Before and After: A Rundown Croft Becomes an Idyllic Swedish Summer Cottage

When I first visited Sweden at the tender age of nine, I completely fell in love with my Swedish friends' summer cottage. It was everything you'd associate with the Swedish summer: a picturesque red and white cottage surrounded by woodland, lakes and the sweet scent of roses. Oh, and maybe the odd mosquito! When I stumbled across Alex and Erika's country home online yesterday, it took me straight back to that summer! Affectionately known as Gubbetorp, Alex and Erika's croft is located in the beautiful Östergötland countryside and has been lovingly restored one room at a time.  The pair share a passion for  antiques, vintage finds and up cycling all of which add to the charm of the space. Here are a few snapshots from before and after the renovation - including ikea hacks, outdoor loo and all! 

Kitchen before

Kitchen after

Sitting room before 

Sitting room after

The pair peeled back the laminate floor to discover a beautiful wood floor - what a great discovery! Wallpaper from Böråstapeter adds a cosy touch to the room and helps draw nature indoors. 

The hall before 

Hall after 

Alex and Erika picked up an IKEA chest of drawers for a song (100 SEK - or 8 quid!) and painted it in a soft grey-green. Rabarber 1792 wallpaper adds a vibrant feel to the space. 

Outdoor loo before

It's not that uncommon for Swedish cottages to have an outdoor loo with no running water. I recently stayed at Helen's lovely place which was the same! It took me back to the days I spent Grandmother's house. Granny Ruth had an outdoor and indoor loo. We never used the outdoor one as it was always full of spiders! 

But the ones I've experienced in Sweden are so much fresher - especially after a make-over! 

Outdoor loo 

Erika and Alex have completely spruced up their outdoor loo - adding wood panelling which has been painted in the same hue as the cottage interior. 

They've also added home comforts such as a hand towel, magazines, fresh wildflowers and perhaps most importantly - a vintage water tank for washing hands. 

The standout piece though, has to be the magnificent antique dresser - it adds such a homely touch! 

What a difference! 

Their garden is simply magical - especially in summertime. It has me dreaming of midsummer (which is only 8 weeks away!) and long summer days alfresco! 

I hope you enjoyed this before and after feature as much as I have! 

If you'd like to see more snapshots from Alex and Erika's home head on over to @gubbetorp.

You might also like to feel inspired by other idyllic Swedish summer cottages here: 

A fairytale Swedish summer cottage

A photographer's charming summer cottage in the woods

A charming open-plan Swedish summer cottage

And of course, before and afters! 

Here's to a sunny, carefree weekend ahead! 

See you Monday friends! 

Niki

Photography: @gubbetorp shared with kind permission

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Could You Be The Next Owner of This Idyllic Swedish Country Estate?

Rumour has it this summer every single Swedish summer cottage was sold - even little shacks surrounded by forest in the middle of nowhere that have been on the market for years. During the pandemic it seems, Swedes have fallen even more in love with the idea of somewhere to escape and koppla av (relax) surrounded by nature nearer to home. The latest house to come on the market is this idyllic estate in the fairy tale region of Sörmland, South west of Stockholm. It's owned by landscape architect and interior designer Kristina Dexter and her husband Karl, a carpenter (who's former home I featured here).

The turn-of-the-century property is made up of a farmhouse, large party barn, carpentry workshop and guesthouse surrounded by orchards, vegetable patches and flower gardens making it perfect as a year-round residence, or somewhere for extended families to gather in summertime. 

Oh, and did I mention the main house has been renovated to perfection? Yep, Kristina and Karl have worked hard to maintain many of the original details and recreate the typical character and charm of the house while adding their signature deep blue accents and wallpaper! 

Could you be the next owner?

Beautiful!

And at the time of going to press, it's still on the market! I wonder who'll be the lucky person to snap it up? If it's you, can I come to your first barn party?! 

You can find more details about the property here. 

Looking to recreate Scandinavian country home style at home? Here are a few other homes I love: 

A rundown house becomes a fairytale home

A Magical Norwegian cottage with a wabi sabi vibe

Before & After: dingy house becomes a charming farmhouse

Ha en bra dag!

Niki

Photography: Kristina Dexner

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