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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A Small, Cosy Swedish Pad with Warm Tones

It's all very well showing incredible country houses with sweeping staircases or apartments made up of a myriad of large, spacious rooms - after all, I'm a firm believer that you can take inspiration from just about anywhere. BUT, if you are dealing with just one room to live in it can be a little tricker to achieve the look you're aiming for. Fear not, this delightful Swedish studio is proof that sometimes the best homes come in small packages. Designed by Emma Fischer, the Gothenburg living space is a sea of earthy, autumn tones and features an abundance of texture giving the home a lovely, relaxed look. Step this way for the tour!

After my post about round coffee tables last week, I've had many responses from readers saying how much they love theirs. In many ways they are so much practical than a square table: no corners to bang your shins on and they're great for entertaining - but also, from an aesthetic standpoint, the shape helps to soften the look of the room. 

Also, the fluffy rug makes the entire room feel real cosy. 

I love how this sofa has a built in shelf - multi-use furniture is always handy in a small space. 

I'm a huge fan of glass cabinets and this vintage one is a beauty, don't you think? It's important to keep clutter to a minimum in small spaces, and this cabinet helps to maintain a neat and tidy look. I am guessing there's a wardrobe on the hallway for clothes etc. And the bed skirt could also be hiding drawers. 

Book lovers would also need somewhere to store their tomes - I would suggest built in shelves above the sofa or over the bed. 

So pretty! 

I hope you felt inspired by this too! 

See a gazillion more small spaces in this archive. 

I haven't quite decided on the order of my posts this week - but I'm looking forward to sharing a cabin update and my first Christmas post of the year (yes, I know it's a tad early, but it's starting to get very Christmassy around here in Oslo, and it's got me in the mood for some 'Jul' inspiration!). 

Ha en fin dag! 

Niki 

Photo -Anders Bergstadt

Styling - Emma Fischer

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