Real Estate

This minimalist Swedish cottage is understated beauty at its best

Swedish design can mean different things to different people. To some, the minimalistic approach featuring simple woods, smart shapes, and stark palettes is the perfect antidote to logo-littered North American design philosophies. To others—particularly if they’ve wrestled one to many IKEA boxes into their hatchback—it means fussing over the assembly of cheap, laminated products designed to look good but not to last.

Luckily for the owners of the 970-square-foot “Summerhouse” in Lyeskil, Sweden, their lovely tiny home represents the former. Designed by Mats Fahlander, the home’s high-quality wood finishes blend with its Spartan layout and simple furnishings to create an airy, livable space. No assembly required.