An affinity for the outdoors inspired this Swedish couple to create a bright and snug home with a cabin-in-the-woods vibe. 

Karin Nilsson and Kristoffer Green live in a cozy, light-filled 1,600-square-foot home on Sweden’s Gotland island with their baby and dog. The couple carefully chose this house near the village of Hemse as much for its proximity to the Baltic Sea as for its nearness to amenities like schools and recreational facilities. Since moving here, Karin and Kristoffer have created a warm and inviting space, complete with white-painted gypsum plaster walls, black window frames and whitewashed herringbone floors, and outfitted it with natural materials and family heirlooms. Here are the top takeaways from this rustic retreat by the sea.

 

Nestled beside the fireplace of this Scandi-rustic home is a built-in nook holding firewood. It lends warmth and texture to the white wall and is always stocked to help heat up cool nights spent relaxing on the sofa. 

 

 

Bright and white with doses of black and organic touches, the entryway sets the decorative theme for the rest of the house. The homeowners cleverly repurposed found items into functional organizers, such as the wooden pallet that was transformed into a radiator cover and the drapery rod they converted into a coat rack using rope and hooks. 

 

 

Homeowners Kristoffer Green and Karin Nilsson (pictured) make the most of their rural locale, whether they’re sourcing food from the nearby farmers’ market or heading to the beach for a long walk with their dog. 

 

 

The kitchen’s clean-lined IKEA cabinetry is complemented by edgy industrial accents like the pendant lights and stools. A wooden tongue-and-groove backsplash adds a rustic element that’s in keeping with the rest of the home. 

 

 

The dining room demonstrates Karin and Kristoffer’s knack for blending old and new, using natural materials and creating interest by contrasting black and white elements. Here, inherited pieces sit alongside secondhand finds and newly purchased accessories and artwork, while the black-painted window frame draws the eye to the exterior view. 

 

 

The space’s white and black envelope is softened with natural materials, such as wood, stone, leather and hemp. In the dining room, a gnarled branch leaning against a wall looks like an effortless organic sculpture.