Eco Roof and Outdoor Shower: Typical Cottage in Sweden

Impulsive purchases often turn out to be useless—luckily, if not, the item can still be returned. In the case of Emily and Christian, things unfolded exactly the opposite: their impulsive decision to buy a cottage in Dalarna, a small Swedish town, turned out to be pure joy for the couple.

Dalarna is a small town in one of Stockholm’s archipelagos. Four years ago, Christian first visited there during the traditional Swedish Midsummer celebration—the summer solstice. He returned with the idea of quickly buying a summer house there. And they did just that.

Before selling, the previous owner painted the house inside and out, replaced the windows, and left a beautiful roof covered in greenery. The main remaining tasks were choosing furniture and decor. For Emily, a designer, and Christian, who runs a furniture business, this was pure bliss.

The interior turned out cool, Nordic, and the main factor behind this effect is the particular grayish tone of the wood. The furniture was chosen Swedish and Danish, modern but with retro design—a perfect fit for summer cottages.

However, the plan wasn’t just about interior design: Emily and Christian have a whole apartment for experimenting with sofa upholstery and dining table shapes. What mattered more was setting up an outdoor area with a wide terrace deck at the entrance and a pergola in the back of the house.

Thus, mobile, foldable furniture, benches, and chairs with soft cushions were added for the outdoor space. All made of wood to harmonize with both the look of the house and the landscape.

Emily says there’s some magic in this place, so every summer they spend here. What’s definitely not present is unwanted attention—this is normal for Stockholm archipelago islands, where many are tiny and have just one or two houses. Therefore, Emily and Christian were able to afford an open-air shower right on the street.

And this is not a temporary economy solution: a linear trough was built into the wooden deck, classic mixers and accessories were selected. If neighbors do move in nearby, no problem: there’s the pergola and many options for various shower enclosures. It will surely look nice.