Inside a Charming 1920s Danish Summer House

Hello friends! 

It's been a quiet week on the blog, but a very busy one behind the scenes. I spent a couple of inspiring days in Copenhagen for 3 Days of Design (if you've never been, I can't recommend it enough!), while also helping Skandinavisk celebrate the launch of their beautiful new EDP collection and the opening of their new flagship store in the city.

Needless to say, by 5pm on this Friday evening, I'm more than ready for a glass of wine!

But before I disappear for the weekend, I couldn't resist sharing a couple of images from a charming Danish cottage in Liseleje.

Built in 1920, it's the kind of house that instantly draws you in. Perhaps it's the soft green panelling, the painted woodwork, the well-worn pine floors or the cosy window seat tucked into the corner. Whatever it is, the entire place feels wonderfully unpretentious and full of soul.

And is it just me, or is there something a little Carl Larsson about it? The gentle green tones, simple wooden furniture, abundance of natural light and relaxed atmosphere feel wonderfully timeless.

I can imagine long breakfasts around the kitchen table, doors flung open to the garden, followed by walks to the beach and afternoons spent reading in that window nook. Which, after this week, sounds pretty perfect!

Enjoy the tour-and have a wonderful weekend!

Pretty and relaxed.

And a perfect way to lead into the weekend, do you agree? 

Wishing you a wonderful couple of days - and look forward to returning early next week with a new, lovely, longer tour. See you then!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Adam Schnack, with thanks

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A Timeless Beach House on Denmark’s North Coast

It’s a beautiful day here in 'Sverige', and with midsummer now just a whisper away, we're all longing for slow days by the water. 

And if there was ever a place made for that kind of summer daydream, surely it’s this charming beach cottage in Liseleje on Denmark’s north coast.

Built in 1914, and even winning an architectural award at the time, the house sits perched on a cliff above the Kattegat Sea with its own private steps winding down through wild rosehip and soft sand dunes to the beach below. Can you imagine wandering down there first thing in the morning, coffee in hand, for a brisk dip before everyone else is awake? Would you brave the cold water? I havwe already had my 'badpremier' here and it was 16 degrees C - 'fresh' but invigorating!

The cottage has belonged to the same family for 80 years, and there’s something wonderfully unspoilt about it all. Many of the original details remain, while the interior has been kept simple and relaxed with family heirlooms, antiques and just enough furniture to let the surroundings do the talking. Because really, with that location and view from every window, how could the sea not steal the limelight?

Welcome in for a peek inside this very special Danish summer house.

I especially love how quietly understated everything feels. Nothing competes with the landscape. 

Is this your kind of summer house? Would you keep the interiors this simple, or would you be tempted to add more colour and pattern? The good news is, if you buy it, you can do whatever you like with it and make it entirely your own! 

Treat yourself to more Scandinavian summer cottages here: 

Simple, nostalgic and charming wrapped into one

A rundown croft becomes an idyllic summer cottage 
A charming open-plan summer cottage

Have a lovely, sunny afternoon! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Adam Schnack, with thanks

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Past and Present Meet in a Danish Thatched Cottage

I have seen thousands of Scandinavian cabins in my two decades of living here (some in person, many online!), and while each one is unique, they usually share a few themes: heirlooms and second-hand finds, or traditional pieces that reflect a relaxed, down-to-earth lifestyle, and colour palettes that mirror their surroundings with touches of coastal blue or countryside green. Not this one. And that’s exactly why it caught my eye.

Currently for sale, this thatched cottage on the Danish Riviera blends old and new beautifully. Copenhagen-based Studio Force Majeure collaborated with the founders of Ferm Living to decorate the space, creating an interior that feels both contemporary and rooted in tradition. Original architectural wood panelling and exposed beams, washed in a warm cream, provide the backdrop to a modern stainless steel kitchen, very cool animal print sitting room furniture, and an on-trend wave mirror. But you’ll also spot the hallmarks of a traditional Scandinavian summer house throughout; a woven basket here, an urn there, which of course, I love! 

Keep a close eye on all the details as you look through, there are plenty of touches to feel inspired by!

So cool and different! 

But the big question is - can you guess what's inside the beehive? I'll share the answer (and a picture) later this week. Oooooh, the suspense! 

Is there anything that you loved about this danish cabin? Could you imagine spending your summer here? 

It would be rude not to share a few more Danish summer houses today. If you have the time, please do check out: 

A dreamy Danish cottage with an outdoor bathroom

A beautifully simple danish summer cottage

A rundown cabin becomes a lovely summer house

Thank you so much for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed the virtual trip to the coast of Denmark!

Niki

Credits / Property for sale via Alecsander Delfs

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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.

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Where Colour Meets the Simple Danish Summer Life

Well hej there, friends! We’re back in snowy Malmö and dreaming of… summer. A dangerous game when it still feels so far away. But in the former Danish home of Sofie Amalie Rolandsen, who works at a design agency, sunshine never seems too distant.

Sofie loves to play with colour. You might remember her former Copenhagen home, which I featured way back in 2018, and you’ll see the same joyful approach in her current home, shared frequently on her Instagram @thusthefuss. She’s known for painting just about everything — walls, floors, ceilings, and more — in a plethora of bright, uplifting hues.

But in her former summer house, Sofie took a different approach. Here, the walls, floors, and ceilings were kept neutral, allowing the details to do the talking: kitchen cabinets in a beautiful sky blue, a cobalt lamp here, a green stool there, and burgundy shelves and a sofa. These carefully chosen touches bring her signature style to the countryside, while still keeping things simple and letting the surrounding nature shine.

After all, summer cabins are all about downing your tools, kicking back, and embracing the simple life — surrounded by family and visiting friends. Ready to take a look?

Did you notice how Sofie subtly mixes things up? Mustard and burgundy sofa modules combined, two very cool fire-engine-red garden chairs paired with traditional outdoor furniture, contemporary lighting mixed with 1970s rattan… the list goes on!

Could this be a sign that we should all be a little more daring in our homes? Quite possibly! Nothing creates a talking point quite like a standout piece — and I guarantee, everyone will love it.

You can see more of Sofie’s style (and gather plenty of colour inspiration) over at @thusthefuss.

And for more Danish homes with their clever use of colour, take a peek at: 

Prints, splashes of colour and playful prints in a Danish home
Embracing the blues in a Danish home
12 simple ways to add colour to your home, Danish style

I’ve been incredibly organised this week and am looking forward to returning on Thursday with a very cool Swedish home to share with you. In the meantime, I’ve been busy working on another article for IKEA — this time all about how to get your pantry in order. I actually learned a lot myself while writing it, and our kitchen has never been in such great shape… not a single stray strand of spaghetti lurking at the back of the cupboard to be found! For the moment. 

See you Thursday!

Niki

Photography courtesy of @thusthefuss, with thanks. 

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