Architect-designed guest houses with all the home comforts – delivered as a turnkey solution
An extra building changes the whole plot
A guest house creates more than extra accommodation. It brings freedom to the way you interact.
When family and friends can stay in a suite of their own, it establishes a natural balance between togetherness and privacy. One person is an early riser. One person likes to stay up late. One person has some work to catch up on. Everyone can follow their own rhythm – without disturbing anyone or being disturbed.
Our guest houses are not tiny add-ons banished to the margins. They are designed to become an integral feature of the plot.
What is a guest house?
A guest house is a detached ancillary building located close to the main building. It can be fully equipped with a kitchen and bathroom – or focus on bedrooms and social space.
Our guest houses are used as:
Independent accommodation for family members
Separate accommodation for visiting relatives and friends
Multi-generational living on the same plot
Home office or studio with the option to stay overnight
What they all have in common is that they are designed to complement rather than compete with the main building. They don’t take over – they add functionality, independence and a distinct architectural presence.
Guest houses with or without a building permit
The rules for ancillary buildings vary depending on whether the property is within or outside a detailed development plan.
Within a detailed development plan, you can build up to 45 sqm of floor area per plot without the need for a building permit, with the largest single building being no more than 30 sqm. Outside a detailed development plan, the planning-exempt area is up to 65 sqm, with the largest single building being no more than 50 sqm.
This means that many guest houses can be built as planning-exempt ancillary buildings, provided that the requirements regarding placement, height and relationship to the main building are met. We can help you to establish exactly what applies to your property and handle any applications on your behalf.
Our guest houses 15–50 sqm
Sommarnöjen has long experience of developing smaller accommodation with the same architectural ambition as larger dwellings.
All our guest houses are delivered as a turnkey solution, insulated for winter use, with a solid structure and natural materials. They are designed to work all year round – and fitted with exactly the features you want.
You can choose between complete guest houses with all the features, guest suites with two bedrooms and a shared bathroom, and flexible homes where you choose the interior yourself.
Complete guest houses 15–50 sqm
Fully equipped with living room, kitchen (optional), bathroom and bedroom. The Tidlös and Klassisk architectural styles include an integrated sleeping loft. The Modern style includes a deck with a pergola.
Guests get their own separate accommodation with all the home comforts, all year round.
Berg 50
Long, narrow houses with generous windows. Spacious living area with kitchen on one side and a master bedroom on the other.
Berg 40
Long, narrow houses with generous windows. Spacious living area with kitchen on one side and a master bedroom on the other.
Berg 30
Living space with kitchen on one side and one bedroom on the other. Clear separation between social and private zones.
Hav 50
Square design with a glazed living room along the front and a more enclosed rear. Views in three directions and a sheltered private area with two bedrooms and bathroom.
Glänta 50
Centrally placed living room with views in two directions. Two bedrooms and a bathroom provide privacy on each side.
Glänta 30
Centrally placed living room with functions at the gable ends. Creates space and balance despite the small footprint.
Glänta 15
A complete and fully equipped dwelling on the smallest scale.
Open living space with kitchen, bathroom and thoughtful storage. The Tidlös and Klassisk versions include an integrated sleeping loft that feels like a proper room – thanks to the greater ridge height.
Guest suites 15–40 sqm
A clever house that works particularly well for regular visits from family and close friends. Two separate bedrooms on either side of a generous bathroom. Private, comfortable and easy to use when guests visit frequently.
Gästsvit 30 Bred
Centrally placed entrance with storage and a complete bathroom, flanked by two comfortable bedrooms. Practical and easy to use when guests visit frequently.
Gästsvit 30 Smal
Two comfortable bedrooms on either side of a spacious bathroom. Private and comfortable.
Gästsvit 30 Slim
Long, narrow house with two bedrooms on either side of a complete bathroom.
Flex 30 Bred
House with an open basic specification, allowing you to decide on the contents and functions yourself.
Flex 30 Slim
Long, narrow house with an open basic specification, allowing you to shape the contents and functions yourself.
Flex 15
An open and versatile house where you shape the content yourself.
Start with a cohesive volume and add a kitchenette or full kitchen, toilet, or bathroom, sleeping loft or open space. A house that can change over time.
Architecture
A design for every setting
A guest house should work in harmony with the main building and the site. On this smaller scale, proportions, roof pitch and window placement become even more important – every line and intersection between roof, facade and ground is more visible.
You have three architectural styles to choose from:
Modern
Streamlined geometry, a slender monopitch roof and large panoramic windows that direct the house towards the landscape and strengthen the connection between inside and outside.
Tidlös
Apex roof with balanced proportions and restrained window placement. The timeless architecture works in most settings.
Klassisk
A classic interpretation of Swedish building tradition with a pronounced roof overhang, defined eaves and genuine duplex glazing bars. Particularly well suited to sensitive or historic environments.
Interior
Tiny house – same quality materials
A Sommarnöjen guest house is delivered fully fitted with your desired features – such as a kitchen, bathroom and built-in storage. The solid wood joinery is built in our own workshop and developed in parallel with the architecture, so the floor plan and materials form a coherent whole.
You have a choice of four interior styles:
Natur
Sober
Rå
Varm
Wood finished in white with a light, calming and classic Nordic feel, with the grain of the wood allowed to shine.
Smooth surfaces in a warm ivory tone create a coherent feel with no sharp contrasts.
Birch plywood and black details establish a clear material presence and graphic sharpness.
Solid light spruce that creates a cosy, tactile environment with the scent and texture of Nordic timber.
Quality
A Sommarnöjen guest house is built with the same technical and material ambition as a larger home.
The structure is designed for the Nordic climate and year-round use, while the materials are chosen to withstand daily use and age with dignity.
The buildings are completed entirely indoors in our factory, protecting the structure from moisture and guaranteeing high precision at every stage – from the frame to the finished interior.
The difference shows in the details – in how the joinery meets the walls, in the weight of the doors and in the sense of coherence when you step inside.
Read more about our craftmanship
Process - From first idea to finished guest house
We begin by analysing the conditions of the plot: placement in relation to the main building, applicable regulations, access for delivery, and technical matters such as water and drainage.
Once the framework is clear, we select a model and make the necessary adaptations. All the decisions are consolidated in a detailed quote with a fixed price for the house.
The guest house is completed in our factory and delivered as a complete module. You have one and the same contact throughout the entire process.
Read more about how it worksAgreement and responsibilities
You can choose from three options:
Essential Service
We deliver your fully assembled guest house at a fixed price.
You procure the groundwork yourself and are responsible for any developer’s costs.
Complete Service
We coordinate the entire project – including any required applications and the procurement and coordination of the groundwork – and take on overall liability for ten years.
We deliver a fully assembled guest house at a fixed price.
You cover the actual cost of groundwork and any developer’s costs.
Complete Service – Fixed Price
The project is carried out in the same way as with Complete Service.
Our fixed price includes the fully assembled house, groundwork and any developer’s costs.
The agreement you sign with us is subject to certain conditions. If the site survey shows that the house cannot be delivered without additional costs, or if the necessary permits are not granted, the agreement will be cancelled. This ensures that the process is built on a secure footing.
Sustainability - A guest house should not feel temporary.
We work with solid materials and durable surface finishes that can be maintained over time. Manufacturing takes place indoors in our factory, minimising the risk of moisture damage and giving full control over quality, materials and workmanship.
A well-designed, well-built tiny house rarely needs remedial work. In the long run, that is the most responsible form of construction.
Read more about sustainabilityFrequently asked questions about guest houses
It depends on the location of the property and how much of the planning-exempt floor area has already been used.
Within a detailed development plan, you can build planning-exempt ancillary buildings with a combined area of up to 45 sqm per plot, with the largest individual building measuring no more than 30 sqm and 4 metres to the ridge.
Outside a detailed development plan, the permit-free area is up to 65 sqm, with the largest single building being no more than 50 sqm and 4.5 metres to the ridge.
A guest house that fits within these limits can in many cases be built without the need for a building permit. However, placement, the relationship to the main building, and any protected designations (such as shoreline protection) may affect what is possible. We always review the property’s conditions before the project begins.
The size of guest house you can build depends on whether the property is within or outside a detailed development plan.
Within a detailed development plan:
Largest building: 30 sqm
Total permitted floor area: 45 sqm
Maximum ridge height: 4 metres
Outside a detailed development plan:
Largest building: 50 sqm
Total permitted floor area: 65 sqm
Maximum ridge height: 4.5 metres
The total planning-exempt area can be divided between multiple buildings. A guest house can therefore be combined with a sauna or storage building, for example, as long as the total area stays within the permitted limits.
Yes. A guest house can be designed as an independent dwelling with a kitchen, bathroom and bedroom.
If the building is classified as an ancillary dwelling, certain requirements under the applicable building regulations may apply, for example regarding accessibility and installations. We establish early on how the building is to be classified and adapt the solution to the applicable regulations.
The building itself may be exempt from the need for a building permit if it meets the applicable conditions. However, certain measures may require registration with the local authority, such as the installation of water and drainage.
Local regulations, shoreline protection rules or special protection areas may also affect the process. Our working process includes establishing at an early stage whether any registration or supplementary review is needed.
The price depends on the model, size and specification.
The exact price is shown on each model page and in our full price list. Our prices always include a fully assembled guest house, road transport within Sweden and a crane lift on site. Any groundwork and connections are handled according to the chosen agreement option and are clearly set out in the quote.
Yes. Road transport within Sweden and a crane lift on site are always included in the price of our guest houses.
The house is delivered as a complete module and is finished indoors in our factory before delivery.
Yes. Our guest houses are designed for the Nordic climate and built for year-round use.
The structural frame, insulation, windows and installations are adapted for regular use in all seasons.
The delivery time depends on the model and the current order book. When the agreement is signed, a clear and confirmed delivery time will be given.
Because the house is manufactured to completion indoors in our factory, the process is more controlled and less dependent on weather than a traditional build.
A planning-exempt guest house must be placed close to the main building. In practice, this is often interpreted as within around 25 metres, but the exact assessment can vary depending on the layout of the plot and local conditions.
Placement is also affected by the distance to plot boundaries, roads and neighbours. We always analyse the site plan and conditions before design work begins.
A guest house can be used for overnight stays all year round. If it is to function as an independent permanent residence, additional requirements under the building regulations may apply.
We can help you determine how the building should be classified and which regulations apply to your particular property.