my scandinavian home

A Light-filled Converted Schoolhouse in Sweden

Oh, how I love a converted schoolhouse. The large windows, spacious rooms and high ceilings are a perfect basis from which to create such a light-filled living space. And Gladhammar school in Västervik is no exception! Built in 1915, the property is vast (500 square metres / 5381 square feet) but this didn't put a family off from lovingly restoring each and every room.

Here is a taster into the impeccable restoration - which includes hues of green, aubergine, and cream, as well as wood panelled walls and a blend of furniture. Look closely and you'll even spot some gym equipment reminiscent of my own school days (I used to be terrified of those 'horses' - how about you?). I promise to share a link to the full tour too, but here are a few snaps to whet your appetite!

Lovely!

As promised, here is a link to more pictures of this beautiful property (which is currently for sale).

Take a peek inside five more converted schools this weekend here:

A beautiful former school in the Swedish countryside

A light-filled former school in Sweden

My friend Louisa's home in a former school in Eslöv

A swedish florist turns a schoolhouse into a home

A converted schoolhouse on the Swedish island of Gotland

We are spending some days up in beautiful Sundsvall in Norrland Sweden (thank you for your well wishes for Liv's swimming competition, it's all very exciting and such an honour to be here). If you haven't been to this part of the world, I can highly recommend it! I hope to share pics once we're home!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Fastighetsbyrån, shared with thanks

FILED UNDER: converted schools

An Idyllic Swedish Summer Cottage in the Forest

Today, I'm continuing with my summer cottage theme to match the relaxed holiday vibe in Scandinavia right now - and the sun has come out just for the occasion! This Swedish beauty belongs to Johanna Hagbard (whose city home I featured in 2018). Johanna acquired this beautiful croft 40 kilometres (24.8 miles) from Gothenburg ten years ago. It had been derelict for many years - save for a local orienteering group who had been using it as a clubhouse due to its location in the middle of a forest. Needless to say, it needed extensive work.

A handy couple, Johanna and her husband have slowly transformed the property into a magical year-round country escape - with a cosy interior and hand built sauna and a plunge pool. Summer days are spent outdoors looking out over the wilderness and lake in the distance and a caravan serves as an extra indoor space to hangout!

Ready to feel inspired by the tour? Step this way!

A magical place to spend summer, do you agree? I can imagine it's really cosy in winter too!

You can see more snapshots from Johanna's lovely croft over at @johannahagbard.

Would you like to see a few more pretty Swedish crofts today? 'Why not' I hear you say! Pour yourself a glass of something cool and enjoy:

A fairytale Swedish summer cottage

Jessica's idyllic Swedish croft from 1900

Before and after, a Swedish croft becomes a summer house

Oh, so pretty!

My family and I are currently trundling up the E4 motorway on our way to Sundsvall to watch Liv swim in the Swedish nationals this week. We've been passing forest and more forest - with 5 hours of forest to go (it's a 10 hour very forest-y drive in total!). I'm excited as I've never been to Norrland before, and we've booked a little cottage on an island just outside the city. I'll share more from our adventure on my instagram stories if you'd like to follow along!

Have a happy Wednesday!

Niki

Photographs by @johannahagbard, shared with kind permission.

Old Meets New in a Cottage in South Moravia

"Time slowly passing, homely comfort and instead of a television, only a huge window with a view of the garden." This is how Marika and Jirka - food bloggers and authors of cookbook The Kitchen Story, describe life at their cottage in a small South Moravian village.

It all started with a simple wish: "to switch off for a while, escape from everyday life and just be at peace." The pair were looking for somewhere they could getaway from the city and gather with friends and family without distraction. And they fell instantly in love with Chalupa mez sklepy.

The cottage required so much work that in the end it became a re-build, but the couple were determined to maintain the rural character and style (keep an eye out for wooden windows and floors, stone lintels and an exterior designed in collaboration with Adéla Lipar Kudrnova and Petra Stein).

Today, Marika and Jirka love coming here with friends and family (it sleeps up to 10) - and also rent it out as a guesthouse for others to enjoy. Let's take a look around.

Wow! I think this is the first home I have featured from the Czech Republic, which makes it entirely unique to me. I love the tones of rust red, pale blue and cream - which match the colours of the village. And I also appreciate how Marika and Jirka have combined a modern feel with a rich historical touch from the region, all while keeping the look simple, understated and comfy looking.

Was there anything that stood out to you about this lovely home?

You can see more pictures over on their instagram @chalupa_mezi_sklepy and find out more about booking the property as a holiday home here.

You know what's coming, don't you? Yep, I found another home tour from the Czech Republic that I've featured in the past! Take a peek at: a Scandi-inspired home in the Czech Republic in soothing neutrals.

Other connections on My Scandinavian Home include a beautiful Swedish home featuring a mural by an artist from the Czech Republic. And also, I feel very honoured that my Lagom book is available in Czech too!

Have you been to the Czech Republic? I haven't, but it's certainly on my wish list!

Have a great start to the week!

Niki

Photography courtesy of @chalupa_mezi_sklepy, shared with kind permission.

FILED UNDER: Holiday homes holiday rental International homes

Henriette & Tommy's Charming Danish Cabin Oasis

Let's just say the weather in Scandinavia is 'mixed' right now. Torrential rain, cold and windy one minute, sunshine the next. But that's not going to deter us from enjoying our holiday! Thankfully, summer cottages across the region are equipped for every eventuality - with doors that swing open to create an indoor / outdoor feel on sunny days, and cosy sheepskin-lined chairs and fireplaces that can roar into life at the drop of a hat on colder days!

In Houstrup, on the east coast of mainland Denmark, Henriette and Tommy have created a cosy oasis in which to switch off and relax - no matter what the weather decides to do!

The little black and white wooden cottage seamlessly blends in with its wild surrounds thanks to a beautiful turf roof, and the garden has been kept deliberately untamed and natural. Inside, the cabin is simply decorated in soft, earthy tones and furnished with items in wood and rattan. Danes tend to love their floral quilts and cushions which bring a subtle romantic touch to the rooms. Keep an eye out for pastel florals on the sofa and large quilts over the beds (try IB Laursen for similar).

Overall, a wonderful, informal and 'hyggeligt' place in which to relax all summer long!