A Charming and Relaxed Danish Cabin By The Sea

Spring is in the air in southern Scandinavia. This means three things: the welcoming sight of crocuses and irises, flocks of birds migrating home - and it's time to dust down the summer cottage! Many Scandinavians use the Easter holidays as a perfect opportunity to open the shutters, sweep the hearths and dust down the surfaces at their summer cottage. As opposed to city dwellings, the cabins and cottages are often relaxed, pared back affairs, and designed specifically to be a place to relax, unwind and reboot. 

At the weekends, Pernille Normann and her family exchange the hustle and bustle of Copenhagen (as relaxed as it is for a big city), for a few days at their cabin by the coast in Gudmindrup Strand, North Zealand. 

The timber cabin serves as somewhere the family can be together in a relaxed way - without interruption. And the decor reflects this. Simply furnished and clutter-free, it has everything the family need to be comfortable and make the most of the indoor-outdoor lifestyle. 

The timber walls and A-framed ceiling have been given a fresh lick of white paint, while a wood accent wall and pale blue / green floor help to break up the look and add interest. 

The furniture, lamps and accessories are largely thrifted and subtle shades of blue as well as nautical stripes as well as art featuring maps, ships and sea-life connect the cabin to its coastal location. 

Danes are masters at creating an ambience with lighting. If you think about it, many of the classic lamps the country is so famous for (like the Louis Poulsen PH5) are designed to divert direct lighting away from the eyes and create a soft pool of filtered, diffused light, helping to create a warm and cosy ambience after dark. 

If you look closely, you'll see there are no lamps directly overhead - instead they've been placed lower down in various spots around the cabin. When lit, these will create pools of light - accentuating each of the cosy set-ups. 

Note the rattan / bamboo furniture which helps to give the cabin a lovely summery vibe. 

A cosy bed doubles up as a reading nook by day. Or, as you can see below - the perfect den! 

The above picture also gives you a sneak peek of how the pine wood floor looked before they painted it. It feels so much calmer in the new tone, don't you think? 

What a wonderful oasis! 

I love the subtle touches and simple, laidback way it's been furnished, how about you? 

I'll definitely be pinning some of these images as inspiration for our own little cabin. 

You can see more of Pernille and her family's cabin over at @nullsterliving - it also features their beautiful apartment in Copenhagen which has a very different style! 

Interested in looking around a few other danish cabins this weekend? Here are five of my favourites: 

Before and after: a rundown cabin becomes a vibrant summer cottage

A charming cabin on the Danish island of Orø

A little Danish cabin in the woods

A beautifully simple, white-washed Danish cabin

Take a tour of a danish family's inviting cabin

So, friends. That's it from me this week. Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you have a great weekend. 

Vi ses på Måndag! See you Monday! 

Niki

Photography: @nullsterliving

READ MORE...

2

A Cosy Candlelit Cabin Deep In The Norwegian Fjords

Do you get the feeling that some days you just want to escape to a far-off place, light a fire and lead a simple life? In my mind, Lisa Reid Mjaavatten has got it just right. Her cosy log cabin lies deep in the Western Norwegian fjords, surrounded by mountains and endless wilderness. Built in the 1970s and consisting of two tiny bedrooms, it provides just enough space for her, her husband and their three children to escape daily life in Bergen. In her interview with North Letters magazine, Lisa describes how her cabin is her sanctuary - even in the midst of the harsh Norwegian winter.  Read on to discover why!

As an interior designer, Lisa was keen to maintain the history of the cabin and keeping the original pine panelled walls and kitchen was a deliberate move to keep "the very spirit and essence alive in the cabin". The decor is also deliberately simple and uncomplicated. "I do not need a lot of things, not having a material ownership is incredibly liberating, but the few things I do own have a special meaning," she says. 

A simple log is used as a side table for candles and warming cups of coffee. 

A pair of vintage snowshoes adorn the wall in the bedroom, while a contemporary Kizu table lamp rests on a chest-of-drawers. 

When the family first bought the cabin, it had no water or electricity and they had to collect water from a few hundred metres away up a narrow forest path. It was only in recent years they decided to install electricity - and the simple act of switching on a light brought with it ''a feeling of total luxury.'' 

While many struggle with the harsh Norwegian winter, Lisa chooses to embrace it. "I love the cold and grey months." she tells Northern Letters, "Feeling the hard rain bite against your cheeks just gives me a little reminder that we are not in charge here, Mother Nature is in control. We are here to enjoy what she brings us and not take it for granted." 

Life at the cabin in winter doesn't come without complaints from the family - especially about "going outside in minus 15 degrees Celsius. Or scraping ice off the inside of the windows in mornings. Or cutting through thick ice in the property's well with an axe to get water for the morning coffee." But even these are seen as a positive: "This is adventure and we are making memories." 

Lisa enjoys a coffee on a handmade bench covered with a warm sheepskin (similar sheepskin items can be found here*).

Lisa loves to sit outside all year-round and take in the staggering surroundings. "The old pine and birch woodland around the cabin offer protection from the harsh weather and winds," she explains to Northern Letters. "The swaying of the branches from the hallowing winds up the fjord sing songs when I am alone."   And the beauty of the huge mountain peaks and deep, inky blue fjords bring with them a sense of calm. "They are like old friends keeping an eye on us."

What a magical place! 

I was particularly interested to hear how Lisa embraces the harsh Scandinavian winter. I have to confess I've always struggled with this - especially come January and February! I like the idea of deciding that the feeling of the freezing cold rain or snow on your face can be seen in a different light - and obstacles caused by the cold weather build memories. Funnily enough, some of my strongest memories (and language!) come from trying to put chains on the tyres in Norway, or stepping out in minus 25 degrees Celsius at Marianne's cabin and watching the head torches of cross-country skiers flash pass as they make their way home. 

I also took heed from a wise friend from Greenland who suggested experiencing sunny days in winter as a bonus. "If you except that it's likely to be cold and grey when you walk out the door, you're more likely to embrace it," she explains. 

I've also found lighting candles at breakfast and after work help to make me feel good - as well as bringing in lovely seasonal touches like pinecones, branches from a fir tree etc. Not so much that it feels Christmassy - but just enough to enjoy that hygge vibe! 

Do you experience harsh winters where you live? If so, do you have any tips on how to embrace the colder months of the year?

Thank you so much to North Letters for the kind permission to share these beautiful images. You can read more about Lisa's home here (in English) and it will also be in print when North Letters magazine hits the newsstands in February 2021. In the meantime, I'd highly recommend checking out their Instagram feed - it's stunning!

Fancy feeling all cosy today by taking a peek inside a few other Scandinavian log cabin? I love: 

A cosy Finnish log cabin in wintertime

A rustic Norwegian log cabin hide-away

A Magical Norwegian mountain cabin

Have a hyggeligt day friends! 

Niki

Photography: Gunn Kristin Monsen

*affiliated links

READ MORE...

8

Settle: A Rustic Hideaway In A Former Railway Carriage & Boutique Cabin

I have a total weakness for rustic spaces, do you? I spotted this cosy gem of a retreat over at Desire to Inspire yesterday and fell in love! 'Settle' is a retreat in Norfolk, England created by John - who owns and runs a reclamation yard, and his partner Jo - a well-known floral designer.  The incredible resort offers guests a choice to unwind in rustic railway carriages, bell tents or a boutique cabin overlooking woodland and lakes. I'm particularly in enamoured by the railway carriages and cabin which combine earthy textures and heritage materials with contemporary comfort - so, it's just to turn up, light a fire, maybe run a bath (wait till you see the outdoor one!)... and relax. 

The carriages: 

My eye is on one of the three beautifully restored retired railway carriages. Each offer two berths, a lounge area with a wood burning stove as well as a bathroom and small kitchen - although you might prefer to cook supper over the lakeside fire pit! 

The Cabin

If you'd prefer something a little more spacious, there's also the boutique cabin which looks like something out of a magazine (actually scrap that - it has been in a magazine!). Hand built by Jo and John, the fully equipped cabin has everything you might need for a relaxing retreat - a real home from home! 

The questions is, would you go for the freestanding indoor bath, or the lakeside wood-burning tub? 

Meet you there? 

In case you're keen - hop over to Settle to find out more (or simply dream!). 

Shall we indulge our shared love of rustic further today? How about these cosy gems? 

Before and after: a dated cabin becomes a Scandic-inspired Colorado retreat

A cosy candlelit cabin in the Norwegian fjords

Leanne Ford's dreamy cabin

A charming A-frame cabin on the Danish island of Orø

Have a hyggelig day friends! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Settle, via Desire to inspire - with thanks. 

READ MORE...

13

Our Tiny Swedish Holiday Cabin: Exterior Inspiration

Those of you who have been following My Scandinavian Home for a while (thank you!), will know that Per's family have a little summer cottage on the coast of North West Skåne. It was built by Per's grandparents in the 1930s and today, it's enjoyed by Per's Mother - who heads there for much of the summer. We also love to stay there whenever possible - at the weekends, over Easter and for several weeks in the summer. It's our very own little paradise, understated, raw, rugged and windswept. Days are spent sipping coffee, wondering through the pine forest or village in our dressing gowns to the water's edge, playing games while the rain comes down or chugging out to the island of Hallands Väderö (second picture down) by boat. Here are a few shots I've snapped with my phone over the years. I hope it'll give you an idea of the surrounding nature, and the simple life we lead at the cottage!

Tiny Cabin Location and Inspiration 

Per's Grandfather fell in love with the area just like we have many years later and built the little cottage (above) up on a hill near the church. Per's Mother, an avid reader of my blog (hej hej!), recalls playing in the meadows in front of the cottage as a child, and taking a 'morgondopp' (morning dip) in the sea. These days, the 'meadows' are occupied by summer houses, but Liv and Allie still love to run carefree down to the water for a swim, no matter the weather. 

The cottage itself is tiny, and if we're all in place - the sofa becomes a sofa bed and the children and their friends sleep on a bunkbed and a blow-up mattress. It works for now, but we'd love to spend more time there - and as the children grow-up, we'd love for their children to enjoy it as we do today! 

In Sweden, it's common to build tiny cabins in the grounds of a summer cottage to make space. Known as an 'Attefallshus', you are permitted to build a 25 square metre (269 square feet) cabin and, recently, also a 30m2 cabin (322 square feet) - known as a 'Komplimentbostadshus' (try pronouncing that!) in the grounds of your property (see restrictions here - in Swedish). It's the latter we're interested in since it will give us enough space for a family of four. This winter, we marked out a section of the lawn and the planning has finally begun! So exciting! 

We have earmarked this section of the garden beside an old oak tree running parallel along the fence to the neighbours' garden (with their kind permission) - which affords both properties some privacy.  

Cabin Exterior Inspiration

When Per and I brainstormed the look and feel of the cabin we decided against replicating the main house and instead were keen for the exterior to blend into the surroundings - and incorporate the rugged nature of the forest and coastline. Wood therefore felt like an obvious material for the exterior - and we love that it ages gracefully over time. The exact wood and tone is to be determined (watch this space) but we particularly love the look and feel of the cladding above and below. 

Since life at the cabin is about spending time outdoors and soaking up the surroundings, we're keen for the cabin to have large windows which draw the outdoors in and allow a seamlessness between the garden and the interior. Lately I've been partial to grid windows, seen below. 

This is obviously WAY bigger than 30m2, but more to demonstrate the windows I was talking about! 

Off-plan or Our Own Design? 

There are a fair few 'off-plan' cabin solutions available in Sweden, some of which create the entire cabin in their yard before dropping into place with a truck and crane. This sounds like a brilliant hassle-free option on paper, but  in practise, we have a really clear picture of what we were looking for - and none of them quite fit the bill. So began the search for an architect. More of which I'll share with you in my next 'Tiny Cabin' update along with the plans. 

In the meantime, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Do you like the wood exterior? Are you also a fan of these types of windows? Perhaps you have some experience of building a tiny cabin or house yourself and like to share some insight (as rookies, we'd be eternally grateful!). 

Here is a little more great 'tiny cabin' inspiration:

Small space inspiration from Swedish attefallshus

Before and after: a tiny cabin in the Swedish woods

A cosy candlelit cabin in the Norwegian fjords

Nolla cabin in the Helsinki archipelago

Oh, and the last cabin is actually a holiday home on the Isle of Skye - available to rent! I know! Scotland anyone?   

Wishing you all a lovely 'lillördag'! 

Niki

Photography credits: 1 - 9 Niki Brantmark / My Scandinavian home, 10. Krista Keltanen for the book Happy Homes, 11. Barn House Cabin 12. Light and Dwell 13. Wild croft on the Isle of Skye

READ MORE...

19

A Danish Cabin That's All About The Hygge!

Once upon a time I shared a lovely apartment belonging to Sarah Bjørumslet. The title of the post read 'keeping it real in a Danish family home in the heart of Copenhagen'. And I still remember how refreshing I thought it was to see an unstaged home complete with milk cartons on the table and toys strewn across the bedroom floor. Hooray to everyday life! 

I've been following Sarah's instagram feed @look_good_in_blue ever since and was excited to see that her 'cosy, old school' cottage is available to rent this summer! Situated between Rørvig and Nykøbing North West of Copenhagen, the cabin was built in the 1950s as an artists atelier, before becoming a relaxed getaway by the sea. Read on to discover more! 

Sarah says it's full of games and DVDs - a perfect way to wind down, especially if the Danish weather isn't playing ball! 

Mismatched crockery and glassware adds to the laidback vibe of the cabin and a glass cabinet keeps everything at hand! 

The cosy kitchen is leaning towards the cottage core vibe we are seeing so much of right now and reminds me a little of Hannes Mauritzen's little Swedish allotment cottage (if you haven't seen the tour, head on over!).  

I'm guessing the big chest is full of toys - or maybe blankets! What do you think? 

The sofa pulls out into a bed for extra guests - essential in a Scandinavian summer house as friends and family often stop by for a night or two (always bringing their own bedding, as is customary). 

I love how books are never far away - perfect for a rainy day! 

The ethos of the Scandinavian summer is to spend as much time outdoors as possible. Here, a little play house has been set up for children, and simple outdoor furniture serves as a spot to sit around the fire. After all, it wouldn't be Danish without the hygge! 

Guests don't need to wander far to reach the most magnificent sand dunes and beaches! I personally, love that part of the world - so beautiful! 

If you're curious about renting Sarah's cabin this summer, the best way to reach out / book is via instagram: @look_good_in_blue. 

Is there anything that stands out to you about this cosy cottage? 

It would be rude not to share a few other lovely danish cabins with you today - after all, summer is fast approaching and the weather here in Scandinavia is beautiful right now! Why not pour yourself a cup of coffee and take a peek at:  

A charming and relaxed Danish cabin by the sea

A white, light and airy cabin on a Danish island

A fresh cabin by the sea with vintage finds

Take a tour of a Danish family's log cabin

Have a lovely day!

Niki

Photography courtesy of @look_good_in_blue

READ MORE...

11