Some of my fondest memories of growing up in southern Sweden include visits to my best friend's summer cottage in Skummeslövsstrand, on the coastline of southern Sweden. The red cottage has an open living area with a stand-alone fireplace, two sheepskin-covered lounge chairs, a small but high functioning galley kitchen, and a bedroom with two sets of bunk beds.
Now that I live in the US, I understand why the Nordic summer escape is the envy of the rest of the world. But, in truth, you don't have to head to the archipelago to capture the experience: plenty of the best areas are simple and easy to translate.
Dare to Go Dark
Above: Until recently red was the de facto cottage house color, but lately we've been noticing a trend of summer houses painted or stained in shades of black. Why? Because greenery looks especially great against a dark curtain. So does outdoor furniture. Black is becoming.
See more of the design shown here in A Modular Danish Summer House and go to Gardenista for Dark Shadows: The Pros and Cons of Painting a House Black and Trend Alert: Black Fences.
Let Life Revolve Around the Hearth
Above: A very popular feature in Scandi summer homes is a freestanding fireplace that heats the entire living area. Not your grandmother's stove, the latest generation of wood heaters offer fuel efficiency and lower emissions, making them both powerful and environmentally responsible. For ideas, see 10 Easy Pieces: Freestanding Wood Stoves and Design Sleuth: The Camp Stove for Home and Wilderness.
Create a Shipshape Look with Paneling
Above: White-painted shiplap paneling is common in Scandi woodland cabins and coastal cottages as a clean-lined and cozy finishing touch. To learn more, see Expert Advice: The Enduring Appeal of Shiplap and tour Tiina Laakonen's Hamptons House.
Join the Sheepskin Brigade
Above: Scandi summer nights get chilly. Layering beds and chairs with sheepskins, that longstanding Scandi touch, adds warmth and lends the austere rooms a vitality.
Build Beds Wherever You Can
Above: A setup that saves a lot of space and works well for visiting crowds, bunks (with under the bed storage) are another Nordic cottage staple: See 24 Built-In Bunks for Summer Sleepovers. This Danish summer house was designed by Norwegian JVA Architects via Archdaily.
Use Shelves in Place of Furniture
Above: Summer cottages are typically tiny with little wiggle room in the bedrooms. Skip the bedside tables and instead use a favorite Scandi device: wall shelving as storage.
Bathe with a View
Above: Once summer finally reaches the Nordic countries, Scandinavians do as much living out in the open as possible. This Danish house features the ultimate summer detail: an outdoor shower and tub combo. For more plein-air bathing, see our roundup of 29 Outdoor Summer Showers. Photograph via Bo Bedre by Andreas Mikkel Hansen.
Let It All Hang Out
Above: Dryers are unusual and unthinkable in Scandi summer places. Shown here, Tine Kjeldsen, founder of Tine K Home, follows tradition and hangs all her clothes to dry on lines. Photograph by Morten Holtum.
Find more Ideas to Steal:
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- 15 Storage Ideas to Steal from High-End Kitchen Systems
- 13 New Landscape Design Ideas to Steal in 2015
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