When we first visited the apartments in November 2022, we had to look through quite a few things. It was dirty, with trash bins full of (almost) empty pizza boxes, some apartments smelled strange, and to top it off, we encountered the dreariest days of the year. Yet, we had driven all the way here. And there was something.
Three months earlier, we drove through the Glaskogen Nature Reserve with Bruce, and it was beautiful. Lakes and trees, like much of the rest of Sweden, but still different. What exactly? Hard to say. An opportunity. That’s what we saw. An opportunity to develop an accommodation just a stone’s throw away from the beautiful nature reserve, yet easily accessible and equipped with necessary amenities like a supermarket, a pizzeria, and, importantly for us, a school.
Floral Wallpaper
Despite most Swedish houses being charmingly typical and floral in their wallpapers, we are seeking a different style for our apartments. More modern, yet cozy. Warm but also comfortable. The countless travels we’ve embarked on led us to hundreds of accommodations of varying allure. Over the years, you develop a good sense of what makes you happy or unhappy in a hotel, apartment, or hostel.
How often are you standing in the kitchen, crushing a tomato with a knife, unable to tell which side is the cutting edge? Or those showers that spray just as hard from the hose as from the showerhead? Or your bed, where you can’t tell if you’re on a mattress or in a hammock? They’re simple things, but they matter. That’s why we’re offering accommodation that at least meets our standards. 😊 Good sleep, good showers, and good cooking!
No TV?
We’re currently busy in our fourth apartment. The first three are ready, and let me be honest; we’re proud of the result! With a little help (color and wallpaper) from Annelie Interieur and lots of searching, thinking, trying, and just starting, the apartments have turned out exactly as we wished. Warm, modern, comfortable, and equipped with (in our opinion) all the conveniences. The disclaimer in parentheses refers to the fact that you won’t find a TV and PlayStation in our accommodations. After all, you have a porch, a fire pit, and a view to die for. Oh, and of course, good Wi-Fi. 😊
Think Different
The bathrooms, in particular, were a point of concern overall. Completely covered in vinyl with various variations of floral patterns, and showers with only one open hole. Toilets with little white left and toilet seats hanging by a thread. The first quote for having rebuild one bathroom was €25,000. The second quote was better but still €15,000. Nice, but not feasible. After much searching and thinking, we decided to renovate the bathrooms ourselves.
By leaving the vinyl in place, we didn’t need to create a new waterproof cell. That saved a lot of time and money. By using a two-component coating on the walls and floors, we were able to give the bathrooms a modern look. Additionally, all toilets, bathroom furniture, and showers were replaced. And of course, the shower curtains had to make way for beautiful shower walls. A transformation for a fraction of the price in the quotes.
A little more light please
Swedish houses often have few and small windows. However, we like a lot of light in the house. That’s why we added an extra window to three apartments. During the work, it was -18 degrees Celsius, so it did lead to some cold moments. Especially since they were simultaneously installing the new heating system, and there were many spaces without a heater at that time. But they were good choices. Just like all the other things we’ve done so far.
In this blog, you’ll find various ‘before and after’ photos showing what has already been done. I can also say that there’s still a lot to do. We’ll finish the fourth apartment in a few weeks, and then we’ll start the work outside. Cleaning, painting, building a fire pit, refurbishing the woodshed, and so on. I’d say… follow us online or book your stay for this summer! 😊
Peter & Nienke
