my scandinavian home: Search results for outdoor shower

An idyllic Swedish cottage with outdoor kitchen and shower

Hello! How are you this Monday? The schools break up in Sweden later this week and I'm starting to get that summer feeling; think bare feet, dips in the sea, fishing, cooking and eating alfresco and showers under the open sky. At least that's what would happen if I were to spend the summer in this idyllic Swedish summer cottage. Like many Scandinavian holiday homes, it's been designed to make the most of the outdoors. And for rainy days, the interior has been decorated with traditional rag rugs, summer quilts in a basket, antique and vintage Swedish furniture and wicker chairs for enjoying the summer read. Oh yes! Could you spend your summer here?


Photography: Clive Tompsett (shared with kind permission). Sköna Hem

I'm such a big fan of holiday homes with a black exterior (see also this and this cottage!).

And I've always been a fan of bathing and showering outdoors (do you remember this post?!). Not only is there something special about washing under the open sky but they're also perfect for rinsing little feet after a day at the beach. Do you have an outdoor shower?

And move over barbecues - this summer I've got my eye on an entire outdoor kitchen (more inspiration can be taken from this Finnish cabin - so wonderful?!).
More fabulous Swedish summer cottage inspiration here.

Thank you to everyone who entered the Houseology give-away this weekend. The winner has now been announced here..(oh how I wish I'd won!).

Have a great start to the week!

The out house retreat of a Nashville author

It's that time of year when everyone starts last minute summer holiday bookings (OK I speak for myself - can anyone recommend anywhere last minute to stay in the Dordogne?!). Of course there are always hotels, B&B's and holiday cottage rentals but I also love to go quirky too and often consider glamping, tree houses and unique stay alternatives. And that's how I came across this cool 1962 Shaster camper. Sitting in the back garden of 'Carry My Bones' author J. Wes Yoder in East Nashville, Tennessee, the camper has been lovingly renovated inside and out and includes an outdoor shower, bath house and terrace. When it's not in use as a work studio the author rents it out through Airbnb. Nashville anyone?!

Photography: Laura Dart via Remodelista

What a cute place to stay and a fabulous idea for an out house!

It's not the first time I've come across an unusually cool outhouse. Do you remember this alternative garden shed for example?! I'm a big fan of outdoor bathroom's too, for inspiration take a peek at this outdoor bathroom post.

Other holiday sites I love right now include Alistair Sawdays Canopy & Stars which offers a collection of wonderful and quirky places to stay and Kid & Coe which makes travelling with children a whole lot easier - (what's not to love about that?!)! And if you're considering SouthWest England - one of my most memorable holidays ever was at Polgreen Glamping in Cornwall.

Do you have great holiday accommodation tips?

FILED UNDER: garden International homes

Summer at this Swedish pool villa?

Not far from Kivik, a summer paradise on Sweden's Southeast coast, you'll find the picturesque village of Södra Mellby - not far from where Nora and Laura of Our Food Stories used to have their charming summer house. It's well worth a visit by bike - but for those of you who fall in love, you might want to think about snapping up this villa!

The two-bedroom open-plan villa has clearly been revamped by someone with a keen eye for design - and has absolutely everything you might need to rock about in style all summer! I for one, would be perfectly happily flitting between the white linen sofa, to coffee at the rustic table, followed by an afternoon siesta on the daybed (curtains can be pulled across at night to form a bedroom). But on days like today (the sun is shining in South Sweden!), the pool and outdoor kitchen are surely where the action is!

Note the magnificent ceiling height and the blend of natural materials from concrete and wood to linen and wool - which add so much texture! Ready to dream?

The villa is laid out over two floors with a bedroom on each. Sometimes it can be hard to gauge the configuration so I've shared the plan below. There is also a separate dwelling with a further bedroom.

Sovrum - bedroom, kök - kitchen, vardagsrum - living room.

Could you imagine living here?

One to share with Per I think, I can already see him setting up the barbecue and our Friday night drinks around the pool!

Would you like to see a few other pool villas today? It would be rude not too with the lovely weather we have in Scandinavia right now! Here are a few of my favourites:

A Swedish photographer's magnificent pool villa (the cat steals the show!).

Airbnb tip - the Stonecutter's farm on the island of Öland

18 ideas to steal from a Swedish pool villa, from budget to blowout

Also, take a peek at 10 small pools for every space and budget and 15 outdoor shower and bathroom ideas!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Erik Olsson, with thanks.

FILED UNDER: swedish home swimming pool

The alternative garden shed

How about this for an alternative garden shed?! So much fun! I don't think I'd ever go back into the house!

Via

Could you imagine having this at the end of your garden or perhaps as a weekend get-away?!

Today is the last day of our holiday in Mallorca where I've been staying with extended family in a finca over looking the tramuntana mountains, so beautiful! I shall miss this island and my wonderful family.

Next week the blog will be back to normal with daily home tours. I hope you've enjoyed the alfresco inspiration week as much as I have and got a few ideas to spice up your outdoor space? Art in the garden perhaps? Or a refreshing outdoor shower?! On Monday I'll be announcing the winner of the fouta de val give-away, so if if you haven't already, stop by and enter here.

Have a lovely weekend all!

FILED UNDER: garden

Monday morning Brazilian escape

It's Monday morning. A girls allowed to dream. If I'd woken up in Casa Lola, Trancoso, Brazil this morning my day would have started a whole lot differently. No full cup of coffee falling three flights of stairs (imagine the scene), no two year old insisting on a swiming costume for nursery. Just one harmonius happy family. 'Accommodations include a housekeeper'....'cooking available on request'. Guh! Make that a latte by the pool please.... :) I feel better already.

Casa Lola. Via Harmony Design

I love the seemlessness between the outdoor and indoor spaces, the juxtaposition of the wood and concrete, the vintage furniture, and the outdoor shower (I can't quite justify one here in our garden in Sweden!). Transport me there!

What about you?

I hope you're having a lovely Monday, if not, come away with me!

FILED UNDER: Holiday homes International homes

Charcoal and indigo in the home of a Swedish interior designer

Charcoal, indigo, light blue and white - this might well be my favourite colour scheme right now. It's just so elegant and makes the smallest of spaces look sophisticated and relaxed. Take this Swedish home occupying a mere 32 square metres (344 square feet) in Kingsholmen, Stockholm. Owner Anna Navier (an interior designer) has used this colour scheme (along the same spectrum) to divide zones for a coherent look. I also love how she's used a sheer white curtain to divide the room (I'd been thinking about a wall with windows - like this, this or this - to divide my bedroom and work space but actually maybe a linen curtain that allows soft light to flow through could work just as well - what do you think?). The small outdoor space is charming too. All in all a lovely home tour - enjoy!

Historiska Hem. Homeowner: Anna Navier. Photography: Fredric Boukari. Found via Planete Deco with thanks.

I feel calm just looking at this space, how about you?

Is there anything that stands out to you?

Get the look: bedroom - for a similar wall colour dark grey colour try Railings (described as 'handsome and commanding - love that!). This indigo bedspread and linen bedding are similar. Many of these pieces of art can be bought from Desenio (including the clouds poster). Sitting room - , buy a similar jute rug here, Zigzag floor lamp. Dining area: this, this and this industrial pendant lamp are similar. Outside: bistro chairs, linen table cloth, lantern.

I think there's a freshly brewed cup of tea with my name on that outside table in the sun - fancy joining me?! Speaking of gardens - I dream of having an outdoor shower or bath one day (taking this dreamy one as my inspiration!). Imagine?!

Don't miss more of Anna's work here.

Have a lovely day!

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.