Could you spend your summer in this log cabin?

As the snow falls outside I can't help but dream of cosy cabins. And then I found this one, deep in the heart of the Drents-Friese Wold National Park in Appelscha, The Netherlands (thank you Style Files!). Accessed by a long track, this lovely family owned log cabin is one of those magical places where you could be happy in any season, rain or shine, indoors or out. Imagine reading a book or playing games with family and friends by the wood burning stove? Or exploring the forests on cross-country skis (winter) or by bicycle (summer). There's even a lake for swimming within 500 metres. And the best news? It's available to rent. I know!!

Credits: Boshuisnijhildenberg. Post inspired by the Style Files. 

Could you holiday here?

I love the family's Pinterest boards which are built up of snapshots of everyday life at the cottage (which sleeps 8)...so lovely!

See you at the hand-over?!

I'm thinking why not go all out Dutch today with more inspiration from this lovely cabin and a lorry load of beautiful homes from The Netherlands here, I particularly love this fabulous rental home near Amsterdam.

Have a lovely day!

PS This post is not sponsored by The Netherlands tourist board - although I'd forgive you for thinking it! I'm simply feeling a whole load of love for this wonderful nearby country today! 

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Could This Hygge Danish Log Cabin Be Your Holiday Home?!

Dreaming of a summer in Denmark? This authentic log cabin has just popped up on Airbnb! Situated in the countryside near Asserbo and the coastal resort of Liseleje on North Zealand around 60 km from Copenhagen, the cottage sleeps 10 and comprises a main house and guests house. But the best part? It's owned by Pernille Grønkjær Taatø (who's inspiring coastal home I featured here and charming parent's cottage I captured here) - which means that it's also been decorated in the most impeccable Danish style! As per Scandinavian holiday cottage tradition, the interior is understated and designed for a simple way of life - but also immensely cosy! The fresh white and gentle blue-grey tones are true to Pernille's signature style, while the rich dark wood and stove give the space a lovely, warm, hygge vibe!

The cabin has everything you might need for a long Danish summer - a comfy sofa and chair (Söderhamn), simple dining table, wood burning stove, candles and string lights* for a little hygge on chillier evenings! 

When it comes to holiday homes, Danes often prefer to pick whatever they find in the nearby meadows or along the country lanes. 

A mattress and cushions helps to transform a little nook under the stairs into a chill out zone.

A coffee and reading spot for one - with a candle (of course!). 

 A simple rustic stool* and traditional rag rug* add a cosy touch in the sitting room.

A rattan chair and hooks provide the perfect place to build up a 'chairobe' and never feel the need to put any clothes away (it's summer after all!). 

The guest house is made for bunking down (I'm thinking all the kids!) and relaxing (those fresh white floors, walls and hammocks!). 

Isn't it charming?

I'd be so happy to wile away a summer here, how about you?

More about Pernille's summer home on Airbnb here.

Unavailable the weeks you're looking at? There's also the option of these two lovely cabins on the same coast- or why not hop over the bridge to Sweden and stay at one of these instagrammable places.

Anyone would think I'm trying to entice you to Scandinavia this summer - who me?!

If I haven't managed to persuade you - you could always bring a Scandinavian summer cottage feel to your own home - there's a load of rural retreats to feel inspired by in this archive (I think it's one of my favourites!). Can I stop by for a fika?!

Niki

Photography: Pernille Grønkjær Taatø
*Affiliate links

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Cosy winter solstice / Christmas inspiration

Today is one of my favourite days of the year - the winter solstice. Not only do I love the short days, in the warm glow candle light, it also means that from now on everyday will gets a teeny bit lighter! And Christmas is only a few days away. This year we're celebrating 'Jul' - at my parents-in-law on 23rd (usually it's celebrated on Christmas eve). It's always such a lovely day with a 'julbord', schnapps, singing and then a knock at the door from 'tomten' (father christmas) with lantern in hand and a sack over his shoulder with presents for all the children (cue lots of excitement!).  Afterwards we're heading to London to celebrate a traditional English Christmas with my parents. So exciting! What are your plans? How do you celebrate Christmas in your home (if you do)? Just in case you're after a few last minute decorating ideas, I've compiled a little inspiration - think cakes decorated with pine, blue candles, foraged wreaths an oh so cosy bedroom and of course, a snowy log cabin. Enjoy!

1. Son de flor 2. Photos : Jeroen van der Spek, Styling Cleo Scheulderman for VT Wonen. 3. Foraged wreath photographed by Sian Richards styling Sarah Nixon.  4. Hanna's Änglar 5. Malin Persson
6. This lovely cabin has been separated from the photographer, can anyone help?

Aaaaaaa, I really do love this time of year, how about you?

If you'd like to discover some of the DIY tutorials / stories behind these images it's well worth checking out the 'Christmas in Blues' feature in VT Wonen - seen here (who would have thought blue could be such a beautiful Christmas colour?) and as always Malin Persson has worked her Christmas magic with a wonderful candle wreath. So inspiring!

And finally, a question for you. Inspired by this snowy cabin, my family and I are looking for a little cottage or cabin to rent in Southern Sweden, Denmark or around Oslo in the first week of January - something cosy, with board games and a log fire. If you have any tips we'd be such happy campers!

Have a lovely day!

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The rustic Norwegian cabin hide-away

It's the weekend! Yay! Any great plans? We'll be at home this weekend but what I'd really like to be doing is escaping to this rustic cabin high up on the cliffs of Western Norway.  Imagine taking a walk in the blustery north wind followed by a hot drink next to the roaring fire? That's a part of every day life for Norwegian couple Elin and Rune. As lovers of the great outdoors, the duo are firm believers in the saying 'there's no bad weather, only bad clothing' and wanted to live somewhere they could enjoy Storfjorden and the surrounding mountain range. The cabin developed stage by stage, and although basic, it has everything they need  to observe the changing weather and delight in the uninterrupted views of the nature that surrounds them.

 Photo: Carina Olander with kind permission 

Photo: Carina Olander with kind permission

Photo: Carina Olander with kind permission

Photo: Carina Olander with kind permission

Photo: Carina Olander with kind permission

Could you spend your weekend here?!

There's something so romantic about this retreat, don't you think?

I've spoken before about my dreams of walking one of the 'hytte to hytte' trails in Western Norway. I even asked my Mum for hiking boots for Christmas. Yes, really! But seriously, couldn't you walk 20 km just to spend a night in a 'hytte' like this?!

For more rustic log cabin inspiration (it's got to be done right?!) I love this Norwegian cabin by the sea, a Norwegian hide-away, and a pared-back Finnish retreat. Why do I do this to myself?!!

Have a truly fab weekend!

PS images found via House of C with thanks. 

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A Beautiful Ski Chalet / Cabin in Hafjell, Norway

Happy New Year! I hope your 2024 has got off to a cracking start! I'm so happy to be back, here's to a great year of drool-worthy Scandi inspiration! 

It's no secret I think Norway is the most spectacular place on earth - and after Christmas, my family and I headed to the fells of Hafjell to blow away the cobwebs, ski, and generally relax by the fire. Temperatures reached minus 26 degrees celsius (-14.8 F), which shall we say, is fresh. But fortune favours the bold, as they say - and we wrapped up warm and headed out into the frozen landscape to njuta (savour) the vistas over the snowcapped forests and valley below. 

It's a place I hope everyone can venture to at least once in their lifetime whether you're into downhill skiing, cross country or simply relaxing by the fire! And if you do, I've found you just the cabin! Listed on Airbnb, I was immediately drawn to the the pared-down wood clad interior which has been kitted out in almost all natural materials to mirror the surrounding landscape. Meanwhile, a vast stone fireplace and a hot bath await to help thaw out your toes after a day on the trails. Ready to dream? 

What a beautiful cabin! Could you imagine staying here? You can find all the details on Airbnb here. 

Let me know if you think it would be interesting to feature a personal guide to Hafjell, Norway here on the blog - I'd be happy to share my experience as well as some tips for magical things to do in the area (ice bathing being one of them!). In the meantime, you can catch a glimpse of our trip in this instagram reel and my in instagram highlights if you'd like! 

How about taking a look inside a few other snowy mountain cabins today? Pull up a seat, pour a coffee and enjoy: 

A magical Norwegian mountain cabin

A contemporary Swedish ski chalet with a wonderful window seat

A lakeside Swedish log cabin in the snow

A dreamy scandi-inspired ski chalet in Whitefish

I am so happy to be back blogging again after the break. As always I'll be posting three days a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday). If you'd like to ensure you don't miss a post, you might like to sign up to my newsletter, 

*And in other news - my new book Njuta, The Swedish Art of Savouring the Moment has now launched! Thank you SO much to everyone who has already ordered a copy, it really means SO MUCH. I hope the tricks and tips I mention in the book will help elevate each and every one of your days in 2024. Njuta is currently available through all retailers and libraries in the USA and Canada (if your local bookstore or library doesn't yet have a copy in stock, please do put in a request!). The book is also available on Amazon pretty much worldwide and Waterstones in the UK. Although, I promise, there will be more languages and retailers to follow. 

Have a wonderful start to the week! 

Niki

*advert for my own work

Photography courtesy of Airbnb with thanks

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Cabin Update: Our Cosy Wood Burning Stove

Partnership with Contura, all words and pictures are my own

Back in January I shared an update on our little cabin while it was under construction. I remember the day well. The sun was streaming in through the windows, even so, clouds formed in the air as we spoke. We decided then and there we needed a log burner!  

  

The idea was to place it in the corner of the sitting room, so we'd be able to see it from all the corners of the cabin (after all, it's about the hygge, right?). 

Our go-to was Contura, who are well respected for producing high quality and efficient Swedish-made log burners .

Since our cabin is only 30 metres square (323 f2), we were looking for a relatively small model and settled on the woodburning stove Contura 810 Style. 

Above, you can see how it looked when I tested it out using the virtual tool back on that cold January day! 

Would you like to see how it looks today? 

Tadaaaa! This is the view from our bed! I can't tell you how much we love to wake up beside a roaring fire. So cosy! 

The 810 model is available in several different finishes and we chose black steel, with a black steel plate underneath.

We also opted for wood storage underneath to save space (it's only a tiny cabin after all) - it's great to not have to go out to the woodshed every five minutes and I love to be able to see the logs, they add a cosiness to the room even when there's not a fire on the go!

I have to say, the log burner is so efficient that we haven't had to use our electric heating once - we're mercifully grateful for that right now! 

Roll on the Swedish winter, we're ready for you! If anyone's looking for us this weekend, we'll be right here by the fire! 

Do you have a fireplace too? I'd love to hear about your experience!

Have a cosy weekend friends! 

Niki

PS If you're looking for a wood burning stove for your home, Contura offers a really broad selection and has dealers throughout Europe - you can view the entire collection here. 

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