A Charming Open-Plan Swedish Summer Cottage

Why, hello there friends! It's a bit of an exciting week as I'm on my way to the West Coast for a few days with Carpe Diem Beds. First stop: the pretty fishing village of Fiskebäckkil which I included in my travel guide last summer. How I've missed real live events, have you? These pretty summer places are quite deserted now that every has returned to the city, but there's a real beauty about them in Autumn and winter when the nature and wildlife takes over. On the other side of Sweden, this pretty cottage in Hölö belonging to architect Ninni Ryott, is sure to be locked up for the winter. But since I refuse to let summer go until the strength in the sun's rays finally fades, I'd love to take you on a tour! 

Built from wood and painted in Falu red, the cottage was built in 2013 and designed to match the other traditional buildings on the estate. 

It might measure a mere 45 m2 (484 f2), but Ninni has worked hard to ensure there's plenty of space for the entire family with one large room for dining and socialising. The main living area feels extra spacious thanks to the tremendously high ceiling  wonderful white wood panel walls. 

The space has been furnished with a relaxed blend of old and new - with blue and white a central theme. 

A ladder leads up to a loft with four beds - a bunk for each member of the family! How my children would love this, they're always asking if they can sleep in my bed and they're 10 and 13 (but that could just be because we have a Carpe Diem one and they are amazingly luxurious!). 

What a wonderful cottage, so simple just as a Swedish summer cottage should be, yet light and airy and very cosy. 

I wouldn't mind knocking about here all summer, how about you?

See more of Ninni's work over at Ryott Arkitektur (I love the cabin by the sea she designed too!). 

If like me, you're looking to prolong summer this week (hey, it's not quite October, right?) - you might also like to check out these cottages: 

A photographer's charming summer cottage in the woods

A traditional Swedish summer cottage enjoyed as a year round home

An oasis on a Swedish island

Have a great start to the week friends! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Ryott Arkitektur

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Are You The Next Owner of this Idyllic Swedish Photographer's Cabin?

Four years ago, I was leafing through the pages of Swedish country life magazine 'Lantliv' and came across this summer cottage. Bowled over, I reached out to the owner to ask if I could share it here on My Scandinavian Home. Safe to say, I've been dreaming about this beautiful cottage in the woods a couple of hours North of Stockholm ever since - and frequently turn to it for inspiration for our tiny cabin. 

The estate agent describes the cottage as an idyllic place where nothing has been left to chance. And looking through the pictures I can only agree! In the summer, Lina, Karl, daughter Charlie and their Jack Russell Terrier Kilda make the most of the great outdoors cooking, tending to the vegetable and flower patches or simply relaxing on the terrace. 

The inside is a picture of calm and feels completely clutter-free despite having everything they need for a perfect getaway. Think two tones walls in white and grey, open shelving and relaxed vintage furniture. It's with a heavy heart that the family have decided to sell this cottage. Could you be the next owner? Take the tour before you decide! 

It's not uncommon to find wood floors painted with patterned diamonds in Sweden. I love this affect - wood feels wonderful underfoot, and you get the illusion of tiles without the cost! 

The cottage has three bedrooms - one on the lower floor, a sleep loft (seen over the dining area above) and an extra bedroom in an outhouse. 

It can be hard to add storage to a sleep loft, and this solution from IKEA is great! 

The pair run the shop Noy Road, selling ethically and sustainable produced home textiles which you can see dotted about the cottage.  

Here are the plans so that you can understand the layout: 

And here's a link to the listing - just saying!! 

Sadly, it's a little too far from Malmö, or I'll have snapped it up in a flash. What a perfect little paradise, don't you think? 

Would you like to see a few more pretty Scandinavian summer cottages today? I love:

A charming danish cottage on the island of Fejø

Hannes lovely little cottage in the heart of the city

A fairytale Swedish summer cottage

And there are lots, lots more to explore in this summer cottage archive. 

Have a wonderful weekend, thank you so much for stopping by!

Niki

PS It was so interesting to read all your comments about allotments this week! 

Photography and plan courtesy of Fastighetsbyrån with thanks. 

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A Dreamy Danish Summer Cottage With an Outdoor Bathroom

Brace yourselves friends, summer has just arrived on My Scandinavian Home! Today, I'm transporting you to Ann-Britt's charming summer oasis in Southern Jutland, Denmark.  Known simply as '#haveno105 - or allotment cottage number 105, the classic black and white cabin is the perfect antidote to life in the city. Owner of lifestyle boutique Gemakker, Ann-Britt has kept the interior deliberately simple and pared back with a focus on easy living and a seamlessness between indoors and outdoors. Think bamboo furniture, nautical stripes, and touches of wicker, rattan and jute - all of which ensure a relaxed, coastal vibe. Keep a look out for the outdoor bathroom and 'lean-to' which ensure nature is never far away. The talented guys at Another Studio were there to capture these lovely images. Sun hats at the ready!

Aaaaah, lovely! Relaxed Danish summer style in all its glory! 

Could you imagine hanging out here all summer long? I certainly could! 

Sadly, I don't think this cottage is available for rent, however there are similar Danish cottages on airbnb. 

See more corners of Ann-Britt's summer cottage and read the story behind Scandinavian allotment cottages. 

Let's keep the Scandinavian summer alive today. Pour yourself a coffee, put your feet up and check out these cottages: 

A Danish cottage oasis on North Zealand

A beautifully simple white Danish summer cottage

A charming cottage on the Danish island of Fejø

Roll on summer, we're ready for you! 

Niki

Photography: Another Studio - shared with kind permission. 

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A Fairytale Swedish Summer Cottage / Plus Camp Adventure, Denmark

Cities and towns across Scandinavian are starting to buzz with life again as people slowly return from the countryside and head back to work. But for some, like me, their heart remains at their summer cottage. There's something magical about the laid back, simple lifestyle they afford - and of course, their lush surroundings. Curious to sample Swedish summer cottage life yourself? This idyllic croft from the 1800s just came on the market! Located a short distance from Stockholm  - the traditional Falun red and white cottage is fairly small (50 sq m / 538 sq ft), but definitely big on personality - and wouldn't look out of place in an Astrid Lindgren tale. There's only one foreseeable drawback - and I'm curious to hear if it would be a deal breaker for you or not. Read on to find out! 

And the deal beaker (or maker)? The only loo is a compost one in an outhouse. This is not unusual for an old croft which is yet to be modernised. Helen (as in the interior designer I work with) has an outdoor loo at her cottage too. They once lived there for a year and she remembers waking up in the night and trudging out in the snow to go to the loo! But she says they got used to it and in the end and don't give it a second thought any longer. My granny had one too (as well as an indoor one upstairs) - and I remember it being full of spiders! But the one at this croft is charming in every way. Would it work for you?

Could you imagine spending your summers here? 

If so, this pretty cottage has your name on it, and we'd all love to be the first to visit (bringing our bed linen of course - as is the Swedish way!). 

Feeling tempted? Read more about it here. 

Fancy seeing some more pretty cottages over the weekend? Here are a few others that belong in an Astrid Lindgren tale:

An idyllic farmhouse in the Swedish countryside

This 20th century Swedish house is straight out of a fairytale

A charming Swedish summer cottage that dreams are made of

All this talk of Sweden, and I'm actually in Denmark right now. Having been double vaccinated, we've taken the opportunity to head over the Öresund bridge for a couple of days. Our first stop was Camp Adventure (for a press trip) - which has treetop climbing (have you ever done it? Once you get over the nerves, it's so exhilarating!) and the kids absolutely loved it!

As well as an awesome 45-metre tower you can climb (the structure is magnificent - and has won several architectural awards (not my picture below!):  

And best of all (for me, not the kids, they spent 8 hours in the tree tops!), Northern Europe's largest 'pick your own bouquet' flower farm! It was beautiful:

Keep an eye out for the yurts / cabins (they're pretty booked up so you'd need to plan in advance to stay the night). You can also pair it with a long weekend in Copenhagen since it's only a 50 minute drive away. 

Right, I'd better put the kettle on - the rest of the family will be waking up any moment and I need to take the most of the peace and quiet before the mayhem begins and a day at the worlds oldest amusement park: Bakken. 

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend - I hope you've got some fun /  relaxing plans. 

Niki

Cottage photography: Historiska Hem

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