Swedish Ideas for Your Garden That Are Easy to Replicate

Built in 1890, this residence is located on the Baltic Sea coast in the Swedish resort town of Dalarna. After renovation in 1985, a large family house, guest house from a former stable, summer cottage with a summer kitchen, storage for boats and fishing nets, chicken coop, garage, and other additions were built on its premises.

All the buildings are decorated in Scandinavian traditions: eco-friendly wooden facades and a reliable stone foundation. For the latter, the owners built an unusually high foundation in two residential buildings, so that the rooms retain heat longer. The roofs of the buildings are gabled to allow snow and other precipitation to slide off more quickly.

After renovation, the wooden windows were not changed — because wood is better than plastic and keeps the warmth in the house.

The layout in all houses is roughly the same: separate kitchens are located on the first floors, and living rooms and dining areas are combined. This is convenient for hosting large groups. On the second floors, there are 2–3 bedrooms each.

Interiors are simple and practical. Country style is enhanced by wallpapers with floral prints, vintage and carved wooden furniture, fireplaces, carpets, long classical chandeliers, and flower planters on windowsills. A traditional white background unifies all interior details.

By the way, all items in the house are given a second, and sometimes even a tenth life, trying not to throw anything away. For example, the upholstery on the Voltaire chairs in the living rooms has been changed three times, and numerous dressers, shelves, and wardrobes are repurposed, repaint, and have new handles. With this approach, the interiors look like antique shops.

To avoid going broke buying furniture for all the houses on the estate, owners show creativity and rethink the utilitarian function of items.

For example, a wooden chest became a coffee table. A vintage fishing poster on the kitchen wall replaced a painting. Instead of vases, copper watering cans. A poker, tongs for the fireplace, and some logs lie in a worn-out brass tub.

Despite the fact that the houses are equipped with all necessary modern appliances, one of the kitchens still retains a built-in wood-burning stove. It is used rarely for cooking but is perfect for creating a cozy atmosphere.

The fireplace in the living room has been used for its intended purpose for over 130 years. The homeowners have also preserved an old corner washbasin with a tap instead of a faucet and a hidden mirror — it serves as a reminder of past generations and decorates the space.

The estate's highlight is the forest area around it. It is precisely trees and shrubs that define the space, separating all buildings from each other. Each house has its own viewing platform, lawn, and green fence. The center of the estate is marked by a chestnut tree that has been growing here since the beginning.

There are even two wells on the estate, used for irrigating the soil.

Source: Historiskahem