Before & After: A Swedish Fire Station becomes a Family Summer Home

I've shown many awe-inspiring homes on My Scandinavian Home over the past decade (yes - it'll be ten years since I started this blog in November!), but I've never featured a converted fire station! When Swedish pair Petra and Anders Jönsson turned 50 they felt like doing something a little crazy. The answer came in the form of a dilapidated fire station in Stora Köpinge, Skåne - which they spotted for sale online for a cool 750,000 SEK (€75,000 / 89,000 USD). The pair had the vision of transforming the four-storey property into a summer holiday home for themselves and their five children - a perfect weekend and holiday retreat from everyday life in Stockholm. The project quickly drew the attention of popular Swedish TV program Husdrömmar, who followed the entire renovation. Ready to find take a look?

Exterior Before

The fire station was built in the 1930s for the purpose of serving Stora Köping, a village in the beautiful region of Österlen in South Sweden. The couple had grand plans for the property, including changing the colour of the exterior, but planning permission restrictions meant the existing facade should remain relatively untouched. Instead, they freshened up the exterior and replaced the double doors (previously used for the fire engine) into glass doors. 

Exterior after

The pair also added an extension onto the rear to make space for a dining room and also replaced the back of the tower with glass windows - weighing 800 kg each! 

Interior before

When the couple acquired the property, the interior was basic to say the least! The ground floor hadn't been touched since its days as a fire station, while the tower was a corrugated iron shell with a ladder.  

The floorplan

The property is four storeys high, which the couple planned on converting into a living area, sleeping quarters, a bathroom and lounge area. 

Interior after

Underfloor heating was installed and the ceiling was knocked through to create a beautiful, light-filled living space.  The pair decided to keep the decor simple and pared-down and used neutral tones throughout. 

Stairs were added to the left of the property (rather than centrally placed) in order to make space for a kitchen. A trap door which gives access to extra storage. 

The family enjoy uninterrupted views of the Österlen countryside to the rear of the property. 

Wooden stairs add warmth and a contemporary touch to the tower - and are a major improvement on the rickety ladders! 

Although small, the bedrooms feel spacious thanks to large windows. 

The top floor has been converted into a 3 metre x 3 metre lounge area in which to chill! 

How fantastic!! 

There's no denying that this was an incredibly brave move and required a copious amount of work (and money) - but the results are worth it. After all, not many people can say they live in a converted fire station! 

Could you imagine taking on a project like this? 

Live in Sweden? You can view the entire project on SVT here. Otherwise, see more pics over at @brandstaionenstorakopinge. 

Did I mention that Petra and Ander's home in Stockholm is in a converted water? Perhaps that's a tour for another day! 

Up for a little more inspiration today? Take a look back at these fabulous property conversions: 

A home in a converted carpenters workshop

The home of a fashion designer in a converted bar

My friend Louise's home in a converted school

There are plenty more incredible before and after projects in this archive too! 

Wishing you a wonderful day - I hope the sun is shining for you. 

Niki

Photography: all photos courtesy of Petra and Anders (@brandstaionenstorakopinge) with the addition of two photographs taken by Lina Östling and Mari Strenghielm. The floorplan is courtesy of SVT / Husdrömmar. 

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A Stockholm home full of inspiration

Iiiiiit's le weekend - yay! I'll be packing for my first ever trip to Finland tomorrow - just a flying visit for a two day photo shoot but I'm soooo excited as I've never been before - have you? Tips welcome! Today I'm taking inspiration from this lovely Stockholm space. The entire space is pretty great but it's the details that really caught my eye - namely the DIY light fixture (do you remember a similar one in the lovely home of Valentina Fussell?) wine glass rack (I'd say a necessity, wouldn't you?!), and that kitchen nook. I also love the open hallway storage (spot the beautiful wooden floor), the Swedish masonry oven and pretty much the entire bathroom (the window into the sitting room?!). Yes my list is long! Is there anything that catches your eye?

Source: Alexander White. Photos: Henrik Nero. Styling: Stylingbolaget found via Vosges Paris with thanks.

Could you live here?

Get the look: Chrome wine glass rack (note how I start in order of importance?!) vintage terracotta pots,  No.9 (or Vienna) chairs, glass bell jar. This sheepskin cushion. Brass planters in small and large.

Other spaces I love with window dividers include the fabulous family home of Petra Reger, an artist's home in Stockholm, and reclaimed windows in this home. I'd like an excuse to install some windows in my home, how about you? Racking my brain.....

And a little weekend link lovin':

Clever paint tricks that make a room.

Filling your home with natural textures like this. 

A pink door? Why not!

I need this Helsinki loud speaker in my life! 

Loving the Love Warriors of Sweden blog for inspo and shopping.

Thank you Bloglovin for including me in your list of 10 décor influencers to follow on Instagram right now - what an honour! 

And that, wonderful friends, is that from me this week.  I'm still on 'slow blogging summer time' next week which means I'll be dropping by every other day. Have a fab weekend and see you Monday!

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Inspiration from a Swedish Attic Apartment with Low Angled Ceilings

Good morning friends, how are you today? I'm stopping by to share this Swedish apartment which has some perfect inspiration for tight, angled spaces and how to fill darker homes with light! 

Nestled under the roof on the top floor of beautiful house dating back to 1913, the owners of this apartment have worked around the angled ceilings to ensure a truly lovely living space. Let's take a closer look at some of the elements at play. 

The kitchen units have a staggered height, and where no units would fit, a shelf has been used instead to ensure every inch of space can be used. 

Two skylights have been installed to ensure natural light. Try Velux for similar. 

Dormer windows are a perfect solution to draw in lots of light and carving out standing space. 

There are solutions available for every shape and sized space these days. A made-to-measure glass door and windows help to ensure a flow of light between the rooms to capitalise on any natural sunlight that enters the home, while a curtain can be pulled across for privacy and a cosy feel in the bedroom. 

The doors open right out for a light and airy feel. 

Low art in the bedroom adds a decorative touch while the bed is tucked under the ceiling and a dormer window. 

A closet can be seen tucked in behind the glass door above. 

In Sweden, it's common to find washing machines in the bathroom (another popular alternative for apartments is a communal washing room in the basement). In England, it's popular to have washing machines in the kitchen. Where do you tend to have your machines? 

I have always loved the idea of art in the bathroom, it adds such a cosy, personal touch. 

A window seat in the stairwell capitalised on natural light from the window. 

Such a pretty house - I love the garden with a communal outdoor dining area! 

It's very common for Swedish apartments to have an inner garden where you'll find a shared dining area, barbecue and children's play area. Some even have herb gardens! 

Working with awkward angles takes some extra thought and problem solving, but I think this home is a great example of how you can find a solution for every shape and size today! 

I particularly liked the glass wall and door designed to fit the sloped ceiling - this could be a perfect solution for our top floor! 

I hope you found some nice ideas for your own home here today!

Speaking of dark spaces, I'll be working on our windowless downstairs loo today. Per and I have been doing a budget make-over using a splash of tile paint as well as a few other touches. I am hoping to share the makeover with you on Friday, but we'll see how we get on, DIY updates always takes longer (and creates way more mess) than you think, right? 

Wishing you all a great Wednesday! 

Niki

Styling: Copparstad. Photography: Boukari. For sale via Historiska Hem. Found via Nordroom with thanks. 

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From Classroom to Country Retreat: A Swedish Schoolhouse Turned Artist’s Home

You know how much I love a home with history – especially when it’s had a completely different life before. This one’s lovely: Malmby Gamla Skola, a former schoolhouse dating back to the 1860s. Set along winding country roads and surrounded by greenery, its red facade with white trims is the picture of Swedish charm.

I like to imagine the days when teachers stood at the front of the class, the sound of pencils scratching on paper, and children running out to play in the fields. 

Today, it’s a welcoming family home, now owned by an artist (which makes perfect sense with all that glorious light streaming in through the old mouth-blown windows). Keep an eye out for the quirky rug laid at a diagonal, beautiful wallpaper, a cosy kitchen window nook, and of course, the lovely fireplace – perfect for curling up beside in winter.

The garden has plenty to offer too – a greenhouse, kitchen garden, and space to grow your own vegetables. In summer, you can pick wild strawberries straight from the lawn, and in the evening, there’s a beautiful sunset over the meadows. 

Ready to take a peek inside? 

Did you notice the wavy view you get when you look through mouth-blown glass windows? They are so beautiful and really add to the charm of the house. 

Could you imagine living in a house with a wonderful past like this? Or perhaps you already do? 

I have featured lots of converted homes in the past - including these schools: 

A light-filled Swedish home in a converted school
A Swedish home in former city school from the 1950s

A converted school with flashes of sunny yellow

My friend Louisa's home in a converted school

Colourful, boho and eclectic in a country home

This post is actually very timely as my younger daughter went back to school today - the summer holidays are finally over - even if it is 25 degrees celsius (77 F). 

Happy Wednesday friends!

Niki

Photos courtesy of Historiska Hem

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