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The Full Tour of Our Tiny Cabin in Sweden!

As the year is slowly coming to a close, I've been looking back at the last twelve months and some of my projects. The one I am most proud of and that gives my family and I an unbelievable amount of joy is our tiny cabin. I absolutely love it. It may only be 30m2 (322 f2), but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in soul! It's hard to imagine that this time last year it was a patch of grass! Here's the complete low down. 

Design

We had a clear vision of how we wanted the cabin to look both inside and out. We turned to talented local architect Anela Tahirovic to help us realise this. Anela was such a joy to work with and sketched a design which perfectly matched our minds eye! 

Inside, we wanted a space where we could be together as a family. We realised that having a separate master bedroom would eat into the main living space, so instead we decided to create an open-plan space with a lower bedroom and upper sleep loft. We also wanted a well-functioning kitchen and bathroom so that it would work as an independent living space. 


The tour!

The exterior of the cabin is clad in different widths of pine which have been treated with 'järnvitriol' (iron sulphate) to give the wood a long-lasting grey-brown weathered appearance. 

The glass doors and windows are from Danish brand Velfac. All the glass doors open up to create a seamlessness between the indoors and outdoors in summertime. In winter it's the perfect space for a little 'light therapy'! 

While we love having so much glass, the downside is that it can heat up incredibly quickly come on a hot summers day. To counter this we had to install a heater / air conditioner (from Electrolux). This wasn't in the original plan, but it's actually turned out to be great as we can maintain 10 degrees Celsius heat in winter to stop the pipes from freezing - and quickly cool the space down on very hot days (few and far between but necessary, especially in the upper sleep loft!). 

We also added bespoke blinds to reflect the sun and heat - and also of course, to block out the light at night. 

Meanwhile, in the kitchen... our Veddinge kitchen cabinets are from IKEA and we added bespoke wooden oak shelves, made from panels bought in a local hardware store. We had the cabinets spray painted in Blek Sand (NCS S2005-Y20R) by Swiss Metod prior to installation. The worktop is a simple laminate one from Hornbach. We installed Helix knobs in antique brass from Beslag Online and a tap from Cristina Rubinetterie.

The kitchen also contains a fridge, small freezer, sink, recycling unit and a portable plug-in stove (all from IKEA). See the complete design plans, more pictures and all the details here.  

The wooden slats and ladder were handmade by a local carpenter. The ladder is detachable and moveable so it can be used for accessing the sleep loft but also to reach items higher up in the kitchen. 

The wood floor and panelling are both from Norrlands Trä (read more about our selection here). 

The extendable table is by Skovby (see it extended here) and the chairs are from Carl Hansen & Søn (these were only on loan for a photoshoot sadly, aren't they lovely?!) but I can also recommend Skovby chairs and stackable Vega chairs for a table like this. 

One of the most essential features for us right form the start was a woodburning stove. We got ours from Swedish brand Contura (see more pictures and details here). There's nothing quite like waking up to a roaring fire on a cold winters day! It gives off an immense amount of heat so we haven't had to turn on the electric heating once this winter (bar the 10 degrees)! 

In the tiny sitting room area we have a Plico Chair (possibly my most treasured item of furniture, I love it!). 

We also went for a Folk sofa bed by Karup. It's ideal for extra guests, but also a cosy place to sleep by the fire come winter! 

We've had the rug for years, it's called 'Beni' from Barfuss Teppiche.

Our bed nook is just over 160 cm wide which provides a snug space for a double bed. We decided to have a built in bed with long drawers on wheels underneath for storage. Today we keep everything from our clothes and bed linen to towels, table cloths and games in the drawers. They are a godsend!  

The mistake we made was using a platform rather than slats. Mattresses need to be able to breathe, otherwise they can get damp and mouldy underneath. We try to air the mattress as much as possible to counter this, but at some point we'll need to drill holes in the platform. 

The sleep loft (which I've realised I've yet to photograph) has space for either three single mattresses or one double. The cabin is 4 metres high, which means there is still quite a lot of head room up there. The girls find it very cosy! 

The bathroom is kitted out with a sink, cabinet, mirror and loo from GSI ceramica and taps from Cristina Rubinetterie. The Tumbled Turtle floor tiles are from Stiltje (one of the areas we splurged). The walls were painted in Kalk by Jotun lady Aqua. 

We weren't sure whether to get a wall hung loo and taps or not as I was worried it would eat into the small space. But actually, wall hung was perfect as it create a natural shelf for all our bits and bobs! 


You can see the complete tour and get the full low down of our bathroom here

The hooks in the bathroom (from Norrgavel) serve as both bathroom storage and somewhere to hang our coats. The little stool is either used as a perch to take of your shoes on entering or drying off and moisturising after a shower (pick up a similar little wooden stool here*). 

Finally, the main entrance to the cabin is through the bathroom. We thought we had made a major mistake with this - and we certainly got some strange looks when we told other people about our plan. However, it turned out to be exactly the right decision. Not only do the hooks double up for towels and coats - but the tiled floor is ideal for wet / dirty shoes! Once inside, all the other doors open up so it can be exited and entered through those - it's just when you arrive! 

I hope you enjoyed the tour and seeing a little more of our cabin!

I think I've covered most things, but if you have any questions please do give me a shout below and I'll do my best to help! 

I'm so looking forward to spending a few days up at our little cabin this Christmas! 

Niki 

PS The next project is the garden (it was a complete mess after the build! Gaaaah!). Do you have any tips for me? It's a total blank canvas right now so a little overwhelming! Even so, it's fun to have something to focus on in 2023. 

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Cosy Winter Touches and Danish Design in Our Little Cabin


Paid partnership with Carl Hansen & Søn, all words and pictures are my own

UPDATE; come here looking for Rune's cosy Noreweign home at Christmas? Click here for the tour! 

A little elf has been busy at the cabin re-arranging furniture again! This time, four incredible Vega chairs from Carl Hansen & Søn have been added around the table (I'm beginning to like this elf a lot!). Are you familiar with this iconic chair? Officially known as VLA26T Vega Chair, it was created in 1956 in Copenhagen by Vilhelm Lauritzen. 


Previously confined to the historic Vega concert hall in Copenhagen, the wonderful team at Carl Hansen & Søn have re-launched the Vega chair in partnership with Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects and made it available to a wider audience - hurrah! 

I think it fits in beautifully here, do you? 

True to Vilhelm Lauritzen's signature style, the chair is a modernist masterpiece and features a simple functionalist design yet also has some beautiful touches. I especially love the softly curved back rest, the wood and steel combination as well as the elegant wooden feet (the devil is in the detail, after all!).  

It also comes in a black version. 


Aren't they beautiful?

Sadly, this set is sadly just on loan for the shoot, but I think I'll make the most of them while up at the cabin with my sister this weekend (can't wait to see her - and enjoy the chairs!)!

Loving this chair too? Find more about it over at Carl Hansen & Søn

I've captured so many iconic Danish design classics in my home for My Scandinavian Home over the past few years, here are some of my favourites:


Is there one that stands out to you in particular? 

Oh, and do you like our subtle Christmas touches? Now that I've started, I can't stop. A tree might even sneak its way in at some point! 

Wishing you a very cosy weekend! See you Monday! 

Niki

Coffee Tables and Festive Touches in Our Little Cabin!


Paid partnership with Skovby, all words and pictures are my own

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas.... at least indoors! In preparation for the First Sunday of Advent this weekend, I've added a few festive touches to the cabin (so much fun, it'll be our first holiday season here!). Not only that, but thanks to Skovby, we also have somewhere to place our coffee and glögg (spiced mulled wine) and other Jul (yuletide) treats!

As with all small spaces (our cabin is only 30 m2 / 322 f2 in total) we are constantly looking for furniture which is compact and can easily be moved around. And these two Danish coffee tables fit the bill! 


They are part of a mix and match coffee table series, which allows you to choose between wood or steel legs and a variety of surfaces. I was keen to test out Coffee table #241 in solid oak white oil and square Coffee table #240 in oak white oil with white HPL laminate. 

Not only are they different heights, so one can tuck under the other to give a larger surface area, but they can also be separated and used as side tables. So handy in a small space. The round shape also means they save-space and you won't hurt yourself if you knock into them (you know the feeling!) - another plus!

This little stool in the corner is made from leftover wood in the Skovby workshop in Jutland (I use it for everything - side table, extra seating, footstool....). 



I love how the grain of the wood can be seen through the white oil, adding a cosy, warm feel - especially in winter. 

Now all that's left to do, is swap the coffee for some glögg and kick back and relax. And maybe get a tree, but there's plenty of time for that later. 

Skål! 

I think these tables are keeper, do you? If you're also on the lookout for a coffee table, find out more about the Skovby mix and match series here (they have stockists pretty much worldwide). 

And please do ask away in the comment section if you have questions about anything else in our little sitting room! 

You can see more beautiful pieces from Skovby in my home here, here and here

Looking for a little more Christmas inspiration this weekend? Check out: 


Have a cosy weekend friends, see you Monday! 

Niki

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Cabin Update: Our Cosy Wood Burning Stove


Partnership with Contura, all words and pictures are my own

Back in January I shared an update on our little cabin while it was under construction. I remember the day well. The sun was streaming in through the windows, even so, clouds formed in the air as we spoke. We decided then and there we needed a log burner!  
  
The idea was to place it in the corner of the sitting room, so we'd be able to see it from all the corners of the cabin (after all, it's about the hygge, right?). 

Our go-to was Contura, who are well respected for producing high quality and efficient Swedish-made log burners .

Since our cabin is only 30 metres square (323 f2), we were looking for a relatively small model and settled on the woodburning stove Contura 810 Style

Above, you can see how it looked when I tested it out using the virtual tool back on that cold January day! 
Would you like to see how it looks today? 

Tadaaaa! This is the view from our bed! I can't tell you how much we love to wake up beside a roaring fire. So cosy! 

The 810 model is available in several different finishes and we chose black steel, with a black steel plate underneath.

We also opted for wood storage underneath to save space (it's only a tiny cabin after all) - it's great to not have to go out to the woodshed every five minutes and I love to be able to see the logs, they add a cosiness to the room even when there's not a fire on the go!

I have to say, the log burner is so efficient that we haven't had to use our electric heating once - we're mercifully grateful for that right now! 


Roll on the Swedish winter, we're ready for you! If anyone's looking for us this weekend, we'll be right here by the fire! 

Do you have a fireplace too? I'd love to hear about your experience!

Have a cosy weekend friends! 

Niki

PS If you're looking for a wood burning stove for your home, Contura offers a really broad selection and has dealers throughout Europe - you can view the entire collection here

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A Visit From Two Grand Old Danes At Our Little Cabin


This post is kindly sponsored by Carl Hansen & Søn, all words and photos are my own

While we're at the cabin, friends and family often stop by. But it's not every day we get the pleasure of a visit from two grand old Danes (not to be confused with Great Danes - which would have been fun if not a little chaotic in such a small space!). I'm talking about the furniture variety. Last week I had the honour of capturing the iconic FH38 Windsor Chair around our cabin table. Designed by Frits Henningsen in 1938, this fine specimen has recently been reissued by Carl Hansen & Søn - and it's just as delightful and beautifully crafted today as it was back in the thirties. Read on to see more pics and find out more! 


The designer
Often, when it comes to understanding the history of these fine iconic design pieces, the designer is a good place to start. Frits Henningsen had a passion for high quality craftsmanship, and unlike most cabinetmakers at that time, always designed his own furniture. He had a vibrant personality and liked to give new expressions to traditional designs, taking his inspiration from the French Empire, Rococo and British 17th century furniture. 

Nostalgia
The moment I took these fine high-backed chairs out of the box and examined their solid wooden saddle-shaped seats and spindles, familiarity washed over me and I was immediately transported to my childhood in England. Variations of the Windsor chair are said to have been in British homes from as early as the 17th century. Even so, I'm not sure I remember them being quite as elegant as this! 


The details
Frits' take on the Windsor chair is really special. Made from solid FSC certified oak using multiple carpentry techniques, it's a perfect example of traditional craftsmanship fine-tined over centuries. I particularly love that it's still sanded by hand today. 

The design is somewhere between a dining chair and a lounge chair, so theoretically, you could use it in the kitchen or sitting room (a leather seat cushion is available for extra comfort, although the gentle curves do mean it's surprisingly comfortable as it is). 


What a great visit, and an honour to shoot such an iconic chair. Who knows, maybe I'll invest in my own FH38 Windsor Chair one day (they come in the choice of three different types of oak - oil, smoked oil, and soap oil, this is the oil version, in case you're also curious). 

Very tempting, I must say! 

Oh, and in case you're wondering what's in the bowl on the side: 

Our neighbours have an incredible plum tree. Every morning they leave a basket of the most sweet and juicy plums by the fence for us. My mother-in-law made a great batch of plum chutney with them last week so we'll be enjoying them well into the autumn now! 

Right (slaps thighs English style), time for the weekend! I hope you've got some relaxing plans ahead? We'll be spending some days up here, most likely reading in the Plico chair, while eking out the last few days of summer - I spy a 13 C / 55 F on the forecast next week - worrying indeed!

Vi ses på Måndag, vänner!

Niki

Bringing the Hygge: A New Danish Armchair in Our Little Cabin

Kindly sponsored by Carl Hansen & Søn, all words and pictures are my own.

When you only have a small living space, like our 30 m2 / 322 f2 cabin, every single item needs to be carefully selected. If it takes up too much space or proves to be impractical you've just lost an entire section of your home! It was in this vein I set out to find the perfect armchair!


The answer came in the form of the foldable FK10 Plico ChairA little background: designed by Jørgen Kastholm in 1963 and relaunched in 2021 by Carl Hansen & Sønthe Plico chair takes up as little space as possible when not in use, while offering supreme comfort thanks to the ergonomic shape, soft upholstery and adjustable neck rest! 

It's one of those items that fell immediately into place and felt like it was meant to be! Not only is it undeniably beautiful, it's also incredibly sturdy and comfortable too! In fact, when Per sat down for the first time he exclaimed: ''Finally, a comfortable armchair in the house!'' And of course, being slim and foldable it's really practical for a small space too. 

It takes its name from the Latin word 'to fold', and true to all good Danish design, it has been carefully crafted with honest materials that will only get better with age, including a certified solid oak frame, leather armrests, brass fittings and a stitched linen canvas seat. 

Needless to say, we absolutely love it -  it's our new favourite piece of furniture. Although, I also am aware that we are not so much as 'owning' it, we are merely taking care of for the next generation!  






While you're here, I am also keen to share a couple of snaps of another lovely Carl Hansen & Søn piece: the RF200 Table Lamp

Also known as the petal lamp, it's designed by Rikke Frost and combines warm wood with metal and emits a lovely, mood enhancing ambience. I felt this combination worked best for our cabin, but it's also available in eight other versions! 

All that's missing now is a lit candle and a glass of wine and we're ready for a 'hyggelig' weekend! 

Are you also a fan of iconic Danish design?

***

I have been receiving so many messages about issues with the My Scandinavian Home email subscription. Thank you so much for alerting me to this, I apologise for the issue. Blogger has stopped offering the service (very annoying!) so I am now looking into replacing it with something else and hope to launch a new newsletter as early as Monday. I'll come back to you as soon as it is set up so that you can subscribe and receive email post notifications once again. Thank you so much for your support and stopping by to read my posts, I appreciate it so much!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Niki

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