Cape Cod Summer Retreat

This beautiful Cape Cod dream summer home belongs to designer Meredith Hutchison and is a rebuilt replica of the family’s 1950s summer retreat. When she and her siblings assumed ownership of the house it was extended to facilitate more then one family at once and updated with modern comfort, with the charm still intact. The house has the typical clad facade, nautical themed accessories such as oars and white and blue summery interior. Read the full story in Veranda.

Beach Cottage

Meg Ryan's beach cottage on Martha's Vineyard was featured in the June issue of the American Elle Deco. Very beautiful and serene!

Summer house by the Sea

The Stockholm archipelago is amazing and probably one of the best kept secrets in the world (even though you can see more and more boats with different nationality flags flying then you used to). The below pictures are borrowed from Skona Hem and shows a summer house on Dalaro, South-East of Stockholm. For me they represents everything that Swedish summers are all about...

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The Captain's house

The old captains house converted to a a lovely summer home. The white walls and withe washed floor board reflects the light. I like this summer home as it looks very simple and clean, yet comfortable, I would love to have the couch in my apartment.... And the veranda looks like a great sun trap for breakfast or  afternoon coffe and cinnamon buns (aka fika). This summer house was featured in Skona Hem a few years back.

Stylish Summer Cottage

Summer houses are a far more common concept in Scandinavia then in the UK. I'm not sure whether this is a reflection of the dark Nordic winters and a need and urgency to utilize the few months of light. Most summer houses are quite basic, sometimes without running water inside, all part of the charm and character and living close to nature. This doesn’t mean a small cottage cannot be stylish. Below is a tiny cottage by the sea featured in Skona Hem.

Summers by the Sea

Summer living by the sea with a mix of New England and Scandinavian style. The result a calm, relaxing environment to just enjoy not having to do anything in.

Sommer house in the City

Allotments a perfect mix of getting access to country/ summer living and still be in the middle of the city. The main difference between Stockholm and London allotments is the size of the plot. In London the plot you get allocated might be minimal and would and having anything but a small shed for garden essentials wouldn't be possible. In Stockholm, some allotments are quite sizeable and you would be able to have a smallish summer house on it, possible not with all modern comforts but big enough for a summer home in the city. The below allotment was featured in Skona Hem last year and is a perfect example of what an fantastic little oasis you can create in the heart of the city if you are lucky enough to get hold of a good allotment.

White Summer Cottage

If I had a summer cottage I would make sure it was white and maybe would use the below as inspiration for my design, but a bit more New England.

Cape Cod Summers

This summer cottage on Cape Cod, MA on the US East Coast was featured in Elle Decor a few years back with the title 'A Pursuit of Happiness'. White, Scandinavian, beachy summerhouse, who wouldn't be happy to have this retreat!?