*This post contains a mention of my book / promotion of my own work.
Hands up who has always dreamed of living in a little cottage by the sea? Surely most of us - especially after a tough day of work! I can confess that I've spent the best part of this morning wondering if my little family and I can move to Jönköping - 3 hours from here. I don't think they'll be too happy - but it doesn't stop me dreaming.
This charming little yellow and white cottage in Bymarken was built in 1870 and has recently been put on the market. Built on a hill, it's a topsy turvy home - with the entrance, kitchen, dining room and sitting room on the top floor, and the bedrooms and home office on the lower floor - leading out to a lovely terrace.
The owners sure are keen on wallpaper (something you'll have noticed has grown in popularity immensely over the years in Sweden), which adds to the cosiness of the home alongside kakelugn (masonry oven fireplaces).
Ready to take a tour and dream away with me?
In the trend forecasts for 2025 experts have talked a lot about the sensorial home - and it's something I have also touched upon in my Njuta book.
The idea is that the home should tap into all your senses - the feel of the furnishings under your fingertips, the smell of the natural materials or something sweet rising in the oven, the sound of a roaring fire or an old wood floor creaking slightly under foot and of course how it all looks from a visionary perspective. It's these factors that come together to make a home.
Notice the candles on the walls in this home which really come into their own in Autumn. By the fire in this room you can also spot an extinguisher made by the classic brand Solsticken.
Yet another candle on the wall, this time in a gold bowl to reflect the light around the room - I am sure it looks so pretty in the evenings!
Have you noticed how doors are often turned into a feature in the home tours here on My Scandinavian Home? Here, an old wood door has been sanded down to its original form and the rough texture adds warmth to the room.
Notice also the old wooden floor, which has been sanded down and treated - beautiful! We recently sanded down the bedroom floor in our summer cottage and it made such a huge difference to the room. That's the beauty of solid wood - it's easy to give it a new lease of life!
In the master bedroom, curtains have been used instead of sliding wardrobe doors - helping to add warmth to the room and also dampening sound.
The units are made by Elfa - a Swedish brand which I have used extensively in my own home thanks to a partnership a few years ago. I am still so happy with it today and occasionally adapt it to bring our storage up to date. If you're curious, take a peek at my before and after wardrobe, laundry room and attic makeovers!
So dreamy! I could so imagine myself living here - enjoying relaxing evenings on the terrace in summertime and cosy evenings by the fire come winter.
Could you imagine living here too? Is there anything that you loved or noticed in particular about this cottage?
let's take a little look into some other cottages by the sea today - after all, there's nothing like a little mid-week dreaming, right?
Is there one of these in particular that you fell in love with? I am quite partial to the last one with all the books - plus. it's just down the road in Malmö!
Stor kram (big hug),
Niki
Photography courtesy of Västenhem, with thanks
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