Update: Our Tiny House Interior Plans & Inspiration

It's been a while since I shared an update on the tiny house we're building in the garden of the summer cottage in southern Sweden. A lot has been going on behind the scenes, but most excitingly Per and I headed up there for a meeting with the builders last week and it's starting to feel VERY real! A while back, I shared our plans for the exterior. I'm looking forward to sharing the finer details of that soon (once we have settled on the wood finish). Until then, I thought I'd share the plans and inspiration for the interior! 

Layout: 

Our cabin is called a Komplementsbostad which is a special Swedish dwelling measuring 30 m2 (323 f2) and a maximum of 4 metres (13 feet) high. The idea is to use it as a place to unwind at the weekends and in the holidays. If we're staying in the main cottage, it will be a place for guests to stay and hopefully in the future, somewhere our children to come with their family and friends!

The cabin will contain a small kitchenette, social area, bathroom and two sleeping quarters. It's designed to sleep 4. I think I'll start with the latter! 

We decided to lay the sleeping zones out over two floors (which is fairly customary with this type of house). The 'master bedroom' will be in an alcove / nook on the lower floor, and a sleep loft will be placed over the bathroom and bedroom. 

The reason we decided to do it this way and not create a separate master bedroom is because we also wanted to create a nice social area in which to hang out - so we needed the extra space. For the same reason, we also decided not to have a formal entrance / hallway. 

Inspiration for the bedroom / sleep loft area: 

I absolutely love the look and feel of Lina Kjellvertz's cabin (the swede has impeccable taste - check out her house in Mallorca if you have the time!). Her attafallshus was designed by Sommernöjen and features white walls and a light wood ladder and sleep loft - something I am looking to emulate. The only difference is that the atelier / desk area will be exchanged for a bed. Basically like this: 

The bedroom nook will be fairly snug! The cosy danish bedroom below has also been a major source of inspiration for us. See the rest of the lovely cabin here. 

We are looking to convert the under section of the bed into two separate, very large drawers which will be used to store clothes, bed linen, towels etc. A little like the ones in this tiny Norwegian house on wheels.

We're also hoping to add shelving, but sadly we won't have space for a surface behind the bed like the one seen above since the nook is the exact length of the bed! 

Kitchenette

The kitchen and dining area is very much a work in progress! As with everything else, it will of course be small. Since space is of a premium, it will involve upper and lower cabinets. I love this kitchen by Swedish Nordiska Kök - it's clean and contemporary, but also features some beautiful natural elements including stone and wood, which would be a nice way to bring the surroundings inside. Do you like this look too? Clearly the island is a no go, as we simply don't have room! Instead, I'm hoping to find a small vintage table for four. Let the hunt begin! 

One big dilemma: we were hoping to put the boiler in the top right cabinet BUT the plumber told us it would be way too small. Instead it might need to be placed to one side of the sleep loft which is not ideal. I know my family, and they do love their showers! If you have any other ideas on where to place it, I'm all ears! 

Main living / social area

You might have noticed that all these inspiration images have something in common: wood panelling. I absolutely love wood panels, they bring a more relaxed feel to space and help to add a coastal touch.  Are you a fan of panelling too?

This panelling by Swedish brand Norrlands Trä seen in this Scandinavian cabin is spot on. I'm just in the process of ordering samples to see which style would look best (every panel option comes in an option of at least two different whites as well as various textures - I tell you, it's a minefield!).

Sitting room

I'm going to be honest, we still haven't decided which direction to go in with the sitting room. All thoughts are welcome at this stage! The only thing we do know is there are a LOT of windows and doors to contend with (see plan) and there'll definitely be a woodturning stove (more info to follow soon!).

But what we don't know, is what seating to go for. 

Do we go for some kind of built-in bench running from the kitchen units to the wall with storage underneath like in these lovely rooms?

Or do we opt for a sofa-bed with storage to make room for extra guests? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Looking at these images I'm wondering if I've over sold our cabin now!! I mean, some of these spaces are simply incredible and quite a lot bigger than our cabin! The pressure is on! 

I can't wait to share more plans with you soon including the bathroom, outdoors space and wood burning stove! Meanwhile, we're hoping the first spade will go in the ground this week - woohooo! 

For more tiny cabin inspiration check out: 

Opening doors vs folding doors - see the comments for the final reader verdict!

And the tiny house archive - which is full of inspiration for small spaces! 

Right guys, that's it from me this week, thank you for coming along for the ride - and for all your kind messages in yesterday's post, it really meant so much. 

Trevlig helg / have a great weekend!

Niki

Photography: 1. House Doctor. 2&3 Sommarnöjen 4, 5 & 10. Morten Holtum 6. Nordiska Kök 7. Norrlands Trä 8. Femina 9. My Domaine

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A Tiny House On Wheels, Norwegian Style

While researching for our little cabin (the build is hopefully starting this week - I can't wait to share our latest plans soon), I came across this beautiful tiny house designed by Norwegian company Norske Mikrohus (Norwegian micro house). Just like the tiny house on wheels I shared a few weeks back, the 20 metres square (215 ft2) house has been almost entirely constructed from wood - from the glazed pine panelling on the facade to the wooden fittings inside. This helps the house to connect with the natural surroundings - and gives it a lovely warm feel. But best of all, is the use of space. Designed for four people looking to enjoy short term stays, the cabin is full of clever solutions to ensure maximum use of space - as well as views of the surroundings. Norwegian compact living at its finest! 

One end of the cabin is taken up with a fully functioning bathroom and bunkbed. Notice how a little space has been left at the foot of the bed to provide room for a shoe rack and baggage spot (after all, it's customary to remove your shoes before entering a home in Scandinavia - is it the same in your country - or home?). A built-in ladder also shields the lower bed for privacy. 

The kitchen has everything you might need for a short-term stay including a sink, portable stove and even a small dishwasher! 

The bathroom has been designed so you can enjoy the surrounding landscape while taking a shower. The narrow sink and cabinet is ideal for small spaces.

I haven't seen a tiny house with this type of lounge solution before. I love how the sofa is designed to face the windows so you can sit and read or chat while enjoying the view. A foldable wall mounted table can be used as a desk or somewhere to enjoy meals while two drawers pull out for extra storage. 

The table can be boded away so that the space can be converted into a full-length master bed. I've been racking my brains over how the extended mattress works - if you're curious too and would like to know more, you can order the brochure here. 

What a fabulous little house! 

My family and I would be so happy in a little cabin like this - I'm taking notes!

Could you imagine unwinding in one of these? 

Read more about the 'Rast' cabin over at Nordisk Mikrohus. 

Looking for more tiny house inspiration? Check out: 

Off-the-grid: a tiny Swedish cabin in the woods

A beautifully crafted tiny house on wheels

Small spaces archive

Ha det så bra! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Nordisk Mikrohus found via Planete Deco with thanks. 

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A Beautifully Crafted Tiny House On Wheels

Spreading some tiny house love today. I came across this in the feed of Anna Malmberg, a Swede living in the South of France (you might remember her beautiful house which she shares with her hat maker husband and their son) . Anne helped her friend Romain Lemonnier to style and take these pictures of the tiny house that he had built in a nearby village. The cabin was bought by a man who had been homeless for many years. He inherited some money when his Mother died and was finally in a position to buy himself this property. He calls it his 'castle'. Looking at the level of craftsmanship that has gone into it, I can see why! Curious to look around? 

How incredible! And so inspiring for anyone looking to build a tiny house. Unless of course, you'd like to ask Romain to build one for you (more info here: P'tite Nid Mobile). 

It made me think more about the little cabin we are building - which incidentally has suffered from a slight delay - apparently the foundation needs to breath for three months before we can kit out the interior. Even so, I hope the first spade will go into the ground within weeks. Exciting! More to follow soon! 

Here are a few other truly inspiring tiny homes: 

Before and after - a tiny Swedish cabin in the woods

A Swedish couple turn a Mercedes sprinter van into a tiny mobile home

Dream life on a budget: a tiny cabin and pottery studio

A beautifully revamped caravan

Looking for inspiration for a small apartment? Take a peek in the small spaces archive. 

I'm heading over the bridge to Copenhagen today for 3 Days of Design. I'm so excited as I get to go 'abroad', tuck into Danish pastries (a given!) and experience some incredible Danish design. Winner!  Keep an eye on my Instagram stories if you'd like to follow along!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend! 

Niki

Photography: Anna Malmberg, shared with kind permission. 

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An Endearing Danish Summer Cabin on an Allotment

It's only a couple of days until midsummer, and Scandinavians are gearing up to the big event. The atmosphere in the city is slowly changing as folk load up the boot of their cars, ready to ride out to the countryside. Danish family Nicolai, Sofia and their three-year-old child will no doubt be exchanging their urban apartment to enjoy the long weekend at their charming little kolonihave (allotment house). The small wooden cabin is located in Åbyhøj, a quiet suburb of Aarhus known for Northside festival - a popular 3-day music event. The cosy pared-back abode has everything the small family need to enjoy the summer holidays - including a kitchen, dining area, sitting room which doubles up as a bedroom, and a loft bed. On warm days, life spills out onto the newly built terrace and lush garden. Kom indenfor! 

I love the relaxed summer vibe, mixed furniture and touches of green and blue - a perfect little escape! 

Is there anything that stands out to you? 

Scandinavian allotment houses are really special. I've explained the history behind them here. If you feel like taking peek inside a few more, click on any of the links below:

A charming Swedish allotment cottage in summer time

An inspiring Danish kolonihave with white washed walls

A truly idyllic Swedish kolonistuga

So lovely! I hope you're feeling inspired too! 

Niki

Photography:

1, 2, 3, 5, and 9: Julie Wittrup Pladsbjerg & Mikkel Dahlstroem / Another Studio

4, 6, 7, and 8: @sofiaganer

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A Swedish Couple Turn a Mercedes Sprinter White Van Into a Cosy Home

Let's celebrate the weekend with something a little different - and super inspiring! Meet nomadic Swedish couple Indie and Joel who were travelling the world when the pandemic hit. Forced to return home, they decided to pursue their dream of a more sustainable and minimalistic lifestyle and turned their Mercedes Sprinter van into a home. When they first bought the van, whom they've since christened 'Luna', the main compartment was an empty shell, but they immediately saw its potential as a living space. Read on to find out how they converted their little van into a cosy home!

Before

 The pair designed, built and decorated the van entirely on their own from scratch, without any prior experience! Amazing! 

The back of the 2008 van measures 4.3 metres, making her the second longest model in the range - and with a little work and careful planning, enough space to create a small kitchen, social area and bed!

The fully functional van was fitted solar panels, an 84 litre freshwater tank, a fridge and freezer compartment, a 100-amp lithium battery, mains hook up, arctic insulation, and a fully equipped kitchen among many other things. 

You can read about the entire build - which took eight months (including all the items they used) on their 'On the freeside' blog and vlog (in case you're feeling inspired to do something similar!). 

After

It's hard to imagine that you can create such a lovely, cosy living space in a mere 4.3 metres, but not only have Indie and Joel created a practical, highly functional home, it's also lovely and cosy too! Think traditional kitchen cabinets with cup handles, tiles, wood details and plenty of storage as well as a social area. 

When space is of a premium, it's important to make use of every inch. In the kitchen, the side of the sink has been used to store washing up liquid, soap, chopping boards and utensils. 

The cabinet on the far side was built by hand using plexiglass: ""The idea of a glass cabinet was inspired by the old glass pantries our parents and grandparents once had," Indie explains, "we thought they look so beautiful. So, we created our own using plastic".

"We wanted to create a bright light Scandinavian style interior with a bit of a farmhouse feel", Indie tells me, "the feeling of stepping into a modern cabin in the woods. All the horizontal lines, including the countertops, ceiling and floor, are made out of dark walnut and all the vertical lines (cabinet doors, walls etc) are white". 

The loo and shower are located under the countertop beside the sink. For those of you who love tech / want to read more about the ins and outs - you can find out more information about the van water life and plumbing system here. 

The spice rack is made from wood shelving and brass pipes - which help to keep the jars in place (follow the steps here). 

A wooden door gives access to the main driving compartment. 

"For us, it was important that it felt like a home; somewhere peaceful", Indie tells me, "we used warm colours to make it feel cosy and it was also important to be able to host friends - hence our big U-shaped sofa".

At night, the table is lowered to make a platform in the middle and two mattresses are added to form a 160 x 200 cm bed with a 24 cm thick memory foam mattress. A comfortable place to wake up each day, looking out over the nature - or end the day, gazing at the stars!

In Scandinavia its customary to take your shoes off when you enter a home - and in Indie and Joel's van it's no different! Simple, low wooden shelves by the entrance provide storage and help to keep the entrance-way clear. 

***

All in all, one INCREDIBLE project! And such a special home. 

If you'd like to follow Indie and Joel's journey, hop on over to their instagram @onthefreeside - which is full of pictures from the van and the various locations they visit, or explore their website and vlog for know-how on how you can build your very own home on wheels from a white van! 

Feel like reading about a few other inspiring stories involving tiny homes this weekend?

Put your feet up, our a coffee and feel inspired by before and after pictures of a tiny Swedish cabin in the woods (also on wheels!), a caravan transformed into a cute second home with a view, a dream life on a budget on a tiny farmstead and how to create your own garden retreat on a shoe-string.

Although not quite as tiny as this van, you might also like to see our plans for the little cabin which we are hoping to start building in September. Exciting!

Wishing you all a fabulous weekend, thank you so much for stopping by! 

Niki

Photography: Jennifer Nilsson

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