Inspiration: Swedish Summer House

Inspiration: Swedish Summer House

In Nordic countries there is a tradition of Summer Houses, a simple small shelter or cottage to stay in when the weather is pleasant. This is a tradition in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Finland. City families who could afford to had a second home by the sea or in the country.

The Summer House in the the open-air museum and zoo on the island Djurgården in Stockholm, Sweden. - Inspiration: Swedish Summer House
The Summer House in the the open-air museum and zoo on the island Djurgården in Stockholm, Sweden.
Photo by Holger Ellgaard

Many of these are now vacation rentals.

The small Summer House to enjoy pleasant weather - Inspiration: Swedish Summer House
The small Summer House to enjoy pleasant weather
Photo by Jordgubbe

The Summer House in these photos belonged to Emanuel Swedenborg. It is part of the open-air museum and zoo on the island Djurgården in Stockholm, Sweden.

The Summer House is small, with lots of windows to let the light and breeze in. - Inspiration: Swedish Summer House
The Summer House is small, with lots of windows to let the light and breeze in.
Photo by Jordgubbe

The walls are ochre yellow. Yellow ochre is a common natural mineral,  silica and clay with goethite, a form of  iron.

Surrounded by gardens and statuary - Inspiration: Swedish Summer House
Surrounded by gardens and statuary
Photo by Holger Ellgaard

The grey color has been popular in Sweden since the 1700s. They are the same colors seen inside homes from small cottages to grand Gustavian estates.

I love the colors - Inspiration: Swedish Summer House
I love the colors
Photo by Holger Ellgaard

I love the combination of the two traditional colors.

The walls are yellow, trim and roof are grey. There is dark red detail around the windows and spires. - Inspiration: Swedish Summer House
The walls are yellow, trim and roof are grey. There is dark red detail around the windows and spires.
Photo by Jordgubbe

The windows are trimmed in dark Falu Red,  a traditional paint color that was originally a byproduct of copper mining. In some of these photos the door is red, too. The photos were taken at different times.

Detail of the front of the Emanuel Swedenborg Summer House - Inspiration: Swedish Summer House
Detail of the front of the Emanuel Swedenborg Summer House
Photo by Holger Ellgaard

The roof appears to be made of metal with a finish that looks like weathered wood. Or maybe it really is weathered wood.

The raked walkway and formal garden to the front door - Inspiration: Swedish Summer House
The raked walkway and formal garden to the front door
Photo by Jordgubbe

The formal garden around the tiny house keeps the same scale.

Statuary in the garden around the Emanuel Swedenborg Summer House - Inspiration: Swedish Summer House
Statuary in the garden around the Emanuel Swedenborg Summer House
Photo by Jordgubbe

Stone steps lead up to the double front doors.

Detail of colors - Inspiration: Swedish Summer House
Detail of colors
Photo by Jordgubbe

This photo is a bit blurry, but I wanted to get in to see the detail of the wood walls.

Traditional Swedish shuttered window - Inspiration: Swedish Summer House
Traditional Swedish shuttered window
Photo by Jordgubbe

See how the shutters are made?

Traditional Swedish shuttered window - Inspiration: Swedish Summer House
Traditional Swedish shuttered window
Photo by Jordgubbe

There is a little bit of a ledge over the windows.

Spires top the roof - Inspiration: Swedish Summer House
Spires top the roof
Photo by Jordgubbe

The roof has two spires, topped by stars.

Spire on the roof of Summer House at the island Djurgården in Stockholm, Sweden. - Inspiration: Swedish Summer House
Spire on the roof of Summer House at the island Djurgården in Stockholm, Sweden.
Photo by Holger Ellgaard