Before & After: A Swedish Fire Station becomes a Family Summer Home

I've shown many awe-inspiring homes on My Scandinavian Home over the past decade (yes - it'll be ten years since I started this blog in November!), but I've never featured a converted fire station! When Swedish pair Petra and Anders Jönsson turned 50 they felt like doing something a little crazy. The answer came in the form of a dilapidated fire station in Stora Köpinge, Skåne - which they spotted for sale online for a cool 750,000 SEK (€75,000 / 89,000 USD). The pair had the vision of transforming the four-storey property into a summer holiday home for themselves and their five children - a perfect weekend and holiday retreat from everyday life in Stockholm. The project quickly drew the attention of popular Swedish TV program Husdrömmar, who followed the entire renovation. Ready to find take a look?

Exterior Before

The fire station was built in the 1930s for the purpose of serving Stora Köping, a village in the beautiful region of Österlen in South Sweden. The couple had grand plans for the property, including changing the colour of the exterior, but planning permission restrictions meant the existing facade should remain relatively untouched. Instead, they freshened up the exterior and replaced the double doors (previously used for the fire engine) into glass doors. 

Exterior after

The pair also added an extension onto the rear to make space for a dining room and also replaced the back of the tower with glass windows - weighing 800 kg each! 

Interior before

When the couple acquired the property, the interior was basic to say the least! The ground floor hadn't been touched since its days as a fire station, while the tower was a corrugated iron shell with a ladder.  

The floorplan

The property is four storeys high, which the couple planned on converting into a living area, sleeping quarters, a bathroom and lounge area. 

Interior after

Underfloor heating was installed and the ceiling was knocked through to create a beautiful, light-filled living space.  The pair decided to keep the decor simple and pared-down and used neutral tones throughout. 

Stairs were added to the left of the property (rather than centrally placed) in order to make space for a kitchen. A trap door which gives access to extra storage. 

The family enjoy uninterrupted views of the Österlen countryside to the rear of the property. 

Wooden stairs add warmth and a contemporary touch to the tower - and are a major improvement on the rickety ladders! 

Although small, the bedrooms feel spacious thanks to large windows. 

The top floor has been converted into a 3 metre x 3 metre lounge area in which to chill! 

How fantastic!! 

There's no denying that this was an incredibly brave move and required a copious amount of work (and money) - but the results are worth it. After all, not many people can say they live in a converted fire station! 

Could you imagine taking on a project like this? 

Live in Sweden? You can view the entire project on SVT here. Otherwise, see more pics over at @brandstaionenstorakopinge. 

Did I mention that Petra and Ander's home in Stockholm is in a converted water? Perhaps that's a tour for another day! 

Up for a little more inspiration today? Take a look back at these fabulous property conversions: 

A home in a converted carpenters workshop

The home of a fashion designer in a converted bar

My friend Louise's home in a converted school

There are plenty more incredible before and after projects in this archive too! 

Wishing you a wonderful day - I hope the sun is shining for you. 

Niki

Photography: all photos courtesy of Petra and Anders (@brandstaionenstorakopinge) with the addition of two photographs taken by Lina Östling and Mari Strenghielm. The floorplan is courtesy of SVT / Husdrömmar. 

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Mathilda & Anton's Serene Apartment in Southern Sweden

Hello friends, happy Monday! I was always get a little extra excited when I discover a home tour in Malmö - and this one is SO beautiful! Plus, it has a wonderful, serene vibe which I thought would help us launch into the week on a lovely, calm note! Tucked away on a quiet street in the leafy district of Rörsjöstaden, this turn-of-the-century apartment has been given some real TLC from owners Mathilda and Anton. The newly renovated living space has been decorated in a sea of neutrals, with warm wood playing a central role. Look closely and you'll also spy Scandinavian design pieces (I've done my best to include some links!), high street finds, vintage pieces and plenty of art! Välkommen in! 

The bamboo lamp, believe it or not, is from HM Home - what a find (currently out of stock, which doesn't surprise me)! The light oak table is from JYSK and the chairs are classic wishbone. The wooden kitchen cabinets are from IKEA. 

A vintage wall catches the light in the corner of the sitting room (source similar here*) while at is piled up beneath, waiting to be hung. 

An IKEA sofa and two armchairs are arranged around an IKEA coffee table. A String shelving unit runs along the back wall beneath a series of paintings and a Samsung Frame TV (cleverly disguised as art in the centre of the gallery wall). 

Mathilda has set up a home office on a fold-away vintage table by the window. 

Striped linen bedding from IKEA catches the light in the bedroom. The linen cushions are from Swedish brand Granit. 

There's something about this home, with it's beautiful natural light and soft tones that has made me feel ultra-calm this Monday, hope about you?

See more pictures of Mathilda and Anton's lovely Malmö hope over at @sekelskiftsdagboken

May this feeling of calm remain all week!

Having said that, I have a feeling I might just get pulses racing tomorrow. I'm busy preparing a post about an awe-inspiring Swedish holiday home in a former fire station (including before and after pics)! Whatever you're doing tomorrow, make sure you stop by!

Wishing you all a wonderful start to the week!

Niki

Photography: Mathilda / @sekelskiftsdagboken

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Liv's Bedroom - All Ready For a Lie-in (+ Get The 'Linen' Look!)

FREDAG (Friday!) - woooop! I don't know about you but I'm planning on a couple of lengthy lie-ins this weekend (I've never have been much of a morning person - how about you?)! Downstairs from us, Liv will no doubt be taking a lie-in too - right here, surrounded by luxury linen. Between you and me, I'm a little envious of her room since the make-over. Hmmm, maybe it's time for an update upstairs too? In the meantime, here are a few snapshots I took of her room with Helen Sturesson for a recent shoot for the wonderful small Swedish business Lovely Linen. 

I painted the wall in Moln 802 by Alcro - which is a really pale blue. Over time, I've appreciated it more and more - it feels really fresh and matches the rattan headboard (from Danish brand Nordal) really well. Adding a dusty blue pillow cover to the mix of linen also helped to emphasise the blue touch. 

For the rest of the bed linen, I used 2 x Misty Meadow pillow cases (50 x 60)  1 x pillowcase light grey (50 x 60), 1 x pillowcase in dusty blue (50 x 60).  a rustic overcast, 1 x sheet, 2 x Misty meadow duvet covers (single)  and 1 x bed skirt in natural beige (I probably would have gone for the off-white actually, but it was out of stock at the time). 

In the top picture you can catch a glimpse of a side table - which is from danish brand Wild Studio and made from 100% recycled plastic! It also doubles up as a stool. Love it!  

I hope I covered most of the pieces - but in case you're curious about anything else you see in the pictures which is not listed here or in today's post, just give me a shout in the comment section below and I'd be happy to help!

Soooo, that's it from this week. 

Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you have a wonderful, sunny weekend! See you Monday friends! 

Niki

This post contains press / PR items but has not been created as part of a paid partnership. 

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Swedish Interior Stylist Pella Hedeby's Timeless Home

Moving house is a funny old thing. Packing your life away into boxes and unpacking them. in a new, unfamiliar place. It comes with a whole rainbow of emotions - shutting the door on rooms where so many memories were made, and opening a new door, to a feeling of hope and excitement (and maybe a little apprehension!). I was reflecting on this today when I learned Swedish interior stylist Pella Hedeby is moving home. Her living space has been well documented in glossy Swedish mags over the years - and I myself have featured her home and 25 metres square studio / outhouse. The interior is instantly recognisable for its timeless simplicity, use of natural materials and layers of textures. But what Pella will miss the most is 'the views, the light and the trampled tracks of the garden among buxom globes and fragrant lavender." Ready to take a final tour? 

Oh, how I long to sit on that sun drenched deck with a book - how about you?

Based on the small glimpses, I can completely understand why Pella will miss the garden. The interior is lovely too - so serene. 

Like me, you might just like to keep an eye on Pella's blog and instagram to follow her next move - no matter where she goes, I'm sure she'll create a beautiful home!

Is there anything that stood out to you? 

Niki

Photography: Ragnar Ómarsson

Styling: Pella Hedeby 

Published in Residence no 4, 2021. 

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8 Ways to Pep up Your Outdoor Space, Scandi style

Looking at the ten-day forecast here in Malmö, Sweden I can see the mercury slowly starting to rise - woohoo! This spring, shall we say, is extra special - meaning we're willing to don all kinds of clothing if it means seeing friends and family! But there's no reason we can't gather in style and comfort too! Today I'm putting Scandinavian outdoor spaces under the microscope so we can glean some wonderful ideas to ensure we're as comfy as possible and surrounded by beauty! Here are eight ideas to steal: 

1. Light it up: There's not much use in socialising outdoors if we can't see who we're talking to - and outdoor string lighting* gives that lovely warm glow, and a romantic touch to any backyard. And here's the best part: even if we're not outdoors, lighting up the greenery helps the indoors to feel larger; giving the impression that the living space is extended, and draws the inside in! You might need to add a wooden post or metal pole in order to help hang them at the right height. 

2. Go natural: our Scandi friends love to keep things as natural as possible - especially in the garden! Think rattan, wood and bamboo for a warm, relaxed look. In recent years, there's been a huge increase in all-weather bamboo furniture too! 

3. The parasol: Admittedly, in Sweden being blinded by the sun is a bit of a luxury, and a moment we long for year-round! But you can never underestimate the power of the sun - and a parasol, sail or pagoda is essential for blocking out the midday rays. Not only will coverings keep you cool in the heat, but there'll also keep you feeling cosy and dry in the rain - prolonging the hours you get to spend alfresco. Our Nordic friends usually opt for white with wood poles, but these colourful parasols have become really popular lately among the hipsters. I'm suddenly thinking I might need to do a separate parasol post, there are so many fab ones out there - could that be of interest? 

4. The bench: It's all very well creating social areas where everyone can gather, but what happens if you simply want to be alone, gather your thoughts or admire the results from the long hours you spent toiling the soil? It's always a good idea to treat your garden like any indoor living space: organise it so that it caters for different activities / needs! There are so many great garden benches out there - from contemporary (as seen above) to the more traditional. 

5. Divide it up: Go a step further and carve out separate zones using walls, windows, hedges or anything else that helps to create a little privacy for showers, sunbathing areas, quiet reading spots etc. The wall with a window above is perfect for creating an intimate dining area while also offering a view of the garden. PS the dining set reminds me so much of the one my parents had when I was young!

6. Mix it up: don't be afraid to throw different looks together. Rattan, wood, concrete - the more varied, the more relaxed! 

7. Get comfy: one of the biggest mistakes people make with outdoor spaces in my mind is not making them comfortable enough. Since garden furniture needs to withstand the weather, it's often made from rock hard materials. Make sure you invest in cushions for your chairs and outdoor sofa (even if you do need to bring them indoors each evening!) - or why not add a daybed or hammock (this boho hammock* is similar) so you can really chill out and enjoy an afternoon snooze! 

8. Lanterns: What would a Scandinavian living space be without a candle or three? Since one little gust of wind can snuff out the glow in seconds, lanterns are your best friend, and I firmly believe it's a case of the more the merrier. Place them on the table, on the ground (invest in two different sizes so they look good paired up) and hang them from the branches of a tree for a hyggeligt evening alfresco! 

There are so many lovely ideas here! It's got me thinking about prepping my own mini outdoor space for the season.

What type of outdoor space do you have (if any)? I'd love to hear all about it, and so keen to hear any tips and tricks you might have! 

For more outdoor space inspiration check-out: 

Ten ways to maximise your tiny balcony / outdoor space

16 outdoor terraces for every style and budget

7 boho ideas for outdoor spaces (big and small)

Outdoor shower round-up

An idyllic Finnish cottage with an outdoor kitchen

Here's to a glass of rosé, alfresco! 

Niki

Photography credits: 1 & 7. Malin Nilsson / @vittvittvitt 2. Garden designer Bonnie Hall  3 & 4: Tia Borgsmidt / Rikke Larsen / Monika Petersen 5. Janniche Kristoffersen 6. Anitta Behrendt / Rikke Graff Juel 8. Gardenista

*This post contains some affiliate links

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