede, with thanks.

READ MORE...

8

A Dreamy Danish Summer House by the Sea

It dawned on me today that it’s exactly eight weeks until Midsummer, the unofficial start of the Scandinavian summer holidays. Can you believe it? 

One of the things I love most about Scandinavia is how seriously summer is taken. It’s not unusual for people to take a minimum of three weeks of uninterrupted leave. After the long, dark winter, this is the season everyone has been waiting for, and you can feel it everywhere. There’s a lightness in the air, a summery smile in every coastal village, and a sense that life is meant to be enjoyed outdoors. People flock to the sea for morning, noon and evening dips, zip around in every kind of boat imaginable, and gather for long, lazy meals in the sunshine. Just the way summer should be! 

The summer houses are part of the charm too, simple, understated and beautiful, often designed to reflect their surroundings. And then there’s the light: clear and pin-sharp, with the sea shifting between grey and blue, and the sand glowing in soft off-white tones. On interior designer Marie’s Instagram, @vestkysthjem, she shares endless inspiration from dreamy summer cottages, including this beautiful thatched house she recently sold, set among the dunes on the west coast of Denmark near Søndervig, just a stone’s throw from the sea. 

Inside, the pale blue and off-white palette, wood panelling and simple rag rugs create a calm, welcoming feel. It’s the kind of place made for relaxing in the summer sun, bare feet, salty hair, and falling asleep to the sound of the waves. What more could you need?

Can you imagine waking up there?

I'd never want to leave! 

If you love this, you'll also love looking at the inspiration over on Marie's instagram which alos includes her parents lovely home, her new home and some of the homes she has decorated. 

Now that we're all in the mood for a Danish summer vibe, you might also like to look at: 

A Danish cottage oasis on North Zealand

A light-filled Danish summerhouse on airbnb

Before and after, a dated house becomes a dreamy summer getaway

Roll on summer, we're ready for you!

Niki

Photography courtesy of @vestkysthjem, shared with kind permission.

READ MORE...

19