A Cosy Little Swedish Cottage by the Sea

I have to confess, I dread the day my children leave home. On the one hand of course, I'll be happy that they have found their path in life and will be setting off on a new adventure, on the other, I sure will miss those crazy girls. Thankfully, there are quite a few years left. But I have a plan! 

I dream of living in a little cottage by the sea with Per one day, where I can snuggle up beside a woodturning stove with a book and a cup of tea come winter. 

With its cosy small rooms, thick stone walls to buffet the cold winds in winter, exposed wood beams, walls covered in books and art and a sun dappled garden - this 107 m2 (1150 f2) 19th century cottage is just the ticket. What's more, it's just down the road from us in Limhamn, South Sweden - and a short hop from the harbour! 

The eclectic blend of furniture, shelves that bow under the weight of books and pops of blue, red, green and yellow help to add to the relaxed feel of the space. 

I spy a stacked stereo system, just like the one I had at uni! Did you have one of these too? 

A tiny hallway space in the corner of the sitting room beside the entrance is reserved for coats and shoes while a nook in the stairwell is used to store firewood. 

The area up and over doorways is ideal for book shelves - especially in a small living apace. Lights have been added to illuminate the tomes after sunset. 

Curious to see the layout? Erik Olsson shared this along with the listing: 

Translation: Entre - hallway, Vardagsrum - living room, Matrum - dining room, Kök - kitchen, Trädäck - decking. Övre plan - top floor, Sovrum - bedroom. Kamin - woodburning stove. 

How charming and cosy is this cottage? It's certainly designed for 'njutning'! Looking back through the pictures I noticed a cat tree too - of course! I'd love to have another cat one day but I fear I've put Per off for life after the very crazy, viscous feline we had years ago! 

Are you a cat person? 

And more importantly, could you imagine cosying up in a cottage like this? Or do you prefer a more minimalist living space? 

See other cosy cottages here: 

A charming swedish cottage in the heart of the city

A relaxed Danish cottage by the sea

Sanne's cosy country home with vintage and antique finds

Have a mysig (cosy) start to the week! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Erik Olsson (this property is currently for sale). 

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Preparing for 'Fredagsmys' at the Cabin!

Kindly sponsored by Skovby 

One of the things I love most about being up at our cottage are all the local farm shops. A short cycle ride along the road will take you past honesty stalls selling locally produced delicacies such as potatoes, corn of the cob, honey, eggs, strawberries and all other kinds of goodies. It makes grocery shopping a pleasure!

To top off my raid, I always head to Myltes Blomfältet (flower field) to see what's in bloom! 

The flower farm always has the pick of the in-season blooms. This time round it was resplendent with dahlia, cosmos and gladiolas! Well-worth the hay fever induced sneezes! 

Once you've picked the flowers, you measure the thickness of the stems that make up the bouquet and leave the corresponding amount (you can even wrap up your bouquet and add a label to make the perfect gift!) - my girls love coming with me! 

Do you have something like this near your home?  

How pretty are the dahlias on the table? They are possibly my favourite blooms - and one day I've promised myself I'll grow my own, despite the faff! Do you grow Dahlia? 

A word on the table, after all, it is beautiful! The Skovby #33 dining table is Danish made. This particular version is an anniversary edition (Skovby has been producing beautifully crafted furniture for  90 years!) with an oak white oil base and a green laminate top. It's an incredible table aesthetically, but there's also more than meets the eye. 

It's extendable! The leaves are hidden within the plinth and with a few smooth, moves (there's a turn table underneath the table top which causes the top to split into three and reveal hidden additional plates which pop-up and fold out!) you can extend the table from 123 cm - 149 cm - providing space for 6 to 9 people! In a small space, this is a dream!

Perfect for guests in the late summer sun! 

You might notice that the chairs are also new! This fine oak and wicker #827 dining table chair was recently unveiled by Skovby and are already iconic. True to danish design, it's impeccably handcrafted crafted and made from really high-quality wood.  The rounded back makes it very comfy too - so Per's happy! 

And with that friends, it's time for 'fredagsmys' (cosy friday!). 

Thank you so much for stopping by this week and for all your kind words about my new book! I forgot to mention that the English version will also be available through Waterstones and Amazon in most countries at the end of December ( available to pre-order now). 

Have a cosy weekend! 

Niki

PS The beautiful Skovby #33 dining table and #827 dining table chair are available in many different versions and Skovby have retailers throughout the world. Find your nearest dealer here. 

Thank you so much to Helen Sturesson for your help with these pictures! 

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A Fairytale Swedish Cottage in a Forest

If anyone asked me what I perceived as quintessentially Swedish, I'd show them this cottage! It's like something straight out of an Astrid Lindgren tale! 

Tucked away in a clearing in a forest 1 hour North of Stockholm, the two-hundred-year-old red, white and yellow cottage is in a romantic world of its own. Life is simple - yet all basics needs are met with a fully functioning kitchen, cosy sitting room and a bedroom tucked under the roof.  There's also a simple dry loo in the outhouse - along with a bedroom for guests. 

For those of you who like a few home comforts - fear not, there is also warm shower (I haven't shown it here, but I promise there is one!). This was probably a relatively new addition. My mother-in-law tells me that at our little Swedish cottage there never used to be a shower and her family used the sea to bathe - and I see there's a lake nearby to this property! 

Either way, this looks like the perfect place to njuta! 

Would you like to take a look around? Follow me! 

The same green-beige tone has been used throughout the cottage, giving it a coherent feel. 

The furniture is strictly vintage / antique, adding to the relaxed feeling and charm of the space. 

Pretty Swedish porcelain containers for sugar, flour and other ingredients are displayed on a shelf.  There are lots of beautiful one-off antique Swedish spice sets available on Etsy like this. 

An old chest doubles up as a coffee table and simple lace curtains add a decorative touch to the cottage windows. 

Dahlia have become hugely popular in Sweden. I understand they are a bit of a faff to produce, but anyone who took the effort to nurture their own are reaping the rewards this September. Such beautiful flowers! Do you grow dahlia? 

The bedroom is accessed via a ladder. 

The outhouse contains a second bedroom, shower and compost loo. 

Loving the shoes! 

Did I mention this cottage is for sale? Someone's Swedish dream is about to begin. Could it be you? 

Here is the floor plan so that you can get a better understanding of the layout: 

Main cottage: 

Kök: kitchen, Allrum: all purpose room, Rum - 'room' (here referrring to the sitting room). Altan: terrace.

Outhouse: 

Sovrum: bedroom. Dusch: shower. Förråd / Verkstad: storage / toolshed. Dass: toilet. 

I love this little property. I actually checked how far this is from our home to see if it might be feasible, but alas it's 7 hours' drive away. 

I hope one of you snaps it up so that I can invite myself round for a cup of tea in the autumn sunshine - it's the perfect place to 'njuta av livet' (see yesterday's post!). Keep me posted! 

Find out more about it over at Historiska Hem. 

Would you like to see other homes like this? I love: 

A cosy Swedish cottage in the snow

A photographer's charming Swedish cottage in the woods

A romantic Swedish cottage in summertime

Did you see my exciting announcement yesterday? Hop over to this post to find out more. Thank you so much for all your lovely comments and words of encouragement, I feel so humbled. It's always nerve-racking to release a new book so your kind words of support really mean a lot. 

Glad Lillördag (little saturday!),

Niki

Photography: Lund

Styling: Copparstad Interior

For: Historiska Hem

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My New Book: Njuta (Enjoy. Delight In.)

Hi friends! I am so unbelievably excited to announce that my new book Njuta (Enjoy. Delight In.) - The Swedish Art of Savouring the Moment is available to pre-order in the US! 

Allow me to re-wind. 

Last January I headed out to the forest on cross-country skis for some much needed me-time. Just as I arrived, a text message with one single word from my Swedish father-in-law pinged on my phone: "Njut" it read. I smiled. The one-word message served as a reminder to take in the beauty of the moment - the landscape. the silence, the solitude, the dappled sunlight over the tracks - and breathe it in. 

"Fear less, hope more; eat less, chew more; whine less, breathe more; talk less, say more; love more; and all good things are yours."- Swedish proverb. 

During my nineteen years living in Sweden, I've noticed Swedes delight in the simple things in life. They see greatness in the small things - and understand that it doesn't take grand gestures or vasts amount of money to make life not only okay but truly wonderful. Through my Swedish friends and family, I've learned simple pleasures are all around us and can be found in every minute and every hour of the day. You just have to stop and take time to consciously appreciate what's already there. That is the essence of njuta.

In my new book, I explain njuta (pronounced 'nyu-tah) and offer tips and tricks I've learned from my Swedish friends about how to slow down and elevate small moments in daily life. The book hits the shelves in the US on 26th December 2023 through Harvest Books and is currently available to pre-order here. 

I hope my book helps to enrich your life in the simplest of ways, and the pages become well worn and loved. 

Niki x 

PS for those of you outside of the US, I do hope it will be available in your country soon. Are there any translations that are of particular interest? 

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Sarah's Earthy and Calm Danish Apartment

When I featured Sarah's small Copenhagen apartment in 2021, it was one of the most popular tours of the year - for good reason (revisit it here!). I was excited to see that Sarah and her partner have since moved and are now busy renovating a 19th century apartment in the heart of the danish capital with "sustainability, recycling and minimalism" at the core. What's more, they are doing much of it by hand to save money. 

The apartment is still a work in progress but I couldn't resist sharing a sneak peak of where the pair are up to. I love the earthy tones, Scandinavian vintage furniture and beautiful textures. A great sign of things to come as it slowly but surely becomes a home! 

So calming!

Sarah's style looks so effortless but having completed a DIY budget make-over on our downstairs loo I know just how much work they would have put in to get here. If you'd like to see exactly what they've been working for and how much of a gut job it has been, I can recommend taking a peek at Sarah's highlights over on instagram! 

One thing I haven't pointed out yet, is just how incredible the bones are in this apartment. They are very typical of the beautiful neighbourhood of Frederiksberg where this place is located. I was once lucky enough to shoot a home nearby for my book The Scandinavian Home and it remains one of my favourite homes to this day! 

Would you like to take a look inside a few other Danish apartments today? How about: 

A Danish family home with a warm golden touch

Sidsel's elegant Copenhagen home with a snoozing dog

A stationary designer's lovely Copenhagen home

Have a fabulous start to the week! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of @milevidt, shared with kind permission. 

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