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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10 Scandinavian Summer Cottages with a Little Extra Alfresco

The Scandinavian summer is all about making the most of the great outdoors, especially after the long, dark winter! Summer cottages are therefore designed to capitalise on the outdoor space. Alfresco living room areas, kitchens and bathrooms are a popular choice, while others might have anything from an outdoor pool to a more simple bathtub! For chillier days there's a sauna, and for everyday there's the lake, fjord or sea for morning, afternoon and evening dips! I hope you'll feel inspired by these ten wonderful Scandinavian summer homes. 

1. A dreamy Danish cottage with a simple outdoor bathroom

2. An idyllic Swedish cottage with an outdoor kitchen and bathroom

3. A Swedish pool villa with aw wonderful outdoor seating area

4. Before and after: A rundown house becomes a dream Danish summer home with an outdoor bath

5. This danish cabin has a lovely outdoor kitchen and living room

6. This idyllic swedish island hideaway has a wonderful outdoor shower! 

7. A charming Norwegian cabin with a relaxed outdoor living room and fjord side views 

8. A Danish hideaway which is close to nature inside and out. 

9. A pared down Finnish cabin with a cosy sauna

10. A Swedish country home with a floating sauna / tiny cottage! 

So many wonderful ideas here. Could you imagine incorporating some of these into your home / outdoor space? 

To be honest, the weather has been decidedly bad this summer so I think I'd opt for a sauna right now! Anna's floating one is really fabulous, don't you think?

With the holidays in full swing, I'm taking a couple of weeks off to be with my family. I hope you have a relaxing fortnight and the sun shines for you! 

See you on Wednesday 9th August! 

Niki

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A Magestic Butterfly in our Little Cabin!

Sponsored by Carl Hansen & Søn, all words and pictures are my own. I only work with reputable brands I love and think you will too! 

When something was designed in 1944, can you still call it a 'latest offering'? Probably not. But I was very excited to get my hands on the beautiful VLA61 Monarch Chair from Carl Hansen & Søn! Designed by one of the pioneers of danish modernism Vilhelm Lauritzen, only ten chairs were originally produced. And now the carpenters at Carl Hansen & Søn have worked their magic to produce the chair with a modern touch and of course, impeccable craftsmanship. 

The chair comes in an amazing variety of colours and wood finishes. We had the pleasure of living with the oak oil and Baru 0410 in our little cabin for a few days, and it quickly became a part of the family beside the Plico chair (yes, we're still fighting over the coveted spot!). Read on to discover why this fine specimen is named the 'Monarch' and take a closer look at the details! 

From the front you can clearly see the shape of the chair which was inspired by the majestic monarch butterfly!

Carl Hansen & Søn don't do things by halves. I've had the pleasure of watching their craftsman in action several times and to say they are masters in their field would be an understatement. The Monarch Chair has been reborn in collaboration with Vilhelm Architects with a modern perspective in terms of material and details. And each chair has received hours of undivided love and attention at the hands of a skilled craftsman. 

For example all of the oak parts have been hand polished several times and the top rail is only upholstered once the chair is assembled to achieve a perfect finish. A true masterpiece! 

I love that in Denmark they are still practising the art of craftsmanship and working with good, solid materials to create furniture that is built. Do you appreciate this too?  

It'd be rude not to pour a cup of tea, pull up a seat and enjoy it for a while, don't you think? 

Could you imagine having a chair like this in your home? Check out the ten different versions here and let me know your favourite! 

Niki

Ps Friday will be my final blog post before I take two weeks off to spend time with my family and enjoy the disastrous Swedish weather (our anoraks look like they'll be a staple). See you then!

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A Swedish City Apartment in a Converted Car Workshop

Do you live in a city? With 56% leading urban lives the chances are high! We all know that high density populations mean rent / house prices can be high, and in many cities new dwellings are carved out from old businesses. Warehouses, factories, bars and even a welding plant have been repurposed into houses, flats and maisonettes - and the history of the building adds an entirely new dimension to the interior. 

In Vasastan, Stockholm an old car workshop has been transformed into a beautiful street level apartment. Great big doors that open out onto the street and polished concrete floors unlock the secret to its past life while a white wood floor, beautiful kitchen and floor to ceiling shelving provide clues for its new life as a contemporary home.  Step this way for the tour! 

When the double doors are closed the frosted glass means only a small amount of light flows through to the living room, something that large mirrors help to counter. 

Contrast in the form of dark blue cabinets add interest to the space. 

Warm wood shelving and concrete floors add an interesting contemporary touch to the space. 

Floor to ceiling wardrobes in the bedroom provide plenty of storage and help to create a clean and contemporary look. I love how grey has been used on the cabinet doors and back door, breaking up the white. 

Floorplan: 

Glossary; vardagsrum - living room, kök - kitchen, sovrum - bedroom, bad rum - bathroom. 

What a really cool urban home! I love the way it's been decorated. 

I wonder how practical having doors open out to the street like this would be in most cities around the world? In Stockholm it could definitely work on a warm summer's day like today, in fact I can already hear the music floating out from the transparent speaker and the buzz of the city life outside. 

Do you think this would work in your city? 

Niki

Photography and floor plan courtesy of Historsika Hem. 

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