Inspiration: Swedish Summer House
![Inspiration: Swedish Summer House](https://i0.wp.com/www.projectsmallhouse.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/featured-Swedenborg_Summer_House.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1)
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](https://i0.wp.com/www.projectsmallhouse.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Swedenborg_Summer_House-16.jpg?resize=500%2C500&ssl=1)
Photo by Holger Ellgaard
Many of these are now vacation rentals.
![The small Summer House to enjoy pleasant weather - Inspiration: Swedish Summer House](https://i0.wp.com/www.projectsmallhouse.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Swedenborg_Summer_House-3.jpg?resize=500%2C366&ssl=1)
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](https://i0.wp.com/www.projectsmallhouse.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Swedenborg_Summer_House.jpg?resize=500%2C379&ssl=1)
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](https://i0.wp.com/www.projectsmallhouse.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Swedenborg_Summer_House-11.jpg?resize=500%2C369&ssl=1)
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](https://i0.wp.com/www.projectsmallhouse.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Swedenborg_Summer_House-15.jpg?resize=500%2C500&ssl=1)
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](https://i0.wp.com/www.projectsmallhouse.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Swedenborg_Summer_House-2.jpg?resize=500%2C500&ssl=1)
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](https://i0.wp.com/www.projectsmallhouse.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Swedenborg_Summer_House-14.jpg?resize=500%2C500&ssl=1)
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](https://i0.wp.com/www.projectsmallhouse.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Swedenborg_Summer_House-10.jpg?resize=500%2C500&ssl=1)
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](https://i0.wp.com/www.projectsmallhouse.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Swedenborg_Summer_House-7.jpg?resize=500%2C500&ssl=1)
Photo by Jordgubbe
Stone steps lead up to the double front doors.
![Detail of colors - Inspiration: Swedish Summer House](https://i0.wp.com/www.projectsmallhouse.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Swedenborg_Summer_House-9.jpg?resize=500%2C500&ssl=1)
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](https://i0.wp.com/www.projectsmallhouse.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Swedenborg_Summer_House-5.jpg?resize=500%2C500&ssl=1)
Photo by Jordgubbe
See how the shutters are made?
![Traditional Swedish shuttered window - Inspiration: Swedish Summer House](https://i0.wp.com/www.projectsmallhouse.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Swedenborg_Summer_House-6.jpg?resize=500%2C500&ssl=1)
Photo by Jordgubbe
There is a little bit of a ledge over the windows.
![Spires top the roof - Inspiration: Swedish Summer House](https://i0.wp.com/www.projectsmallhouse.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Swedenborg_Summer_House-4.jpg?resize=500%2C375&ssl=1)
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](https://i0.wp.com/www.projectsmallhouse.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Swedenborg_Summer_House-13.jpg?resize=500%2C500&ssl=1)
Photo by Holger Ellgaard