A Timber Swedish Cabin Surrounded by Woodland

What are your plans for the weekend? 

Having lived a separate week in their own apartments in Stockholm, Sofia and Mattias will no doubt reconvene here with their respective children to spend the weekend together. 

Made up of a series of separate cabins (built by Enkelrum) each with their own living quarters, the property provides plenty of space for their large family to gather and get away from it all, surrounded by beautiful nature. Sofia and Mattias also have the flexibility to work from home, and the separate dwellings mean they have the opportunity to carve out some privacy should the situation require. 

But most of all, it'a a place where the family come to relax - with the light green kitchen and simple timber interior reflecting the forest and countryside that surrounds them. 

Would you like to see inside? 

Such a perfect place to get away from it all and recuperate, don't you think? 

Enkelrum make a whole series of different size cabins - check them out here if you're curious to hear more! 

If you'd like to feel inspired by more cabins this weekend, check out this archive. 

Whatever your plans over the next few days, I hope you get the opportunity relax and have fun! 

See you Monday friends!

Niki

Photography: Emma Jönsson Dysell courtesy of Enkelrum. 

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An Eco Retreat Stay in the Forests of Sweden

Dreaming of an escape today? Allow me to whisk you away to depths of the Swedish forests, and this fairytale getaway! Nestled by a lake in the southern Sweden wilderness, Urnatur, meaning 'primeval nature' is the brainchild of forester Håkan Strotz and forest biologist and edible plants expert Ulrika Krynitz. The pair are passionate about ethnobiology and the interaction between man and nature and wanted others to experience an eco-retreat where you can get away from it all and go back-to-basics. 

Made up of an off-the-grid treehouse and a series of cabins built by Håkan and decorated by Ulrika, Urnatur invites guests to stay on Sjögetorp and Renemo farms and make the most of everything the surrounding nature has to offer. Sleep in the trees or snuggle up in a cosy log cabin before taking to the lake in a kayak, foraging for berries and other delicacies or cooking supper over an open fire. You might also want to explore the farm shop for lovely local wares too! 

It does look wonderful, I have to say - and a far cry from my studio in Malmö where I am tapping away at my laptop today. 

Could you imagine spending a week or two here come summertime? If so, visit the Urnatur website for more information. 

Thinking of visiting Sweden and looking for more places to stay? Check out the holiday homes, rentals, airbnb and design hotel archives to find somewhere wonderful! You might also like to delve into my Scandinavian travel and city guide archives to plan your trip in full! Välkommen!  

Speaking of escapes, Per and I finished the summer cottage master bedroom renovation this weekend and I took my camera with me to take a few shots! We are so thrilled with the outcome - even more so since we carried out all the work ourselves. I can't wait to share the results with you on Wednesday. I hope you'll like it as much as we do. See you then! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Urnatur, with thanks.

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A Scandi-inspired Lakeside Cabin in Norfolk, UK

I quite often read about 'Scandinavian inspired' homes overseas, but never have I seen one as Scandinavian as this! The contemporary wood clad cabin designed by Koto wouldn't look out of place in any Nordic country, couple this with the woodland and lakeside location and you are immediately transported to the beautiful nature I so love about the region. 

A British start-up, Koto prides itself on designing prefabricated cabins 'that exude a sense of calm where users can relax and be inspired, whilst feeling connected to the great outdoors'. Described as a 'Scandinavian sanctuary', this cabin is set in Norfolk woodland on Fritton Lake and invites the new owner to getaway from it all and at the weekends or holidays, take wintery walks, 'njuta' from log fires and relax in the lakeside sauna before taking a dip in the lake. The only thing that's missing are the moose! 

Now all that's left to do is fill it with your most loved get-away essentials. For me - that would be board games, books, blankets, sheepskins, candles, slippers, some delicious cheeses and a bottle of red wine. Oh, and my favourite people! 

What would you add to this cabin to make it your very own sanctuary? 

Would you like dream about other escapes this Monday morning? Of course you do! Check out the cabin archive or dive-in to these rural retreats: 

On 1st February I'll be starting a #30daysofNjuta challenge on my instagram. The challenge is centred around the Swedish word 'Njuta' which means to 'savour' - the subject of my new book (*ad for my own work). In my mind, February is one of the toughest months of the year so why not join in and find small pockets of happiness in the everyday, Swedish style? Absolutely no purchase of my book necessary (it's available in most libraries now, if it's not in yours yet, please do put in a request if you fancy a read although not required for the challenge!). I hope you'll join in, the more the merrier! 

Have a happy Monday!

Niki

Photography courtesy of The Modern House, with thanks. 

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A Back-to-Basic Swedish Lakeside Cottage with a Wild Bathroom

While the snow falls here in Malmö, I am aware that those of you in the Southern hemisphere are basking in warm sunshine. So, today I'm pressing the pause button on my wintery posts and taking you on a journey to a little Swedish cottage by a lake in summertime. 

The little red and white cottage near Västerås, Sweden, truly embraces a back-to-basics lifestyle - and the great outdoors is as much a part of the living space as the indoors. Life here is all about switching off and enjoying a simple summer by the lake - just you, the trees, the occasional curious moose and a book by the water. 

Ready to dream? 

The main cottage measures a mere 20 m2 (215 ft2) and comprises a charming kitchen and sitting room area.

Remarkably simple, the cottage doesn't have any running water (you need to bring it with you - which is not unusual, I have a few friends that transport their own water to their cottages, some even located miles away on an island in the archipelago). It does however, have electricity! 

The charming kitchen has open shelving to display prettier items, which a chequered curtain covers the plumbing and pots and pans. An IKEA unit provides extra storage under the window. 

A placard behind the sink bears the words: 'For those who have good friends, the simple cottage becomes a castle'. Truer words were never spoken, do you agree? 

The cottage also has a fireplace for colder days (hey, this is Sweden - you never quite know what temperatures you're going to get come summer!). 

Notice how a curtain has also been used in lieu of a cupboard door - adding to the relaxed look of the space. 

A sunroom has been added to the front of the cottage, providing a perfect spot to entertain friends while looking out over the lake. An oil lamp overhead emits a warm glow at night. 

Blue and white is a classic theme for Swedish waterside summer cottages. Here a chair, runner and bowls draw the lake indoors.  

A stone's throw from the main cottage is a smaller one-room dwelling where you'll find the bedroom. A simple chair serves as a bedside table. 

The wild 'bathroom' comes in the form of a table, mirror nailed to a tree and the lake. There is also a compost loo nearby. 

To me, this picture embodies everything I love about the Swedish approach to summer, where even the most simple daily ritual becomes an event and brings you closer to nature. The perfect antidote to daily life in the city!

A lounge chair offers a place to relax and njuta* after a 'morgondopp' (morning dip) with a coffee.

Is this your kind of summer getaway? 

If so, perhaps this cottage is for you! Check out the listing here. 

Would you like to see a few other back-to-basic dwellings today? Feel inspired by:  

Before and after - a tiny off-grid swedish cabin in the woods

Anna and Martin's tiny hand-built floating cottage

An off-grid getaway in the Helsinki archipelagos

Happy Lillördag (little saturday)!

Niki

Photography courtesy of SvensktFastighetsförmedling, with thanks

*advert for my own work

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