Warm and Cozy Wooden Cottage in Iceland

The city of Borgarnes is only thirty kilometers from Reykjavik, but to get there, you must cross a fjord by driving on the longest bridge in Iceland — its length is over 500 meters.

The city is small, with only two thousand inhabitants, but ancient: according to Icelandic legends, a hundred years ago here was born a skald, that is, poet Egill Skalagrímsson, the hero of medieval sagas. His father was one of the mighty Norwegian Vikings who left their homes on the mainland to settle on the island.

In Iceland, not only heroes of their legends are honored, but also traditions. For example, black houses that can be seen in Icelandic cities are a tribute to the ancient custom of tarred walls. About a hundred years ago, only this way were houses built on the island.

Forests in Iceland are rare, so timber was always imported and very expensive. It was carefully reused: houses that had served their purpose were not torn down but carefully dismantled. Planks were used for new construction. To preserve them as long as possible, they were tarred like boat hulls.

The house built three years ago in the city of Borgarnes by Icelandic designer Rut Karadottir is black outside like tar. But inside it is warm and cozy.

The layout is standard for a modern house used for relaxation: next to the dual-light living room, joined with the kitchen and dining room, is a bedroom. The second bedroom is on the attic, under the roof itself.

The interior, as often in Scandinavian homes, is a mix of items from online stores such as IKEA and Zara Home, second-hand and vintage pieces, and handmade items. A large wooden dining table that can seat a large group of guests and a country store look as if they were made by a local carpenter.

Rut Karadottir tried to create an atmosphere that perfectly suits slow relaxation, the main charm of which is freedom from tasks, worries, hustle and bustle, enjoying the beauty of nature, its colors and sounds.