Cosy Off-Grid Living in Swedish Lapland: Inside Olly & Lisa's Rustic Cabin

Oh, are we in for a treat today! They say if you can't beat it, join it – and with the cold settling in, I’m taking you on a journey to the chilly North to the cosy, rustic cabin of artist Olly – one half of the creative duo Olly Suzy. This British collaborative pair pride themselves on tracking, painting, and photographing endangered species in the wild.

Together with their children, Olly and his wife Lisa embrace life in their off-grid retreat, charmingly named ‘Bear’s Nest’. Perched high on a hill, it’s surrounded by wilderness in a remote part of Swedish Lapland, just south of the Arctic Circle. The cabin was a labour of love, designed and built from the ground up. Completely off-grid, with no road access, its core was constructed off-site and transported by a military truck – quite the logistical feat!

Now, the pair relish their remote, rustic lifestyle. At the heart of their home is a wood-burning stove, which serves as their source of heating, cooking, and even melting snow for water. Candles and lanterns brighten up the cabin after dark. They’ve also got an ‘utedass’ – a separate little hut with a dry toilet. The cabin’s interior is a delightful blend of Swedish and English antiques, creating a warm, relaxed, and deeply personal haven.

Photographer Mark Anthony Fox recently paid them a visit and captured these stunning images. Ready to take a tour? Let’s dive in!

How wonderful! 

Imagine how quickly the stresses and strains of daily life would fall away here? There's something special about going back-to-basics, it's so good for the soul. 

You can read more about Olly's fascinating line of work here and there is a a full article about it and more pictures over at House & Garden if you'd like to take a look. 

Is there anything that stood out to you about Olly and Lisa's rustic off-grid cabin? 

Do you remember the little Danish cabin in the woods I once visited belonging to Conservationist Wildlife Photographers Uri Golman and Helle Olsen? If not, do head over to the post to take the tour! Tragically, long after I featured their home, Uri suffered from a serious incident on one of his expeditions but his passion and work for the Wild Nature Foundation continues. You can read more about his story here. 

Thank you so much for stopping by this week–and for all your insightful comments and emails. I am so happy you have been enjoying the home tours!  

Have a cosy weekend friends, see you Monday! 

Niki

Credits: All photography by Mark Anthony Fox, shared with kind permission. 

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A Peek Inside a Perfectly Compact Swedish Home

A smaller space for you today—and proof that a 19-square-metre (204-square-foot) apartment can have everything you could want and more! This cosy living space in Stockholm is perfectly designed to make the owner feel at home: a delightfully personal living area looking out over the courtyard, a little dining table, kitchenette, and bedroom.

Touches of blue, pink, yellow, and green add a cheerful and inviting feel to the decor, while the tactile velvet sofa looks like the perfect spot to cosy up with a coffee and a good book. And what’s more, the home has plenty of storage too, with bookshelves that go up and around the balcony door and an entire unit in the bedroom for clothes and accessories.

Welcome inside this charming home for one in the heart of the Swedish capital!

A balcony extends the living space in spring, summer and autumn. 

Balconies like these often come with a concrete floor, but adding wood decking is a great way to make it feel more warm and inviting. 

The kitchen area makes full use of the high ceiling and offers plenty of space for crockery, glasses and utensils, which helping the space to feel less cluttered.  

I love how the bed is in a nook, for a more private feel. The windowsill can double up as a bedside table and built in storage units offer plenty of space for clothes. 

Incidentally, these Swedish apartments often come with a 'cage' in the basement for extra storage—perfect for things like Christmas decorations, skiing equipment, and other bulky items. It’s such a smart feature and really helps to keep the living area free from clutter.

I’m curious—do you live in a small space like this? If so, what have you found to be the biggest benefits and challenges when it comes to decorating and furnishing a one room apartment? Maybe you’ve discovered some brilliant solutions too—if so, I’d love to hear them!

Could you imagine living here? I know I certainly could!

If you're looking for more ideas today, there are a lot more small space home tours as well as small space living tips and tricks to be found in this archive. 

I'm off to Copenhagen this afternoon to visit my wonderful client Skandinavisk. They have just launched an exciting candle and scent diffuser in a new fragrance called KYSS (meaning kiss in Swedish and Norwegian) and it smells divine (such a perfect valentine's present!)! I'm hoping to pick one up for my home so I can spread a little love!  

Have a lovely day friends–happy mid-week! 

Niki

PS I snuck in an extra post yesterday about my forthcoming trip to Formland in Denmark - did you see it? There's a nice little instagram tip in it for anyone visiting Copenhagen too!

Photography: Ono design studio, Styling: Thomas Lingsell for Historiska Hem, found via Nordroom with thanks. 

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