A Swedish Summer Oasis On The Island of Gotland

"Summer breeze makes me feel fine...." those are the words going through my head as I imagine the cool breeze blowing in over the Baltic Sea as I chill by the pool at this Gotland summer house. It's for sale, but sadly a little out of our budget - but I do have my mind set on Surflogiet (a surf glamping place a little further up the coast). I see that there's a perfect 'work from home' spot at this cabin though, so if you're considering a life change, this lovely 71 sqm (764 ft.sq) Swedish cabin on the west coast of the island could well be just what you're looking for. Plus, there's room for two guests in the little outhouse too! 

As with most Scandinavian summer cabins, simplicity is the name of the game. It's about going back to basics (save for the pool!) and making the most of the outdoors. We all know that the Swedish weather might be on the chilly side at times so this covered terrace with bi-folding glass doors is spot on.  

A pair of Cuba Chairs (I also have one in my sitting room) sit side by side in the sitting room. Behind them is a Gubi Grasshopper lamp.

The soft earthy green wall helps to draw the surrounding nature indoors. 

See what I mean about the workspace? Not a bad view for a Wednesday morning! 

Many of my Swedish friends spend their summer hoping between their friends and family's summer cottages, so extra beds are always important. Just make sure to bring your own bedding if you're invited! 

Could you imagine hanging out in that lounger all summer long? 

If you haven't been to Gotland, it's a wonderful place - full of galleries, ceramic studios and funky / off beat cafes and restaurants. Plus Visby, the medieval capital is really picturesque. I shared more about The Baltic island in this guide. 

Fancy taking a look back at other Gotland holiday homes I've featured? Here are a few to get you started: 

A rustic Swedish summer cottage 

A 19th century farmhouse

Your island retreat on the Swedish island of Gotland

And many, many more right here! 

I'm staying in a hotel tonight - a HOTEL! I didn't think I'd see the day! I'm in Denmark for two days of filming with Carl Hanson & Søn and I spent yesterday touring the CEO and founder Knud Erik Hanson's home. It has 40 rooms and every single item has a history. It made me want to re-think the way I decorate my home! I can't wait to share more with you. 

In the meantime, wishing you a lovely 'lillördag!'

Niki

Photographs courtesy of Bertwig

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A Swedish Photographer and French Hat-Maker's Home in the South of France

Do you ever dream of moving abroad? If so, perhaps this story might inspire you! This beautiful old house in a small village between Nimes and Montpellier in Gard in the South of France belongs to Swedish photographer Anna Malmberg, French hat-maker Joncha and their son. Anna had dreamt of living here ever since she saw 'Le Glorie de Mon Père' as a young girl and Joncha grew up in Valence. In the summer of 2020, the family packed up their Stockholm apartment and followed their dream to live in a warm climate, closer to nature and the mediterranean sea. This is their home. 

The living space is a sea of earthy tones, layers of texture and lovely vintage and antique pieces. You might recognise the rug in this picture. It's from Cappelen Dimyr - a Swedish rug company founded by Ellen Dixdotter, who's Copenhagen home and Swedish country kitchen I featured a few weeks back. Anna recently did a photoshoot for the company in an incredible chateau! 

Yes, Sweden is a small world!

The brown chair was a recent flea market find. And what a find it was - these curved pieces are really hot in the world of interiors right now, and I like how usual this piece is. 

The walls have been painted with natural limewash from Bauwerk Colour, which adds lots of lush texture. 

Anna's home office space is bathed in a beautiful morning night and a fab Carl-Johan lamp* by Olssen & Jensen can be seen on the far side of the desk. 

Sign me up for an evening in this spot under the stars - I'm sure Anna and Joncha have so many stories to tell from their travels! 

What a beautiful home. While the rain comes down for the fourth day in a row here in Malmö, I completely understand why the family might go in search of sun! Sign me up!

You can follow Anna's latest projects over on her website and instagram.  I've got my eye on one of Joncha's incredible hats! See them in action here. 

Fancy seeing a few more homes from Scandinavians living abroad? 

This bed & breakfast is run by Swedes in the South of France

Step inside a Finnish home on the island of Mallorca, Spain

A relaxed Danish oasis in Palma

A Swedish family home in the Alps

Do you ever dream of loving abroad? Perhaps this post might inspire you! 

I'm afraid this will be my last post of the week since I've got a huge photoshoot tomorrow. I'm so looking forward to sharing the results with you soon. In the meantime, I hope you have a FABULOUS weekend and the sun shines for you! 

Niki

Photography: Anna Malmberg - shared with kind permission. 

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Springtime In A Rustic Swedish Country Home

Hello friends! Thursday already - how did that happen? Anyone in need of a little escape today?  I hope you'll join me in a tour of this beautiful, rural Swedish home. Regular readers might recognise the interior from when it was all decked out for Christmas. Needless to say, Fanny Lindén's country home looks equally charming in springtime - when lilac bushes burst into life and rhubarb is harvested for homemade crumbles. Welcome to Fanny's home in rural Sweden, where she lives with her husband and three children - and a cat! 

So pretty! I love their cat in the last picture, cheekily playing with the plant! 

The vintage and antique furniture is also beautiful - and they fit perfectly in this environment. 

Is there anything that stood out to you? 

For more dreamy inspiration check out Fanny's blog and instagram feed. 

I think you know what's coming. Yes, that's right! Links to a load more idyllic Scandinavian country homes. Time to pour a coffee, light a candle and pull up a chair - here's a country home from each Nordic country to dream over: 

An idyllic red and white Swedish farmhouse

A hyggeligt candlelit Norwegian cabin

Ilkka's rural retreat in Finland

Charming details in a Danish allotment cottage

A striking holiday home by the sea in Iceland

It's been a bit of a crazy week, with waaaay to much left to do. So, I hope it's OK if I leave you with these lovely spaces to dream about over the weekend. I'll be back on Monday!

Trevlig helg (have a great weekend!),

Niki

Photography courtesy of Fanny Lindén

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10 Ways To Bring Spring Hygge To Your Home, Anna Kvarnström Style!

Someone once told me that there are two seasons in Sweden: winter and July. I know it was said in jest, but sometimes I do wonder! In honour of a chilly spring day, I thought I'd share some beautiful pictures from the cosy home of Anna Kvarnström in central Örebro, a few hours West of Stockholm. Simply decorated, her home has a wonderful sense of calm thanks to the warm neutral tones and layers of texture. On sunny spring days, the balcony doors are thrown open to welcome in the fresh air - while blankets lie in wait. If you're looking to enjoy a little spring hygge Swedish style, here are ten lovely ideas to feel inspired by!  

1. A simple linen tablecloth like this striped one adds immediate warmth to a space as well as a sense of occasion to an everyday tea break! This striped tablecloth* is similar. 

2. Cream coloured cushions add a wonderful softness to hard chairs - and mean you can enjoy sitting around the table for way longer! This spring it's all about the texture with lush, tactile, raised patterns (also seen in rugs - I love the ones by Cappelen Dimyr). This cushion is from H&M Home. 

3. Vintage tea plates bring an immediate sense of nostalgia to teatime - and these ones are so pretty!

4. It may be spring - but it's still a bit nippy in the air (at least in Scandinavia!), light coloured linen blankets are ideal for the changing season. I love this one*. 

5. Linen curtains* are idea for inviting the spring sunshine in, yet adding warmth and sound dampening to a space. Plus, they look so pretty swaying in the breeze. 

6. Pluck delicate spring flowers on your way home and dot them around your home in little vases. 

7. Sheepskins are often considered a winter accessory - however, the treatable quality means they work equally well in spring. 

8. Candles are a given - why not invest in scented candles with subtle spring fragrances. 

9. White linen bedding* looks really fresh in spring. Add cosy cushions and a blanket to ensure you stay toasty until the balmy summer weather arrives! 

10. The most wonderful thing about spring is finally being able to throw open the windows and doors - and maybe even enjoying a glass of rosé in the sunshine! Just add spring blooms - and maybe a blanket! 

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What a lovely home! Anna has such a natural, effortless sense of style and it feels both fresh and cosy at the same time - a perfect balance! See more of her beautiful living space and summer house over at @annakvarnstrom. 

Looking for more ways to cosy up your home this spring? How about: 

5 beautifully lagoon ways to bring spring into your home

Spring has sprung in a delightful Copenhagen home

Danish blues and spring pastels in a Copenhagen home

Happy hump day! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Anna Kvarnström - shared with kind permission.

*This post contains affiliate links

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Before & After: A Swedish Fire Station becomes a Family Summer Home

I've shown many awe-inspiring homes on My Scandinavian Home over the past decade (yes - it'll be ten years since I started this blog in November!), but I've never featured a converted fire station! When Swedish pair Petra and Anders Jönsson turned 50 they felt like doing something a little crazy. The answer came in the form of a dilapidated fire station in Stora Köpinge, Skåne - which they spotted for sale online for a cool 750,000 SEK (€75,000 / 89,000 USD). The pair had the vision of transforming the four-storey property into a summer holiday home for themselves and their five children - a perfect weekend and holiday retreat from everyday life in Stockholm. The project quickly drew the attention of popular Swedish TV program Husdrömmar, who followed the entire renovation. Ready to find take a look?

Exterior Before

The fire station was built in the 1930s for the purpose of serving Stora Köping, a village in the beautiful region of Österlen in South Sweden. The couple had grand plans for the property, including changing the colour of the exterior, but planning permission restrictions meant the existing facade should remain relatively untouched. Instead, they freshened up the exterior and replaced the double doors (previously used for the fire engine) into glass doors. 

Exterior after

The pair also added an extension onto the rear to make space for a dining room and also replaced the back of the tower with glass windows - weighing 800 kg each! 

Interior before

When the couple acquired the property, the interior was basic to say the least! The ground floor hadn't been touched since its days as a fire station, while the tower was a corrugated iron shell with a ladder.  

The floorplan

The property is four storeys high, which the couple planned on converting into a living area, sleeping quarters, a bathroom and lounge area. 

Interior after

Underfloor heating was installed and the ceiling was knocked through to create a beautiful, light-filled living space.  The pair decided to keep the decor simple and pared-down and used neutral tones throughout. 

Stairs were added to the left of the property (rather than centrally placed) in order to make space for a kitchen. A trap door which gives access to extra storage. 

The family enjoy uninterrupted views of the Österlen countryside to the rear of the property. 

Wooden stairs add warmth and a contemporary touch to the tower - and are a major improvement on the rickety ladders! 

Although small, the bedrooms feel spacious thanks to large windows. 

The top floor has been converted into a 3 metre x 3 metre lounge area in which to chill! 

How fantastic!! 

There's no denying that this was an incredibly brave move and required a copious amount of work (and money) - but the results are worth it. After all, not many people can say they live in a converted fire station! 

Could you imagine taking on a project like this? 

Live in Sweden? You can view the entire project on SVT here. Otherwise, see more pics over at @brandstaionenstorakopinge. 

Did I mention that Petra and Ander's home in Stockholm is in a converted water? Perhaps that's a tour for another day! 

Up for a little more inspiration today? Take a look back at these fabulous property conversions: 

A home in a converted carpenters workshop

The home of a fashion designer in a converted bar

My friend Louise's home in a converted school

There are plenty more incredible before and after projects in this archive too! 

Wishing you a wonderful day - I hope the sun is shining for you. 

Niki

Photography: all photos courtesy of Petra and Anders (@brandstaionenstorakopinge) with the addition of two photographs taken by Lina Östling and Mari Strenghielm. The floorplan is courtesy of SVT / Husdrömmar. 

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