Small Spaces: A Charming Swedish Summer Cottage In The Heart of the City

As you know, I'm a big fan of little kolonistuga - allotment cottages. They don't exist in the UK, I know because I spent copious amounts of time at my parents allotment in London as a child and could have used a space to hang out and play games rather than weeding (the rickety shed full of spiders didn't quite cut it!).  

Here in Malmö there are quite a few allotment communities dotted around the city. In the summer they spring to life with people toiling the soil, relaxing with friends over a fika, or simply taking it easy and enjoying the summer sun. 

As with all Swedish summer cottages, simplicity is the order of the day, and this charming kolonistuga in Gothenburg (which is currently for sale!) strikes the perfect balance. It's pared back, yet cosy, simple, yet warm. There's a lot at play to make this happen, let's take a closer look! 

The emphasis is on relaxation and warmth - and that starts with the glowing string lights and a an inviting ochre front door. 

Inside, the walls and ceilings have been clad in wood panelling - giving the entire space depth and interest. I love my panelling up at the cabin (from Norrlands Trä) - the only problem is, it's so beautiful that I can't bear the thought of nailing up any pictures! 

The kitchen cabinets are simple with a nostalgic traditional touch - both in terms of the design and the handles. 

Vintage touches help to create a relaxed feel. 

How cool is this makeshift wine cellar under the floor? So smart! It's an ideal space for extra storage too. 

The ceiling has been knocked through to reveal the A-frame bones, helping the 26 m2 / 279 f2 open-plan living space to feel way more spacious. 

Mix and match furniture is key to creating a relaxed, lived-in feel. 

A daybed doubles up as a sofa and somewhere to kip! There's also a loft providing just enough space for a cosy double bed. Speaking from experience with our own loft bed up at the cabin, it can really quickly get hot higher up so it's important to have good air flow, a fan or even AC depending on the climate you live in. 

The entrance doubles up as a cosy sun room and living room area. I love how the green floral wallpaper brings nature indoors, so you can get the sense you're outside even on a rainy day! 

In small spaces each piece needs to work harder. I haven't seen a coffee table / basket like this before - have you? So clever! 

Swedes are so clever at creating different zones in the garden. I can see three different places to relax including the deck, a hammock and a dappled dining area under the boughs of a tree. Roll on summer days!

What a perfect urban oasis in which to escape! Even better, you can just hop on your bike when it's time to leave: no planes, trains or buses to catch! 

Tempted to snap this place up as your very own summer oasis? You can find all the details here. 

I'll be back on Monday with a Danish home that features so many of the Danish design trends I spotted at Formland design fair yesterday. Can't wait to tell you more! In the meantime, here are a few other  kolonistugas to enjoy over the weekend:

This little allotment cottage is a true summer oasis

A charming allotment cottage in Malmö

A danish allotment cottage with charming details

Trevlig helg! 

Niki

Photography: Krister Engström

Styling: Martina Mattson

For sale via Kvarteret Mäkleri

Found via Nordroom with thanks 

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Sunny July has landed, and brought with it the official holiday month of Scandinavia. Out of offices are on, the shoes are off - and our Nordic friends are preparing to relax and soak up the sunshine! This charming and laid back Danish 'Kolonihave' (allotment cottage) gives a wonderful glimpse into the chilled vibe of the Scandi summer. 

If you've been following My Scandinavian Home for a while and / or read The Scandinavian Home, you'll have noticed a distinct difference between the way Scandinavians decorate their city spaces and summer cottages. The former tend to be a more contemporary affair with clean lines and a blend of new Nordic pieces and vintage / finds. The latter on the other hand are distinctly more relaxed and lower key. 

Why is that? Summer cottage life is all about flitting between the indoors and outdoors - from the sandy shores of the sea or lake to the dewy grass in the garden and into the kitchen for a refreshing glass of elderflower squash. You might decide to plonk yourself on the sofa and curl up with a book or laze in a hammock. There might be a knock at the door and an army of children from the neighbourhood charge in. Or friends might drop by for a fika. It's simply about relaxing your way. 

And if you're worried about your interior, the hygge vibe will quickly evaporate along with the squash! This is why cottages tend to be kitted out with simple yet lovely, relaxed pieces that only get better with age! 

When Susanne Storm first bought the allotment garden house in Rødovre, Denmark fourteen years ago it was in a terrible condition - so much so that she was actually 50th on the waiting list but still got the offer to buy it! Most would have torn it down and started again, but Susanne saw its potential and after several years of renovating using second hand materials, the family love to spend their weekends and holidays in the 60 m2 (645 f2) cottage. 

The house dictated the decor, and many of the items you see are either from Susann'es grandmother's house or found at flea markets - set against a calm white backdrop. 

An outdoor shower and toilet was one of the things that Susanne added to make the cottage more comfortable to live in. 

A perfect oasis from where Susanne and her family can relax all summer long! 

Glimpse inside other Danish 'kolonihave' including: 

A relaxed artists home on a Copenhagen allotment

A charming danish cabin on an allotment

Lovely details in a Danish allotment cabin

Have a lovely, relaxing start to the week! See you Wednesday! 

Niki

Photography: Lasse Wind, shared with kind permission. 

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This Tiny Swedish Cottage is a Perfect Summer Oasis!

I can never resist a tiny living space - especially when they are this pretty! This cottage is located in Slottsskogskolonien - Sweden's second oldest allotment! It is a mere 19 m2 (204 ft2) but has everything you might need for the weekends and holidays. In the entrance, simple hooks and shelves serve as a makeshift hallway and a dining space is bathed in daylight. Step into the main living room, and an open-plan kitchen and living room offer a place to chill. At night, it's time to climb the ladder to a cosy nest in the rooftop and snuggle up for the night! The owners also have shared access to an onsite communal bathroom. 

At these allotment cottages, the real magic happens outside though. After all, the purpose of them is to provide a garden in the city for those without. The plot provides a place to grow flowers, fruit and vegetables, as well as dine al fresco all summer long surrounded by the sweet scent of lilac! 

Ready to look around? Välkommen! 

High shelves above the windows provide extra storage space for books and other small treasures. 

Built-in seating helps to maximise space - and can also offer more storage underneath. 

Notice how the underside of the table has been painted Klein blue - this seems to be the theme this week (check out Wednesday's Danish home tour!). I love the idea of using paint to bring in the latest trends, it's a sustainable way of keeping your home upon to date! 

A traditional Swedish sofa and two simple wicker chairs ensure a social area in the main living room area, while a little spot under the roof serves as extra storage. 

A simple wooden ladder leads to the sleep loft. 

It took me several goes through these pictures before I noticed the door above! It conceals a storage cupboard. 

I love the use of two-toned wood panelling in the kitchen! Note how this panelling is beaded for a more traditional look. 

How lovely. I could sit in that spot in the garden all weekend, how about you? 

Here's an idea of the layout: 

Glossary: kök - kitchen, stuga - cabin, förråd - storage. 

Speaking of small spaces, Per is headed up to our little cabin this evening, while I travel to Karlshamn in Blekinge (it's a beautiful part of the world which I once covered in this travel guide) for my daughter Liv's swimming gala. Fingers crossed for her - I know she's a little nervous! 

I hope you have some fun plans too! 

In the meantime, I'll leave you with some of these beautiful tours from the small space archive: 

This allotment cottage is a true summer oasis

A charming allotment cottage in Malmö, Sweden

A beautiful allotment cottage in summertime

See you Monday!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Kvarteret Mäkleri - where it is currently for sale! 

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Hannes' Cosy Swedish Apartment with a Yellow Kitchen

Do you remember the Helsingborg home of Hannes Mauritzson? It's hard to forget with his adorable pooch! Well, Hannes sold the apartment a couple of years ago and moved to Gothenburg where he snapped up a beautiful living space as well as a very cosy 'kolonistuga' (allotment cottage) which has become a bit of an instagram sensation. 

And now he's on the move again! Hannes has put so much love into his Gothenburg apartment, that it must be with a very heavy heart he has decided to sell it. I guess, he has a great plan - and I can't wait to see more. But one man's loss is another man's gain, as they say - and this means his beautiful, warm and 'mysigt' (cosy) home is waiting for a new owner. 

I am pretty sure it will be snapped up quickly - not least because if you're anything like me, you could move in and not have to change a thing - the colours and wallpapers Hannes has used are lovely! It's just a shame it won't come furnished as it's fill of the most amazing pieces from design lamps by the likes of Flos and Gubi to an array of vintage and antique furniture. 

Ready to take a peek?

Charming in every way, don't you think? 

I absolutely love these 'sekelskifte' (turn-of-the-century) apartments with all their incredible period features. Sadly, the house in Malmö from this period are eye-wateringly expensive to buy as they are in such high demand - it doesn't stop me from heading to the odd viewing though. Do you do that too? 

Is there anything that stood out to you about Hannes lovely apartment? Could you imagine living here? If so, you can see more pics and all the details over at Entrance. You might also like to head over to Hannes instagram to check out his little cottage and wait to see what he does next! 

But I'd rather you stay here and enjoy a little Swedish apartment love fest (I hope that didn't come out wrong - dreading where I might end up on google searches now!). Here are a few homes to love this weekend: 

The wonderful home of a Swedish food blogger

A cosy small Swedish apartment in earthy tones

A mid-century Swedish apartment with a warm feel

And how about taking a tour of some Swedish and danish allotment cottages? They are most likely closed for the season now, but they are great for small space inspiration; 

A rustic Danish allotment cottage

A charming allotment cottage in summertime

A Swedish allotment cottage in the heart of the city

The good news? It's Friday with two whole days to relax! My weekend will be filled with games of padel (does anyone else play? I love it!), taking my older daughter to a swim meet in Kristanstad, meeting a couple of friends in a British pub in town (to recharge my english batteries!), no doubt moving a few things around at home (completely unnecessarily, of course) and maybe, just maybe getting round to finally planting some spring bulbs (I keep putting it off, it's getting ridiculous now - do you do the same?). 

I hope you have got a couple of nice things lined up for the weekend too! 

Thank you so much for all your amazing comments this week- I'm looking forward to reading through and responding over the weekend. See you Monday! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Entrance, with thanks

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