Charming Swedish Cottage: The Beauty of Simplicity

It’s fascinating to see the differences in mentality between our people and our close neighbors, the Swedes. In our country, every country cottage strives to become a suburban house, adorned with utilities and secondary structures, becoming wealthier and more comfortable.

For the Swedes, it’s a different story. They are ready to enjoy the summer warmth, relaxation, and fishing in much more modest conditions.

The harsh northern weather is to blame, as it compels them to appreciate every sunny day. Almost every Swede has a similar country cottage. For example, this house has a mere 25 square meters, yet creating comfortable living conditions within such modest space is a national characteristic (let’s recall Ikea).

The Bukvist family, Victoria and Charlie, acquired this house in 2002. They were fortunate to find a house just 10 kilometers away from their city apartment, by the lakeside, with a small village of houses built in the 1940s nearby. They have been gradually improving the house. They replaced the roof, painted the facade in the traditional Swedish black color, and created two terraces – one by the house and another wooden platform for summer tea parties at the water’s edge.

On the inside, everything is in contrast – white. They added a veranda to the house, which houses the dining area, connected to the bedroom by double glass doors. Even with this addition, the total area of the house remains at 25 square meters.

In the photo below, you can see the staircase leading to the attic for the girls. The room is decorated with old school posters.

When Victoria and Charlie bought this house, they didn’t have children yet. Now they have two daughters, but that doesn’t stop them from enjoying this country cottage. The parents sleep in the bedroom while the girls have sleeping spaces in the attic.

This house is somewhat austere living, a chance to relax and be in harmony with nature. There is still no running water or sewage here, only a radio.

The water source is a makeshift sink, kerosene lamps are functional and aesthetically pleasing, and ceramic tiles serve as the main focal point in the kitchen.

Despite this, the Bukvist family loves everything about it. For them, this country cottage is just that, without any aspirations to become a year-round suburban house.