11 Ways to Bring Nature into Your Home, Danish style!

Did you know adding touches of nature to your home has been proven to boost happiness? And it's something our Scandinavian friends do so well. 

Today I'm taking you on a tour of Tina Abild's idyllic Danish summer cottage on the Kattegat coast which is full of nature-themed touches. Here are 11 ideas to feel inspired by! 

1. Natural materials: wood, rattan, linen all helps to bring texture to a room.

2. Wildflowers: there's nothing like the wonderful scent of flowers cut from the nearby meadow or hedgerow! Forage first thing in the morning to avoid drooping. 

3. Terrarium of foraged items from the beach: display a small selection of items collected from one spot, in this case dried seaweed, driftwood and pebbles from the nearby beach have been displayed a in a glass bell jar. 

4. Art that reflects nature: collect art that is reminiscent of the surrounding environment. I this cottage, a fish serves as a reminder that the Kattegat sea is a short walk away. 

I love the old ironing board used as a side table, so clever!  

5. Dried and pressed flowers: collect your favourite blooms to dry and press and use as art the following year. 

6. Driftwood display: old, gnarled wood from the beach makes for a beautiful display in a glass jar. 

Adding baskets with handles to hooks creates space for yet more storage - for example for small items like gloves, hats and other pieces that are difficult to hang. 

7. Dried flower wreath: when it comes to a second home it's next to impossible to keep plants alive, instead get crafty with flowers and dry them in the shape of wreaths for a decorative display. 

Tina made this pretty lampshade herself - it's a great way of up cycling a vintage Le Klint sax lamp! 

8. Display books about nature: even better if the tome is about the surrounding area! 

9. Hang simple bunches of dried flowers: a simple display of thistles looks pretty hanging from a doorknob. 

10. Use botanical or floral themed textiles: carefully selected curtains, bedspreads and curtains can also serve as a way to draw the natural surroundings indoors. 

Any avid readers of My Scandinavian Home will have noticed lately just how popular these vintage glass cabinets have become - particularly of the wall-mounted variety! Adding curtains is a great way to hide more unsightly items from view! 

11. Line the windowsills: if your windows open outwards, use the sills to showcase stones, shells and wildflowers like cow parsley! 

Another simple, yet pretty idea - using beautiful vintage textiles as makeshift curtains to obscure the bathroom from view! Look how well the details show up in the light. 

Outdoor showers are a summer dream, don't you think? One day we'll build one at our cabin, but in the meantime, I'll admire Tina's shower from a far! 

So many beautiful ideas! I can't wait to take go for a walk by our cabin now so that I can have a little forage. Has Tina's idyllic summer cottage inspired you too? 

See more snapshots and follow Tina's latest projects over at @sommerhus.ved.kattegat.

Would you like to see a few more Danish summer cottages today? Here are some truly inspiring getaways: 

A Danish summer cottage oasis on the north coast of Zealand

A dreamy Danish cottage with an outdoor bathroom

A charming summer cottage on the island of Fejø

Stor kram! 

Niki

Photography: @sommerhus.ved.kattegat shared with kind permission. 

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A Warm and Relaxed Swedish Cottage by the Sea

Hello friends! It's so great to be back here on the blog after my summer break! I am easing myself in slowly with this wonderful summer cottage in the picturesque fishing village of Simrishamn, south Sweden. It's a popular summer destination and this cottage, with its charming touches from the 1860s and sea views is a perfect place from this to enjoy all the town has to offer! 

I was planning on sharing a carefully whittled down selection of pictures from the listing, but the task became impossible - there is simply too much inspiration to be gleaned from each and every room. What I love most about this cottage is how the owners have veered away from a more obvious blue and white coastal theme. Instead, an ode to the summer and sea can be seen in a variety of clever ways - from the warm yellow tones, straw hats, art, scalloped edges and sea-themed lamp shades! Välkommen! 

You'll be hard pressed to spot new items in this lovely home. Chairs, tables, cabinets and mirrors have a distinct vintage and antique vibe  while other touches have a traditional touch to match the soul of the 150-year-old property. 

Rattan, bamboo and woven rugs bring in a relaxed costal touch while rag rugs (seen furthest away in the above picture) bring time-honoured tradition to the cottage, while also helping to keep drafts at bay. 

A mix of pieces help to create a relaxed atmosphere in the sitting room. 

I don't think I've ever seen so many hooks! They are highly practical in a summer cottage when storage is limited, although you'd need to pack your prettiest garments - and underwear would need to go elsewhere (I'm not sure I would want to wake up to a row of Per's boxers!). 

The yellow bedspread brings instant sunshine to the space - well needed given the rainy summer we have just had in Sweden! Any tips on where this might be from? if so, please do share in the comments section below! 

Wildlife art in the stairwell draws the surrounding nature indoors, while curtains help to create privacy for extra bunks in the landing. 

Open storage is great for short term stays. I like the way they have made the most of space under the sloped ceiling. 

How lovely! I could definitely see myself wiling away the summers here, about you? 

See more pictures and the full floor plan here. 

You might also like to take a peek inside a few other these coastal cottages:

A charming coastal cottage in Denmark

A beautiful danish ceramicists house by the sea

A striking holiday home by the sea in Iceland

Also: 

15 coastal living ideas to steal from a Danish cottage

Thank you for stopping by, I'm excited to be blogging regularly again (Mondays. Wednesdays and Fridays) from now on. If you'd like to be alerted to new posts, you might like to sign up to my mail subscription here. 

Kram! 

Niki 

Photography courtesy of Ekström & Co

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A Dreamy 17th Century Swedish Summer Cottage With a Focus on 'The More the Merrier'

Hello there friends! I hope you had a lovely weekend? On Saturday we had beautiful blue skies and warm weather here in Skåne (let's not talk about Sunday!). For a day, we dared to dream of the Swedish summer when many flock to cottages in the countryside. The cottages are usually geared up to cater for as many as possible - with beds at every turn! Take this wonderful summer cottage in Breven, just east of Stockholm. Tucked away among meadows and forest, this 17th century timber cottage comprises two dwellings - a main house (seen below), and an outhouse (featured above). The first serves as a gathering place (when times allow) as well as bedrooms for the owners. The second is for overnight guests and extended family- with one large room kitted out with a double bed, a bunkbed and two sleep alcoves. Pretty curtains help to block out the midnight sun - or the light of a lamp, for those who like to stay up and read! My children would love this - especially Allie, who thinks it's really cosy when we all bunk up together as a family! Roll on Swedish summer days. 

Look closely and you'll notice a painted diamond wood floor - a popular feature in traditional Swedish dwellings. I also the uneven wood logs - which add to the character of the space. 

The master bedroom has such a wonderful romantic air to it. And is that a TV on the ceiling I see?!

The thick walls pave the way for windowsills which are wide enough to double up as seating. A perfect spot for a morning coffee!

The guest house:

If you're ever invited to stay at someone Scandinavian summer cottage, remember to bring your own bed linen. I've been caught out on a few occasions... and I'd hate for you to make the same faux pas! 

The pool house (below) is kitted out with a sauna and extra bathroom - for cooler days. 

Saunas are a common sighting in Swedish homes (Especially in the basement) - although not quite as common as in Finland! The jury is still out on how much people use there here, with some enjoying regular sessions amongst the steam with their family, and others admitting they simply use it as a fancy place to dry their clothes! 

How dreamy! A perfect summer oasis. And with all those fireplaces, a wonderful place to visit all winter long too! 

Could you imagine spending your summer here? 

Find out more about this property over at Historiska Hem. 

Feeling intrigued about the Scandinavian summer cottage having seen this? Check out the entire archive here. 

Wishing you all a wonderful start to the week!

Niki

Photography Lina Östling

Styling: Stories by Chaundy

For: Historiska Hem

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