The Design Plans For Our Tiny Swedish Cabin (Komplementbostadshus / Attefallshus)

A while back I wrote that Per and I are planning on building an attefallshus (a small Swedish cabin usually measuring 25 m2 (269 sq.ft) - but in this case it's a 'komplementbostadshus' which is allowed to be 30 m2 / (322 sq.ft) in the garden of Per's family's summer cottage in South Sweden. We've been pouring over lovely cabins for ages as you know from this post! We were hoping to buy something ready-made but after assessing all the options we eventually decided to design it ourselves. Out-of-the-blue, I came across Anela Tahirovic - a really talented architect based just outside of Malmö, whose home I featured yesterday. Anela has been working with us to help realise our idea - while also adding some great ideas,  tips and tricks of her own. Ready to see the plan?!

Tadaaaa! This 3D drawing (by the fab Mahir at Studio Ark) gives an idea of the overall look and feel. We wanted to draw inspiration from the surrounding forest - and decided on brown wood panelling (see the inspiration below for a photo of the wood finish we are hoping to achieve). 

Since the living space is so small, we were also keen to draw in as much natural light as possible and create an indoor-outdoor living space. This is why the cabin has so many windows and doors - which we can throw open on warm summer days.

I am toying with the idea of swapping out the black frames in favour of slim brown ones for a softer look (as seen below in this lovely 'Hållbar' 40 m2 house by Woodworks. What do you think? 

Here are some drawings by Anela showing how the cabin will look from different directions:

Inside, there will be a tiny sitting room area, basic kitchenette (fridge and sink), double bed and bathroom on the lower level, and then an upper loft area (accessed by a ladder) for two more beds. In such a small space, storage is a struggle - so, not only do we need to live fairly minimalist (not easy for the Brantmarks!), but we will also need to find some smart storage solutions! Here is a sketch of the layout: 

I am looking forward to sharing more inspiration for the interior and the outdoor area with you soon. In the meantime, this past post might just give you some idea of the general design direction!

And good news, we have planning permission - WOOHOOOO! We were hoping to have started the build this spring, but all the local builders are crazy busy due to the pandemic, so now we're looking at September. Feeling excited but ever so slightly nervous too! 

I hope you like the plans so far! 

Wishing you all a lovely day, 

Niki

A huge thanks to Anela Tahirovic for the design sketches and Mahir from Studio Ark for the building and construction drawings as well as the 3D visualisations.

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A Small-ish Danish Home With a Vibrant, Sunny Feel!

Hejsan! I hope you had a wonderful weekend! It was really sunny here, but wow was there a vicious northerly wind blowing - brrrrrrr! Even so, midsummer is a mere 8 weeks away and we're loving the long hours of sunlight up here in the North! It's at this time of year when smallish spaces and 'attic' apartments without balconies can start to feel a little closed in and removed from the vibrant spring / summer outside. But, if you're smart like 26-year-old nursery teacher Louise, who lives in a beautiful 46 square metre (495 sq. ft) apartment on the top floor of an old building in Aarhus, Denmark, it's easy to add a summer vibe. Louise has decorated her two-room apartment (made up of an open-plan kitchen / dining area and bedroom which also doubles up as her living room) with pastel coloured art, accessories, pretty summer dresses and vibrant plants and flowers - all of which help to bring a ray of sunshine to the space, even on a grey day! 

Louise has opted for mainly whitewashed walls which help to bounce the light around and give the illusion of space. while an accent wall adds a great focal point and creates contrast. 

Kitchenware in fresh pastel hues also add a summery vibe, while a canvas director chair adds a beachy touch. 

Sunny yellow tulips and daffodils brighten up a dark corner around the sink. 

A lemon tree brings an instant touch of the med to the windowsill and a white table helps to add the bounce around. The print on the back wall is from Copenhagen-based By Garmi. 

FYI I also have a lemon tree in my home which I bought last spring. I'm proud to announce that it's survived the winter but there are no lemons to be seen - what have I done wrong? Honestly though, I'm just proud it's still alive!

Notice how wall to wall storage units double up as seating in the dining area - a smarty small space solution. 

Art with pastel tones by the likes of local Danish artists Lotte Neupart and Pernille Bitsch adds a soft, summery touch to the bedroom wall while  lemon yellow under bed storage crates from Hay add a fresh touch to the room. 

Some summer dresses are way too pretty to be kept hidden in a wardrobe - put them on display like Louise has done - so even if it's too cold to wear them you can still appreciate them each and every day! These ones are from Boii Studios. 

Linen bedding in pale yellow and pink from H&M Home add a pretty touch to the bed. Just add a coffee and a croissant (and maybe a fresh glass of orange juice!). 

A lit candle - because, well, hygge. 

The pretty town of Aarhus is a must visit if you're in Denmark - and a walk by the coast his perfect for blowing away the cobwebs, or a dip if you dare! 

What a lovely home - and such great inspiration for spring / summer too, don't you think? 

You can see more pics of Louise's charming home here. 

Shall we take a look at a few other lovely attic spaces today? here are a few of my favourites: 

7 great ways to make the most of an attic space

An inspiring interior design studio in an attic space

Small spaces: a light-filled one room Swedish apartment

Before and after: an attic becomes a bright and airy guest bedroom

Wishing you all a great start to the week - I hope the sun is shining where you are too! 

Photography: Louise / @_lisebise

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Tiny Home Inspiration: A Beautiful Swedish Studio With A Great Storage Solution

A tiny, one room studio apartment with lots of storage and a beautiful aesthetic? Yes, it IS possible! if you're dealing with 28 square metres / 300 square feet or less and struggling to find a place for all your things, I have a feeling you'll find this beautiful Gothenburg apartment truly inspiring - and I couldn't resist adding a few more ideas to the mix too. Oh, and I added the floor plan at the end a first from my side, but I felt it could be useful (courtesy of Entrance). Don't live in a confined space? Lots of homes have compact spaces such as a box room - so I have a feeling this tour will come in handy for most of us! 

Unless you're a true minimalist, there's no going for the trendy 'no upper cabinets' look that's so hot right now. Instead, it's all about maximising height and wall space - and in my humble opinion, upper cabinets can look just as good! If you have a lot of kitchen utensils, opt for closed cabinets for a less cluttered look.  

This kitchen could have looked a little cold had it not been for the beautiful warm natural textures seen in the stone worktop and wood dining chairs. 

The stylist behind this apartment hasn't utilised under-the-sofa storage here, but if you need the space, opt for sofas and coffee tables with built-in storage. 

Again, not seen here, but if you are a book lover or would love to display personal items, the enclave in the picture above to the right of the wardrobe (where there painting is) would be a perfect spot for narrow vertical shelling that extends the full height. See this beautiful Stockholm family home for some great 'small space' bookshelf inspiration! 

No matter your ceiling height, the vertical space in a small apartment is one of your greatest assets - use to  the full by ensuring wardrobes extend all the way to the ceiling. You can always hang a ladder on the wall to the side for access. 

The space under the bed is another great place for extra storage. For a neater look, add a bed skirt - it will add a soft touch to the bedroom area and cover up whatever is underneath. 

Wall-mounted furniture and accessories: if your walls allow it, hang lights and other furniture on the wall to clear floor space. 

And in case you're curious - here's the 27 square metre floor plan: 

I hope this has been helpful. A special thanks to all of those who have e-mailed me /  requested inspiration for living spaces smaller than 30 square metres! Please do feel free to email me anytime with ideas and requests, it's really helpful! 

Oh, and for another serene smallish space - did you see Sarah's Copenhagen home yesterday? So serene! And of course, there's always the archive too! 

Wishing you all a great day!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Entrance 

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Small Space Living: A Delightful Danish Apartment In Calm, Earthy Tones

We've woken up to wonderful sunshine here in Malmö today. But I won't be fooled into thinking it's spring, there's a vicious wind out there I can tell you! So instead, my mind is turning indoors - and I'm kicking off the week with a virtual tour of Sarah's delightful 46 square metre (495 square foot) 'lejighed' (apartment) in Copenhagen. Sarah's home is located in a salmon-coloured building dating back to 1884 in the beautiful, leafy district of Frederiksberg. The relatively compact, yet stylish and calm living space has been minimally decorated with a strong focus on recycled and sustainable furniture. Think earthy, neutral tones, a blend of open and closed storage solutions and lots of art. Oh, and don't miss the music corner! 

Sarah has recently installed the lovely rack in the kitchen, by sustainable Danish furniture makers We Do Wood. This unit is particularly great for making extra use of vertical wall space (I bet it feels lovely to touch too!). 

How great are these rails? A quick search led me to danish brand Ferm Living - available here. They provide extra kitchen storage while adding character. Love these! 

You'll often see these beautiful radiator covers in older Scandinavian houses (seen here in the corner). They're great - not only do they cover unsightlier, or even wonkily installed radiators, they also provide an extra surface for display.

Note - always check with an expert before covering a radiator obvs (speaking from experience, since the ones in our summer cottage would be lethal if they were covered!). 

These cube-shaped wall mounted shelves from Montana are extremely popular in Denmark for good reason! If you have a wall that can hold it, wall mounted furniture creates a wonderful illusion of space and helps to give a light and airy feel. These shelves in particular are a perfect height for displaying decorative items like the iconic Stoff Nagel candleholder*.  

Special nod to the gallery wall. Is it just me, or are Danes great at these? Try Curated Copenhagen (including one-of-a-kind art) or The Poster Club* for similar prints. 

Every home should have a music corner like this, don't you think? I'm imaging the sweet sound of music gently floating out of the open window and filling the street with life. There's something so wonderful about summer in the city, don't you think? Or maybe that's just the Londoner in me! 

Glass tables with a built-in shelf are brilliant. My parents have one too and they are perfect for storing your favourite coffee table books while keeping them in sight, close to hand and dust free! I'm a big fan! Maybe not so practical in a family home though with kids around (those little handprints!).

Originally, many of these Frederiksberg apartments were built without a bathroom, so the owners have had to make use of tiny closet spaces to recreate them. Bags on hooks equal instant extra storage in a bathroom that's feels like a bit of a squash and a squeeze and has limited storage.  

The iconic 'Hang it all' are great for small hallways since they don't take up much room and yet have a load of hooks in one place. 

So many lovely ideas here - for big and small homes alike! Is there anything that stood out to you? 

Feel inspired by other small spaces in this archive. 

On a separate note - in honour of International Women's Day, I'll be sharing a feature in my instagram stories this evening which includes some of the Scandinavian women I truly admire in the design world. I hope they'll inspire you too! In the meantime, here's to all the strong woman out there - may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them. 

Wishing you a wonderful start to the week! 

Niki

Photography: Sarah / @detlaksefarvedehus - shared with kind permission

*This post contains affiliate links

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An Inspiring Studio Flat - And Shrove Tuesday Celebrations, Swedish style!

Big shout out to all of you who live in a one room studio. This Gothenburg apartment is for you! The studio flat occupies one room of an old apartment building - and has been designed to incorporate everything one might need - a mini cloakroom, a practical yet drool worthy kitchen (handcrafted by Taras Hallgren & Son), a dining area, sitting room and semi-private bedroom with lots of storage and a dressing area! What a perfect pied-à-terre! Keep a look out for the telly too - a rare find on My Scandinavian home simply because photographers and stylists like to hide them from view. But in this home, it takes pride of place - and can be watched from the dining area and sofa. All it needs is a 360-degree swivel and you could watch it from bed too! But really, my eyes are still on the kitchen - I love the dark green cabinets in combination with the stone. Vackert! 

How cute is that little side table in the last image. I wonder where it's from. Any idea? 

Is there anything that stood out to you about this lovely little space? 

Curious to see how it looked before? Click here (thanks anon in comments!). Which look do you prefer?

There's a load more small spaces to feel inspired by in this archive. 

Here in the Brantmark household today I can hear Liv leaping around in her bedroom doing an online PE class. Meanwhile, outside the world is blanketed in snow - and there'll no doubt be a little sledging action later. No ice action on the frozen sea though - especially after seeing this film of a guy ice-skating in Holland!! How crazy is that?

And of course, we'll be tucking into 'semlor' - dreamy buns packed with marzipan and whipped cream and Sweden's answer to 'Fättisdagen' (literally translated to 'Fat Tuesday', better known around the world as Shrove Tuesday. Recipe here! And a fine example below, captured by Malin Poppy Darcy Mörner:

Will you be enjoying one of these today? Or perhaps pancakes? If the latter - what filling? In need of some inspiration! 

Wishing you all a lovely day, stay warm, stay safe!

Niki

Photographs: Anders Bergstedt

Styling: Nouvel Interior

For: Entrance

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