A Charming, Traditional Red and White Swedish Summer Cottage

If you ever visit the Swedish countryside in summertime, the chances are, you'll stay in a red and white cottage just like this, tucked away in the forest by a lake or the sea. 

In fact, from the outside, it looks very much like the summer cottage I stayed in on my first ever visit to Sweden at the tender age of seven - and the memories of those magical few weeks came flooding back to me when I took this tour! 

What lies behind the facade of these cottages varies greatly. Some have given their cottages a modern update with a fresh lick of white paint and no doubt plenty of patterned wallpaper, others - like the owners of this one have chosen to leave it just as how it has always been over the years.  But there is one thing that all Swedes agree on: the essence of a summer cottage is to lead a relaxed, back to basics life, with work and other stresses and strains left at the door. 

Ready to step back in time and appreciate a cosy retreat where the beauty lies in the imperfection? 

Walking through the door is like stepping back in time. You'd be hard pressed to find anything new in this lovely little cottage - except for maybe the appliances. 

Vintage and antique trays, tins and cooking accessories have been passed down through the generations or collected at 'loppis' (flea markets).  

You'll find wonderful old wood fired ovens like this one in quite a few cottages. Although many choose to install a new oven, they can still be used for boiling water for tea etc.

Old tin mugs, bowls and plates make up the majority of dinnerware. It's ideal as it can be used at the cottage, but also outdoors too - especially if you go for a hike or picnic. Falconware do similar! 

Most of the rooms in the cottage have an old, tiled oven to keep the space warm. They are very effective and can keep a space heated for hours on end. 

Traditional rag rugs, made on a loom using, you've guessed it: old disused cloth are incredibly popular in Swedish country homes. 

So cosy and pretty, but above all else, authentic, personal and relaxed.

Could you imagine owning a little cottage like this? 

I understand that these back to basic cottages are not for everyone. One of my British friends is married to a swede who has a very simple cottage in her family. You have to take your own boat out to the island, along with all your own water and the cottage has no running water and has an outdoor loo. He is less than keen to go and it makes me laugh so much when he recounts his weekends there. 

So, friends there you have it. I hope this week has been a suitably mixed variation of properties for you to feel inspired by - including a Stockholm apartment with a small space hack, Mary's cosy family home in Germany and now this historical home in the Swedish forest! 

Have a magical weekend, see you Monday! 

Niki

Photography: Historiska Hem

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Step Inside Mary's Cosy Family Home In Halle, Germany

Do you love to redecorate your home or move everything around once in a while? I featured Mary's home in Germany, four years ago and there have been so many lovely, small changes, I felt it was time to revisit! 

Mary is the founder of @hyggeligt_hjem and lives with her husband, two sons, two cats and a dog in a beautiful old building in Halle. When they first moved in nine years ago, they decorated it in black and white tones (as was de rigueur back then) but slowly, over time, softer tones have crept in. Read on to hear about this lovely home in Mary's own words. 

"At the beginning our walls were white, and over the years, I have become bolder and colour has crept in on the walls in the kitchen, master bedroom and children's bedrooms."

"I love Scandinavian design and like to combine my furniture with vintage pieces."

"I really enjoy changing our apartment again and again with small accessories such as vases, candlesticks and other items. It's much easier than rearranging and exchanging larger items!"

"Flowers are a must for me too. I usually buy a bunch or two on a Friday.  I have a passion for beautiful, exclusively made vases and of course they have to be filled with beautiful flowers!"

"My favourite piece of furniture are the shelves in the living room from Mocoba. I also love our new sofa and Beni Ourain rug, it makes the room feel so cosy! 

"I love to break up the calm tones with colourful prints on the walls or with cushions and blankets."

Such a cosy home! A big thank you to Mary for inviting us in today and telling us more about her decorating approach! 

The kitchen especially caught my eye with the wood cabinets and red worktop - a little offbeat and so great! 

Is there anything that stood out to you? 

You can see more of Mary's home over at @hyggeligt_hjem. 

Other lovely German homes I've featured lately include: 

Igor's Berlin home, full of plants, art and books

A warm and inviting home for a rescue dog and her owners

A delightful colourful home in Northern Germany

Wishing you all a happy mid week! 

Niki

Photography: @hyggeligt_hjem, shared with kind permission

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A White Swedish Apartment with A Small Space Hack

Anyone in need of a little calm this Monday? This elegant apartment in Södermalm, Stockholm is blessed with 3.30 metre high ceilings and beautiful period features. Plus, if you're looking to make an extra bedroom out of your living space or work wonders with paint, this is the inspiration for you! Let's take a look at what's at play in this 75 metres square (807 ftsq) apartment. 

In an open-plan space, it makes sense to place the table in the natural light of the window and the sofa in a cosier spot with less light. I love how the living room is full of contrasting textures too - something you'll see throughout the apartment. 

A subtle hint of colour in the children's bedroom does wonders to the overall look and feel of the space. 

I'm guessing the kitchen previously occupied the entire space just off the living room and now carved into two - a children's bedroom and a small space to cook. Once again, contrasts are at play - with the use of both industrial stainless steel and painted wood cabinets. 

Old wood windows allow the flow of light into the kitchen. 

Paint is a budget-friendly way to breathe new life into a space. In the hallway, the owners have painted a geometric pattern on the hall floor and also added a fun modern twist to the doors and cabinets by painting the lower section green. I love this! 

The owners have adopted the same industrial feel in the bathroom for a cohesive look. 

The children's bedroom may be small, but it's certainly pretty, cosy and well organised! The use of white helps the storage to melt in while splashed of colour draw the eye in. 

Sometimes, it can be hard to figure out a layout from the pictures, so here's some more info courtesy of Historiska Hem: 

Glossary: sovrum - bedroom, kök - kitchen, vardagsrum - sitting room, badrum - bathroom.

Absolutely lovely space - it's a total breath of fresh air and I really like the mix of materials. 

Is there anything that stood out to you? 

The room shuffle reminds me a little of the home I featured recently in Copenhagen here.  

Have a fabulous start to the week friends! 

Niki

Photography: Historiska Hem

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Explore A Dreamy Swedish Pool Villa on Gotland

With much of Scandinavia basking in sunshine and warmth this week, it would be rude not to transport us to the Swedish holiday of Gotland today! After all, there's only one month left until the school holidays, and the start of summer cottage life! 

While it would be wonderful to spend the summer at this house on the southeast of the island (the pool looks heavenly for starters!), I could quite happily pull up a seat by the fire in wintertime too. 

True to Swedish style, it has a light and airy open floor plan and features traditional furniture and rugs so often seen in country homes. But perhaps what stands out to me the most are the pops of red and orange in each room - which add so much warmth against the cool stone floors. 

Välkommen in! 

Could you imagine living here? 

And what do you make of the pops of red and orange? I think they add a lovely personal touch and lots of warmth. But even if you're not a fan, the use of colour is a great example of how to add a favourite accent to each room. 

You can currently see more pictures and discover more about this Swedish country home here (it's for sale!). 

Shall we take a moment to drool over a few other houses on the island of Gotland today: 

A rustic summer cottage on the Swedish island of Gotland

Elsa's inspiring summer cottage

A beautiful barn on the island of Gotland

Step inside a converted old schoolhouse

And if you're thinking if visiting the island (it's a must!), you can read about some of my favourite spots in this travel guide of the Baltic coast. 

Have a lovely weekend all! 

Niki

PS I can't tell you how much I have enjoyed reading all your comments recently, I still have some left to reply to, but rest assured, I devour each and every one of them, they add so much to each post. Thank you!

Photography: Bertwig via @hemnet with thanks. 

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