Slow Living: My Peaceful Little Cabin in Sweden

Glad Alla Hjärtans Dag! (Happy Valentine’s Day!) Today is all about celebrating love in all its forms, so I thought—since this blog is all about our shared passion for the home—why not shine a light on the places we cherish most? Those spaces where we instantly relax, the ones we long for when we're away, and where we feel truly at peace. It might be a house, a room, or even just a cosy nook somewhere.

For me, that place is our little cabin. Members of this community will know we designed and built it a few years ago, carefully considering every detail (Per might say a little too carefully, but now he agrees it was worth the effort!). Nestled on Sweden’s west coast, it's just 30 square metres (322 square feet), but it has everything we need: a place to cook, eat, gather, listen to music, play games, and sleep. In winter, we arrive eager to light a fire; in summer, life flows effortlessly between indoors and out (hopping between the two depending on what the Swedish weather gods decide to throw our way!). We divide our time between the terrace, the beach, long coastal walks—and of course, the local pub—soaking up the changing seasons.

My heart belongs to this little retreat, where I'm happiest, surrounded by family and visiting friends. I hope you enjoy these pictures—some might be familiar, while others are new. I’ll share some details in case anything catches your eye!

Above: Wooden floor and panelling from Norrlands Trä. Windsor chairs, Skovby extendable table, IKEA kitchen (with a slight hack!) - complete guide here.

Plums from our neighbours garden in a bowl from Mölle Krukmakeri.

Monarch chair and Plico chair, Contura woodburning stove, Tense light by New Works

Children's wishbone chair

The ladder and railings were handmade by a local carpenter. 

Little wooden stools from Skovby

Complete guide to our bathroom here.

We've felt so honoured to see our cabin feature in Simply Scandi magazine and also Cate St Hill's forthcoming new book The Japandi Home. This year we hope to focus a little more on the garden (is it just me, or are gardens really tricky? I think it's going to take some trial and error to create the oasis we hope for, but we'll have fun trying!

In case you're curious about the layout and exterior, you can find more info here. 

I'd love to hear about the place you most cherish, if you'd like to share. 

Today, in southern Sweden there's a little extra love floating around as the sun is shining and it's the start of the 'sportslov' (meaning 'sports break'–or what others refer to as half term). I'll be taking a short break with my family and will be back on the blog on Monday 24th February. In the meantime, if you'd like to see a few more tours, you might want to cosy up and delve into these archives: 

Swedish cottages

Danish homes

Norwegian homes

Boho style homes

Vintage inspired abodes

Thinking of visiting Scandinavia this summer? You can find all my travel guides here. 

Looking to fill your home with a little Scandinavian romance? Skandinavisk have just launched a KYSS (Swedish / Norwegian for 'kiss') scented candle with notes of blackberries, rose, sugar candy and cloves and it's divine! 

Right friends, I'd best be off. Have a wonderful week and a very happy Valentine's Day! 

Niki

PS I came across this lovely rustic Swedish cottage earlier which I had completely forgotten about, take the tour here. 

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Autumn Fika in our Little Cabin - and a New Danish Dining Chair!

Sponsored by Skovby, all words are my own and I only work with brands I love. Thank you for supporting the businesses which make My Scandinavian Home possible. 

Hejsan! I hope you had a wonderful weekend! We spent the past couple of days at the cabin, enjoying plenty of walks, fika (coffee and a small bite), and games of Yahtzee by the fire. Leaving last night was bittersweet, especially with a stormy week ahead in Malmö and even a hint of snow on the horizon.

Before heading back, I captured these pictures of our kitchen/dining room and cosy bed nook (if you’re not familiar with our little cabin, you can check out the full tour here). The focus of these snapshots is the beautiful new 842 chair by Skovby—a Danish brand renowned for its craftsmanship and, true to Scandinavian design, the perfect balance of form and function.

The chairs are on loan (though luckily, the Skovby table and stools are permanent, much-loved fixtures—you can see how the table miraculously extends here), so we were keen to make the most of them!

Here are some more glimpses of our dining area, along with a little more info. Enjoy!

The stackable 842 chair launched in August and is available almost worldwide. The design is inspired by a classic danish dining chair, with a contemporary touch. 

Per doesn't get too involved with the design in our home - but he does have one key request: a chair should be comfortable—which, of course, includes having an armrest! 

The sculpted armrest on this chair was a big hit—it adds comfort while seamlessly connecting to the backrest. To me, it feels like a warm embrace, adding both function and a beautifully light, airy aesthetic to the overall design.

Candlelight is an essential element at this time of year, and the moment I arrive at the cabin, I can’t help but flit around lighting everything! I have a particular fondness for oil lamps—they have such a nostalgic feel. Do you like oil lamps too? 

The branches are from the garden, gathered beneath the oak tree. Per’s brother planted the oak seed 50 years ago when he was just a young boy playing in the garden, and today, it’s one of my favourite features and never fails to provide a beautiful centre-piece for our table, no matter the time of year. 

The 842 chair is available in seven different type of wood finishes - this is the oak natural oil version. For added comfort, you can also opt for a removable seat cushion (also available in a few different colours), which as you can imagine - made Per very happy! 

All in all, it was such a cosy weekend! I hope you liked these snapshots. 

You can find out more info about the 842 chair and your nearest stockist here. 

I have had the honour of collaborating with Skovby for many years, in fact I am currently seated at a Skovby chair and desk in our home office, featured here (check out a smaller, foldable space-saving desk which I captured in Helen's studio too). I have also photographed a beautiful glass display cabinet in our sitting room - as well as a large dining room and chair set here. There have also been coffee tables (also captured with a Christmassy touch in our cabin), a bench in my bedroom, bar stools in my kitchen - you name it! 

Do you have a favourite Skovby item? Or perhaps you have invested in a Skovby piece for your home? If so, I'd love to hear about it.

Do let me know if you're wondering about anything else in the pictures, I'd be happy to help in the comments below. 

Would you like to see what it looked like when darkness fell and I was all cosied up in bed in our cabin? 

Aaaaah, there's nothing like a fire on a cold Autumn day. 

I hope you had a cosy weekend too! 

I'll be back with a home tour on Wednesday, until then - stay toasty friends. 

Niki

Photography by me (Niki Brantmark / My Scandinavian Home) 

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Meet the Danish Classic That Now Comes in a Children's Version!

Kindly sponsored by Carl Hansen & Søn, all words are my own, and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too.

If you're a fan of Scandinavian design, you'll no doubt be familiar with the Wishbone chair - it's one of the most iconic chairs ever made. You might even be lucky enough to own one (we have a blue version in our dining room). Designed by Hans J. Wegner in 1949, the chair is just as popular today as it was back then because it's beautifully handcrafted, comfortable and it's timeless.  

There's one problem though - it's a little too big for the smallest members of the family. A problem that has now been rectified by Carl Hansen & Søn in honour of Hans J. Wegner's 110th birthday. Ladies and gentlemen, please be upstanding (we wouldn't fit in it anyway) and say 'hej' to the CH24 Children's Wishbone Chair!

It's not often that I get completely over excited by a piece of furniture (Oh, OK then, it is!), but when this little beauty - designed for children aged three plus, appeared fresh out of the box in our little cabin,  myself, Per and my Mother-in-law all oohed and aahed and fell completely and utterly in love! It's the exact replica of CH24 Wishbone Chair in every way, and equally beautifully crafted, just scaled down to perfection - and it's very very cute! 

The frame is made from the same solid oak with just as much care put into the carpentry, and the seat has been handwoven from paper cord - just like its mummy version! One of the things I love about these materials and the good craftsmanship is that it will withstand time and can be passed from one generation to the next. 

Sadly, my children are way too big for it (Liv turned sixteen on Saturday and Alice will be 14 in October), but that doesn't stop me from dreaming about having it around - not only for little visitors like my nieces, but one day for my (whisper it) grandchildren! Just like Ylva had mini wooden chairs on standby in the living room of her Stockholm home. Could you also imagine owning one of these? 

While you can't keep everything from your children's childhood, there are a few items that are close to my heart. These pretty hand painted clogs were Alice's when she was small and this well-loved Elsa Beskow children's book has a permanent space on the bookshelf. Are there items like this that feel particularly nostalgic to you - or perhaps there's something special that your parents saved from your childhood that you cherish? 

Oh, and do you recognise the chair beside it? It's the FK10 Plico chair by Jørgen Kastholm, also from Carl Hansen & Søn - a Danish classic, and probably one of the most precious pieces of furniture I own - although I rarely get to sit in it as it's everyone's favourite! I shared a few more pictures of it in our cabin here, in case you'd like to see! 

For now, I do have it to myself, and I'll happily sip my tea in peace!

What do you think of this CH24 Children's Wishbone Chair? Could you imagine having it in your home for little ones? If so, you can find out more information about it here. 

Looking for more inspiration today? You might like to see a few other Danish classics I've featured in the past including the Windsor Chair in our cabin and a peek behind the facade of Hellerup manor, which I snapped on my visit to film with Knud Erik Hansen, the CEO and grandson of the founder of Carl Hansen & Søn. It's a day that remains etched in my memory as I felt so welcome and Knud Erik is so passionate about furniture and such an interesting man - always with a fascinating story to tell. 

Have a great start to the week all! 

Niki

All photography and styling by me 

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Our Summer Cabin - and a new Collection from Skandinavisk!

Sponsored by Skandinavisk - I only work with brands I love, thank you for supporting the small business that make My Scandinavian Home possible. 

Hej kompisar! Do you have a place which is close to your heart? Somewhere special where you feel instantly happy and relaxed? The Swedes refer to this as your 'smultronställe' meaning 'wild strawberry patch'. It might be a secret picnic spot you've been visiting since your childhood, a beach you love, or even a corner of your garden. 

Mine is our summer cottage. When we arrive in the small fishing village in Northwest Skåne, Sweden all my worries fall away and I flit about with my family, barefoot and fancy free! It's a laid back place where the forest and sea meet and the scent of the salt spray and sea kelp from the Kattegat Sea blends with the scent of beach rose and hawthorn from the shore. 

I know many of you live far away from Scandinavia, but if you're ever intrigued about the subtle scents of the landscape - Skandinavisk have captured them in their new, locally made, organic hand, hair and body care collection - quite incredible! The collection includes an absolutely divine shampoo and conditioner, wash, lotion and hand cream, as well as other items and comes in fragrances HAV (distant shores) - my favourite!), SKOG (calm of the boreal forest), FJORD (carved from glaciers), and ØY (island solitude). 

Now that the warmer weather has arrived in Sweden, we spend as much time at our little cabin as possible. Here are some snapshots from a recent visit - as well as our newly stocked little cabin bathroom! Välkommen! 

Per is great at swimming in the sea all year round, but I am what Swedes like to refer to as a badkruka (swimming pot) - i.e. someone who is a little afraid of getting in very cold water! So, before the water temperatures rise, I prefer to shower back in the cabin. 

Although little, our bathroom is wonderfully cool and refreshing - in part thanks to the stone floor and shelf (made from the same tiles) - but also because the door opens to the garden, so you feel like you're showering alfresco. 

I try to stock our cabin bathroom with the most beautiful products so that we can feel really pampered when we're here (seen above: the HAV (distant shores) hand cream). 

The cool waters of the Kattegat Sea are so refreshing - and a perfect place to collect 'tång' seaweed. When I first moved here, I learned that you can use it as a body scrub and it leaves your skin silky smooth, so sometimes I collect a small sample to take back to the cabin.  Have you tried this? 

The HAV (distant shores) fragrance from the new hand, hair and body care collection from Skandinavisk beautifully captures the scent of the rugged Scandinavian coastline and includes a 500 ml wash and lotion - with packaging made from 98-100% recycled PE plastic, 200 ml wash and lotion both in glass bottles, shampoo and conditioner, a 200ml and 200ml lotion and hand cream. The fragrance is also available in a scent diffuser and a scented candle (both with refill options). 

I love that the new collection is made from locally sourced active ingredients (which are combined with existing certified organic ingredients) - including Swedish rapeseed oil (the fields are in bloom now and so beautiful!), known for its proven soothing skin protection properties, beta glucan extract from Swedish oat fibre to soothe, care for and moisturise the skin and scalp in washes and shampoos. And Nordic beets is blended into conditioners to reduce friction and help the hair shine. Nature at its finest! 

I have to say, Per is not big on body care items - but he does wax lyrical about the SKOG (calm of the boreal forest) wash (seen above - now available in a 200 ml glass bottle with refill option). He's been coming to the cottage since he was little and spent summer's roaming the forest with his brother, which is maybe why I think it resonates with him so much! 

Today, we love to go walking in the forest on a hot day as the canopy provides so much shade. It also shelters you from the wind on a cold day, and a perfect place to collect decorations at Christmas time - and whatever time you visit, you can always here the babble from the stream and the hushed sounds of woodland creatures going about their business. This time round we could hear a woodpecker hard at work, and one of our neighbours tells us they recently spotted an Elk - although we've yet to see him! 

If you're curious about the SKOG scent, Skandinavisk has captured it in the SKOG hand, hair and body care collection with subtle notes of pine needles, woodland lily, birch sap, and fir cones - all of which bring the calm of the Scandinavian boreal forest alive. Although sadly, the sound of a woodpecker and the light footstep of a deer is harder to capture! 

I hope you enjoyed these snapshots from our little cabin by the sea and forest - and hearing about the new collection from Skandinavisk. 

The small team in Copenhagen are so lovely and have made a discount code just for you guys here on the blog in case you'd like to treat yourself or a friend! Use the code myscandinavianhome20 to get 20% off all individual products from Skandinavisk before 31st August 2024. I'd love to hear which scent from Scandinavia you like the sound of the most! Or perhaps you already have a favourite? 

FYI the new collection is available in Europe and USA, with other items from their assortment available in retailers in 40 countries and also online here. 

If you're curious about anything in my bathroom like the tiles, paint, taps etc, check out this post for the complete lowdown! 

Have a great start to the week friends! 

Niki

All photographs and words by me.  

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Our New Foldable Outdoor Furniture at the Cabin

Sponsored by Carl Hansen & Søn, all words are my own and only work with companies I love and think you will too. Thank you for supporting the wonderful brands that make My Scandinavian Home possible. 

Hej! In Sweden, the Easter week serves as an ideal opportunity to re-open the summer cottage after a long winter. Hearths are swept, cobwebs banished and now that the snow has thawed, furniture can be lifted outside once again. What a great moment! 

Having completed our tiny cabin in 2022, our attention has turned to the garden and one of the biggest steps was to choose a garden table. For someone who struggles to make decisions (ahem understatement!), this was no easy feat. Especially as I had criteria to fill such as it needing to be lightweight and easy to store away in winter as well as small enough to fit on the cabin decking (or moved around at whim!). And of course it needed to look beautiful too!  

In the end I settled on the beautiful Danish BM630 dining table from Carl Hansen & Søn. Designed by Børge Mogensen in the late 1960s, it's part of the Deck Chair Series and the table is made from solid teak. I fell in love with the slatted lines - and how practical it is as it folds completely flat!  

I love this view of the church. Every Saturday at 6pm the bell rings for the best part of five minutes (driving Per insane in the process!!). It is a tradition called 'helgmålsringning' that stems back to olden times to signify the start of weekend mass and the weekend as whole. 

I selected the BM4570 dining chairs to go with the table - also designed by Børge Mogensen and part of the same Deck Chair Series. They're made from solid teak with a suspended seat in water resistant Sunbrella fabric so we don't need to worry about a little rain here and there (important in this part of the world!). Best of all, they fold neatly away and can even be hung on the wall when not in use! 

And finally, since I was looking for a few versatile pieces, I chose the BM5768 deck chair footstool which doubles up as seating and a little teak BM5868 side table from the same collection. They're so nifty as they can be moved with you as you follow the sun! 

I hope you like our new outdoor table and chairs set! Now all we need is some sunshine. Roll on summer, we're ready for you!

In case you're on the look out, Carl Hansen & Søn has lots of other beautiful outdoor furniture too - the new collection in particular looks beautiful! 

Have you started preparing your garden for the summer yet? If so, you might like to check out these posts for some outdoor inspiration: 

8 ways to pep up your outdoor space, scandi style

A Swedish house with an outdoor kitchen and sofa area

7 boho ideas for outdoor areas (big and small)

10 ways to maximise your balcony or tiny outdoor area

Or perhaps you live in the southern hemisphere and winding down for the season? If so, do you do like the Swedes and store your furniture indoors or cover it up for protection? I'd love to know what's the norm around the world! 

I'll be back tomorrow with a final post before the holidays, hopefully see you then! 

Stor kram' from Sweden! 

Niki

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Preparing for 'Fredagsmys' at the Cabin!

Kindly sponsored by Skovby 

One of the things I love most about being up at our cottage are all the local farm shops. A short cycle ride along the road will take you past honesty stalls selling locally produced delicacies such as potatoes, corn of the cob, honey, eggs, strawberries and all other kinds of goodies. It makes grocery shopping a pleasure!

To top off my raid, I always head to Myltes Blomfältet (flower field) to see what's in bloom! 

The flower farm always has the pick of the in-season blooms. This time round it was resplendent with dahlia, cosmos and gladiolas! Well-worth the hay fever induced sneezes! 

Once you've picked the flowers, you measure the thickness of the stems that make up the bouquet and leave the corresponding amount (you can even wrap up your bouquet and add a label to make the perfect gift!) - my girls love coming with me! 

Do you have something like this near your home?  

How pretty are the dahlias on the table? They are possibly my favourite blooms - and one day I've promised myself I'll grow my own, despite the faff! Do you grow Dahlia? 

A word on the table, after all, it is beautiful! The Skovby #33 dining table is Danish made. This particular version is an anniversary edition (Skovby has been producing beautifully crafted furniture for  90 years!) with an oak white oil base and a green laminate top. It's an incredible table aesthetically, but there's also more than meets the eye. 

It's extendable! The leaves are hidden within the plinth and with a few smooth, moves (there's a turn table underneath the table top which causes the top to split into three and reveal hidden additional plates which pop-up and fold out!) you can extend the table from 123 cm - 149 cm - providing space for 6 to 9 people! In a small space, this is a dream!

Perfect for guests in the late summer sun! 

You might notice that the chairs are also new! This fine oak and wicker #827 dining table chair was recently unveiled by Skovby and are already iconic. True to danish design, it's impeccably handcrafted crafted and made from really high-quality wood.  The rounded back makes it very comfy too - so Per's happy! 

And with that friends, it's time for 'fredagsmys' (cosy friday!). 

Thank you so much for stopping by this week and for all your kind words about my new book! I forgot to mention that the English version will also be available through Waterstones and Amazon in most countries at the end of December ( available to pre-order now). 

Have a cosy weekend! 

Niki

PS The beautiful Skovby #33 dining table and #827 dining table chair are available in many different versions and Skovby have retailers throughout the world. Find your nearest dealer here. 

Thank you so much to Helen Sturesson for your help with these pictures! 

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