An Idyllic Swedish Summer Cottage in the Forest

Today, I'm continuing with my summer cottage theme to match the relaxed holiday vibe in Scandinavia right now - and the sun has come out just for the occasion! This Swedish beauty belongs to Johanna Hagbard (whose city home I featured in 2018). Johanna acquired this beautiful croft 40 kilometres (24.8 miles) from Gothenburg ten years ago. It had been derelict for many years - save for a local orienteering group who had been using it as a clubhouse due to its location in the middle of a forest. Needless to say, it needed extensive work. 

A handy couple, Johanna and her husband have slowly transformed the property into a magical year-round country escape - with a cosy interior and hand built sauna and a plunge pool. Summer days are spent outdoors looking out over the wilderness and lake in the distance and a caravan serves as an extra indoor space to hangout! 

Ready to feel inspired by the tour? Step this way! 

A magical place to spend summer, do you agree? I can imagine it's really cosy in winter too! 

You can see more snapshots from Johanna's lovely croft over at @johannahagbard. 

Would you like to see a few more pretty Swedish crofts today? 'Why not' I hear you say! Pour yourself a glass of something cool and enjoy:

A fairytale Swedish summer cottage

Jessica's idyllic Swedish croft from 1900

Before and after, a Swedish croft becomes a summer house

Oh, so pretty! 

My family and I are currently trundling up the E4 motorway on our way to Sundsvall to watch Liv swim in the Swedish nationals this week. We've been passing forest and more forest - with 5 hours of forest to go (it's a 10 hour very forest-y drive in total!). I'm excited as I've never been to Norrland before, and we've booked a little cottage on an island just outside the city. I'll share more from our adventure on my instagram stories if you'd like to follow along! 

Have a happy Wednesday!

Niki

Photographs by @johannahagbard, shared with kind permission. 

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Old Meets New in a Cottage in South Moravia

"Time slowly passing, homely comfort and instead of a television, only a huge window with a view of the garden." This is how Marika and Jirka - food bloggers and authors of cookbook The Kitchen Story, describe life at their cottage in a small South Moravian village. 

It all started with a simple wish: "to switch off for a while, escape from everyday life and just be at peace." The pair were looking for somewhere they could getaway from the city and gather with friends and family without distraction. And they fell instantly in love with Chalupa mez sklepy. 

The cottage required so much work that in the end it became a re-build, but the couple were determined to maintain the rural character and style (keep an eye out for wooden windows and floors, stone lintels and an exterior designed in collaboration with Adéla Lipar Kudrnova and Petra Stein). 

Today, Marika and Jirka love coming here with friends and family (it sleeps up to 10) - and also rent it out as a guesthouse for others to enjoy. Let's take a look around. 

Wow! I think this is the first home I have featured from the Czech Republic, which makes it entirely unique to me. I love the tones of rust red, pale blue and cream - which match the colours of the village.  And I also appreciate how Marika and Jirka have combined a modern feel with a rich historical touch from the region, all while keeping the look simple, understated and comfy looking. 

Was there anything that stood out to you about this lovely home? 

You can see more pictures over on their instagram @chalupa_mezi_sklepy and find out more about booking the property as a holiday home here. 

You know what's coming, don't you? Yep, I found another home tour from the Czech Republic that I've featured in the past! Take a peek at: a Scandi-inspired home in the Czech Republic in soothing neutrals. 

Other connections on My Scandinavian Home include a beautiful Swedish home featuring a mural by an artist from the Czech Republic. And also, I feel very honoured that my Lagom book is available in Czech too! 

Have you been to the Czech Republic? I haven't, but it's certainly on my wish list! 

Have a great start to the week!

Niki

Photography courtesy of @chalupa_mezi_sklepy, shared with kind permission. 

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Henriette & Tommy's Charming Danish Cabin Oasis

Let's just say the weather in Scandinavia is 'mixed' right now. Torrential rain, cold and windy one minute, sunshine the next. But that's not going to deter us from enjoying our holiday! Thankfully, summer cottages across the region are equipped for every eventuality - with doors that swing open to create an indoor / outdoor feel on sunny days, and cosy sheepskin-lined chairs and fireplaces that can roar into life at the drop of a hat on colder days! 

In Houstrup, on the east coast of mainland Denmark, Henriette and Tommy have created a cosy oasis in which to switch off and relax - no matter what the weather decides to do! 

The little black and white wooden cottage seamlessly blends in with its wild surrounds thanks to a beautiful turf roof, and the garden has been kept deliberately untamed and natural. Inside, the cabin is simply decorated in soft, earthy tones and furnished with items in wood and rattan. Danes tend to love their floral quilts and cushions which bring a subtle romantic touch to the rooms. Keep an eye out for pastel florals on the sofa and large quilts over the beds (try IB Laursen for similar). 

Overall, a wonderful, informal and 'hyggeligt' place in which to relax all summer long!

So charming! And in my mind, everything a summer home should be. 

Is there anything that stood out to you about Henriette & Tommy's cabin? 

If you'd like to see more pictures and films, head over to their instagram feed @sommerhusetkirkeflod. 

Perhaps you'd like to explore more Danish summer cabins this weekend? Here are a few I love: 

A charming and relaxed Danish cabin by the sea

This beautiful danish cabin is on airbnb! 

A light and airy coastal cabin

A Danish cabin that's all about the hygge

A Danish summer cabin with 10 garden elements for a relaxing summer

Have a wonderful, relaxing weekend friends! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of @sommerhusetkirkeflod, shared with kind permission.

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8 Beautiful Homes Belonging to Scandinavian Creatives

I started My Scandinavian Home blog in November 2011 - and since then I've published over 4000 posts - how crazy is that? Hidden in the depths of the archive are some absolutely beautiful homes, which deserve to be highlighted once again, just in case you missed them! So, today I hope you don't mind if I reminisce by sharing eight beautiful homes belonging to Scandinavian creatives. Please do click through to see the full tour and also check out their work - you're bound to feel inspired and might just discover something for your home!  

1. Henning Koppel's magnificent home

It's hard not to be bowled over by this Danish home by the sea belonging to ceramicist Hannah Koppel. 

2. Sara Bergman's beautiful home

I've had the pleasure of meeting Swedish artist and illustrator Sara Bergman quite a few times in person, and Sara is as lovely as she is talented! Her earthy home in Höganäs is one of my favourites. 

3. Anna's home

You kind of know that the home of Swedish photographer Anna Malmberg and her French hat maker beau is going to be beautiful - and you won't be disappointed with the tour of their house in the South of France. 

4. Kajsa's home

Kajsa Hagelin is a Swedish illustrator and creator and her home is full of pattern and clever hacks. Take the tour here.

5. Marie's home

The Norwegian home of artist Marie Storaas is warm, inviting and beautiful in every way. Peek inside here. 

6. Mie's cabin

This cosy cabin is tucked away in the heart of Copenhagen and provides a spot for Danish artist Mie Olise Kjærgaard to create. 

7. Marie & Jacob's home

Marie's own art appears on the wall in this stunning Copenhagen home - see more snapshots over on her instagram here. 

8. Mark's home

The Danish home belonging to artists Mikala Brunsvig and Mark Brunsvig is full of quirky angles, colour, books and charm! 

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So many beautiful homes! Do you remember seeing these in the past? Any new discoveries? How long have you been following My Scandinavian Home? I'd love to know! 

If you have time please do delve through the archives, there is SO much to discover from tiny houses, before and after makeovers and outdoor spaces to city apartments and country homes and everything in between! 

Thank you for following along for the ride all these years - and a happy Wednesday to you all! 

Niki

Photography: 2. Freya McOmish 3. Sara Bergman 4. Anna Malmberg 5 Kajsa Hagelin 1 & 6. Gunn Kristin Monsen 7. Karina Tenberg 8. @strandboulevarden 8. Mikala Brunsvig

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