Choosing a Wood Floor For our Tiny Cabin, From Light to Dark

Disclosure: Norrlands Trä have kindly agreed to collaborate with us on this project

Hejsan! A cabin update is long overdue! We're still nutting out the interior details and lately we've been focused on the floor. Living in Scandinavia, it was a no brainer to go for a wood floor - I love the warmth, the softness underfoot and how it ages over time. We were specifically looking for a wood floor with a simple and traditional look and that comes from a sustainable source. We headed to Norrlands Trä - the Swedish company from whom we got our wall panelling (and only use FSC certifiable wood from the forests of North Sweden) to pick up some samples from dark to light. Here are some of the variations we considered - and the wood floor we eventually chose.

Blond tones

Nothing says Scandinavian like 'blond' wood, don't you think? The light touch is great for brightening up a space, while still adding warmth. But there can be massive variations in light wood - from almost white to dark blond (it's starting to sound like a trip to the hairdressers!), and don't get me started on the subtle nuances: from cold to warm tones, and how the colour changes over time. It's a minefield! 

Lightest shade

Save from painting the floor white, the brushed pine (Borstat Furugolv) in 'ultra protect white' is the lightest in the Norrlands Trä range. It's close to white and has a wonderful, ridged patina with the grain showing through. Pine can be incredibly soft, and so I like that the surface has been gently teased away with a brush, making it a more durable choice. 

Light pine

We were also drawn to the pine floor (Putsat furugolv) in ultra protect white which has been primed and then sandpapered giving a soft, smooth result (a treat for the feet!). We love that it has a traditional and rustic feel which is so synonymous with the Swedish summer cottage. One thing to be mindful of - the softer finish does require some extra work over the years to maintain it. However, it is made from solid wood so you can sand it down as often as you like - or leave it as it is and appreciate the patina as it ages.  I'm guessing we'd do the latter!

Darker wood floor tones

You might have noticed that darker wood floors have been making a comeback lately. The deep hue is great for adding contrast, grounding a space and creating a cosy ambience. 

Grey finish

This brushed pine floor (Borstat Furugolv) has a lovely rustic feel - and we liked the stone grey finish. Given all the windows in our cabin we could definitely get away with a darker floor like this one too. 

Dark finish

And finally, we looked at going completely over to the dark side with a brushed pine floor ((Borstat Furugolv) in ultra protect brown. The rich tone gives a wonderful atmospheric feel and adds a whole level of cosiness. It's perfect for creating that dark cabin feel. 

A note on wood ageing over time

Wood is a natural substance that darkens over time - especially when exposed to lots of light. Some wood gets more of a grey tint, whereas others can appear more yellow. Check with your wood floor supplier before purchasing to find out about each individual wood floor. Also, be mindful that rugs block the sunlight which can leave permanent marks on your wood floor. If the room gets a lot of light, think about removing them periodically.  

Our choice of floor

Edited: originally I wrote that we went for the primed pine floor in ultra protect white but this was an error - we actually chose the primed parquet pine floor in ultra protect white. This has an extremely similar look and feel, but the parquet is a more practical choice for us since it simply clicks into place making it easier to install, where as the solid wood needs to be nailed into place. Also, it's thinner which works better with the lower ceiling height in the loft. Overall, it has a lovely summery feel and during the winter it will help to brighten up the darkness! 

We tested the sample up at the cabin. 

Welcome inside my humble home! 

The panelling on the walls and ceiling is now in place and looks so beautiful! And the wood floor is a perfect fit! 

Below is the simple material and colour mood board we have decided to work with. The stone and white tile will be installed in the bathroom and the dark sand is for the kitchen cabinets. It feels like it reflects the surrounding coast and forest in a beautiful way - what do you think?  

It feels like things are really starting to happen now and it's the cabin is moving from an empty shell into a home! Exciting! 

What type of floor do you have in your home? Do you have a favourite out of these different looks? or perhaps you have gone for tiles, like my sister who has a dog. I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below! 

Niki

Credits: 1. Lifestyle photo courtesy of Norrlands Trä, styled by Lotta Agaton. 2 - 6 Lifestyle photos courtesy of Norrlands Trä. 7+ photos snapped with my iPhone by Per and myself this weekend! 

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Cabin Update: Wood Burning Stove (Plus Try the Tool!)

Disclosure: Contura have kindly agreed to partner on our cabin project

Over the Christmas holidays, so much more happened than playing about in the snow and drinking glögg: our little cabin sprang to life (see the design plans here)! I'd love to say that the picture above is of the interior - but we're far from finished! The good news is though, the structure is in place:

So exciting! With all the bigger aspects decided including the wood panelling, windows and doors and the bathroom, it's time to decide on a wood burning stove. I LOVE a fireplace, do you? To me, they are pure hygge and I couldn't imagine our little cabin without one! 

Which one?

I knew I wanted to get one from Contura. The Swedish brand is located only an hour from the cabin and recognised as the leading manufacturer of woodburning stoves in Scandinavia as well as a big player across Europe (AKA the guys delivering the hygge!). I've heard many a great things about their Swedish-made log burners when it comes to quality and efficiency, and I love the design!  

Contura 856G Style

Choosing a stove using the virtual tool

Anyone who's been in the market for a wood burning stove will know there are so many out there to choose from, it's almost overwhelming! Keep a look out for a stove that works for the size and design of space you have. Plus, I found the Contura 'build your stove' tool super handy! It allows you to build your own stove and then virtually place it in your home to see how it looks! Hours of fun! 

Admittedly, I got a bit carried away and Per was very nervous when I revealed pictures of how one might look in our bedroom, sitting room and bathroom at home! 

To use it, just head over to Contura and click on ' build your stove' (top right orange button) and follow the simple step by step instructions. 

Contura i8G Cosi

In the end I decided on the Wood burning stove Contura 810 in black steel with built-in wood storage for our cabin, which I think is super sleek and great for space-saving. 

Positioning

Above is a snapshot from inside our cabin right now (taken from the loft bed ). We plan to place the wood burning stove in the far left corner. This is how it will look - except a little larger in size and with a chimney:

I think it's going to be great and feeling so excited now. Here's to cosy days at the cabin! 

Just need the panelling to go in and get the bathroom and kitchen fitted, the floors laid..... gaaah so much to do! 

Do you have a fireplace in your home? Or perhaps you've been considering one (try the tool if so!)? Please do share your experiences below! 

Wishing you all a hyggeligt weekend!

Niki

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Our Small Bathroom Plans / Design For the Cabin

GSI Ceramica and Cristina Rubinetterie are kindly partnering in our project. 

I was up at the cabin yesterday (see our plans) and the build is progressing nicely! I can't tell you how excited I am! Buoyed by the progress, I thought it was time to share an update on the next phase of our build: the bathroom! 

Floorplan 

With only 3.66 metres square (XX f2) to play with, it's a case of dream big, think small! Even so, we had several criteria for the bathroom: it should be low maintenance, long-lasting, practical and of course beautiful! Let's start with my favourite - the latter! 

Inspiration:

Natural & Raw

Since being up at the cottage is all about enjoying nature, I am keen to keep the look natural. I love the idea of rough finishes and a fairly minimalist approach - with a warm, earthy palette. 

The Design

With the little space we have, I knew a bath would be out of the question (I guess we have the sea nearby!) - so we focused on a WC, sink and shower. 

I've worked with the incredible Italian brand GSI Ceramica for several years now and appreciate how the company prides itself on combining the latest technology with craftsmanship, rooted in a thousand-year-old tradition of Civita Castellana ceramic district.  I always appreciate the high quality which is vital since we're keen for our little cabin to be as low maintenance and long-lasting as possible  - something I've learnt from my Scandinavian friends!

The GSI Ceramica design team came back with these drawings which were spot on: 

The matt white loo and sink are from the Kube X Collection which you mind recognise from this feature. I love the rectangle forms, slender edges and pared down lines. It's a collection that offers something for every size bathroom too, so I knew it would be perfect for our small space! 

1. WC: Kube X 941509: This wall-hung loo is seriously awesome: it features Swirlflush (the quietest flushing system in the world!), helps to save water and has a soft close seat - all important when you live in close quarters, don't you think?

2. Kube X washbasin - 60 x 47: A sleek, narrow washbasin which is perfect for small spaces (loving the white plug!).

3. Prisma Unit 60 x 47: A cabinet was essential - especially with a tween and teenage girl knocking about! This unit launches in 2022 and has been specially designed to fit the Kube X Collection. I opted for a 'Bianco' matt Finnish. Here's a sneak peek of what to expect from the collection: 

4. Four Season Mirror with LED - 60 cm: yes, we'll spend most of our days up there with salty hair and make-up free, but you know, we don't want to scare guests, and this mirror comes with a built in LED light  (always wanted that!). 

Taps & shower

For the taps and shower, we chose items from Cristina Rubinetterie. You'll likely recognise the name since the Italian brand is available in over 60 countries and they've been producing beautiful pieces for the bathroom, kitchen and wellness interiors since 1949! I was looking for something simple and elegant, yet practical with a beautiful finish, and the Tricolore Verde collection fits the bill perfectly!  

1. Wall mounted basin mixer CRIT257*

2. External thermostatic shower mixer with overhead and hand shower CRIT486*

*Both in a beautiful matt, brushed old brass finish. 

A note on wall hung loos and taps:

We learned you have to allow for up to 20cm wall space to create room for the cistern and tap fittings. We were slightly concerned that this would eat into the already small space, but came to the conclusion that it would create a perfect opportunity for a built-in shelf above the loo and sink.

Tiles:

And finally, the tiles! I was considering wood panelling (as you can see from the original design) but after some deliberation, I decided to go for more practical, square hand cut tiles in white from a local Swedish tile manufacturer. And for the floor - beautiful Tumbled Turtle tiles from Stiltje. Both very raw with a matt finish -of course!

Thank you for bearing with me through a very long post - I hope this info is helpful for anyone planning a new bathroom in 2022!  

Now, it's just to build it (gaaah!). In the meantime, here's a snapshot of how the bathroom looks right now: 

There's work to be done! 

Niki

Photo credits: 1. Villa Hagerman - M Arkitektur 2. Hotel Santa Clara 3. Coco & Jack 4. Mathew Williams for Remodelista 5. Bert & May 6. Sequence by GSI ceramica 7. Cristina Rubinetterie

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Tiny Cabin Update: 4 Types of Internal Wood Panelling And The One We Chose

Disclosure: Norrlands Trä have kindly agreed to collaborate with us on this project after I approached them. 

It's been a while since I've shared an update on the tiny cabin we're building (see the plans here). Per paid a site visit on Sunday and I nearly had a heart attack when I saw the garden (wait till you see the pictures at this end of this post) - gaaah!  The good news is, the foundation has been laid and is now 'breathing' - small steps friends, small steps! But we cannot afford to rest on our laurels as things will quickly progress, so we've been working on the details. And this week, we looked into the internal wood panelling. Ready to see some pretty pictures and find out more? 

We were keen to find just the right wood panelling since it lays the foundation for the entire aesthetic. I immediately turned to Pinterest, before writing to several architects and settling on Norrlands Trä. The Swedish brand sell beautiful panels and place great importance on sustainability (only using FSC certifiable wood from the forests of North Sweden and matte water-based paints that meet the requirements for children's toys.  

Incidentally - I love the light wood shelf across the panelling in the picture above, do you like it too? Something to consider for the cabin! 

Choosing the panelling: 

I had no idea there were so many different options in terms of finish, width and style - all of which result in a slightly different look and feel. Here are some examples of the subtle differences: 

1. Contemporary: 

This panelling was my key inspiration (I think you may have seen it in a previous post about our cabin plans!). To achieve the smooth, contemporary finish, the Putsad Slätspont panels have been primed and then sandpapered resulting in a soft, smooth finish. Notice the very fine groove between the panels - this is because the wood panel has been made with an 8% moisture ratio. I know this sounds super technical but it's good to know if you're aiming to achieve this more contemporary look. Traditionally panels are manufactured with an 16% moisture ratio which means they'll move more once installed and the gap needs to be wider. I love this sleek, Scandi-modern aesthetic! 

This Putsad Slätspont comes in a few different colour ways - including this grey panelling looks equally pretty painted in earthy tones such as they grey in this cabin kitchen. But due to the small space (our cabin is only 30 m2 in total), we chose the white matt finish in S0500-N to help visually enlarge the living area.  

2. Contemporary with a rustic touch

The other sample I looked at was Borstad Slätspont - panels treated with rotating brushes which remove the soft spring wood from the surface, adding warmth and texture from the visible wood grain, and making it more durable. 

Many of the panels also come in this lacquered wood finish which I like to call 'Scandi blonde' (the one above is the Borstad Slätspont). For the right room, it's really beautiful and helps to draw nature indoors. Since we're already going for light wood on the loft fencing, door and ladder I felt a white finish would make a nice balance. 

3. Classic

Track panelling (in tis case SpårpaneL 4019) is often what first springs to mind when you think of wood panelling (especially in Scandinavia). The wide grooves give it a timeless, classic aesthetic.

4. Traditional 

Bead panelling rose to popularity during 19th century industrialism and is often added to kitchens to create a traditional look. It also looks lovely in other parts of a cottage - as seen in the Swedish stairwell above. I love this look, but since our cabin is a new look, I felt that a modern aesthetic would make more sense. 

What do you think? Do you have a favourite? 

I can't wait to see our new panelling on the walls - but as you can see from the pictures below, we have a long way to go! 

Message to my lovely Swedish Mother-in-law who is so generously letting us build our cabin in her summer cottage garden: I'm sorry, we promise order will be restored come summer! 

I look forward to updating you all again soon. 

Niki

All photographs courtesy of Norrlands Trä except the building work!  

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