Where you rarely are, you should be comfortable

Everyone in the family loves to cook. When dad Martin, mom Sophie and the two children stand at the stove they prefer to do it together. And for that you need space to both chop and whisk, brown and braise, puree and poach.

The family fell for the small holiday home Tidlös Sommar 35 which, despite its compact dimensions, accommodated them all. But the kitchen was not created for gourmands like them, far from it. Therefore they sat down with Sommarnöjens architects and adapted the house to their ideas.

The loft was extended and more space for cooking was created in the living room. Now everyone in the family has room at the hard-wax-oiled kitchen counter. The areas were reorganized and made room for a larger induction hob. A fridge, freezer and dishwasher are of course also included. The extended loft made the children's sleeping area larger. The bathroom became airier and gained more space for a washing machine and a tumble dryer. Built-in wardrobes for discreet storage are in the bedroom. There the children's toys can easily be put away.

"Where you rarely are, you should be comfortable," was a wise friend's tip, Martin says.

The family lives in Stockholm, where Martin and Sophie run a restaurant. It's exciting, but also demanding with a fast pace and few free evenings. In the summers they escape the city environment and enjoy the open arable landscape in Skåne.

Martin wants nature to be present indoors too, in big and small ways. Solid oiled wood and granite-look ceramic enhance that feeling. The large sliding glass sections make the living room bright and make outdoor life easier.

"We prefer to hang out on the patio and enjoy the meals we've prepared together," Sophie says. "It's so nice with a view over the grain fields; every day they look a little different."

They like to experiment with ingredients they buy from neighbouring farms, just a bike ride away. The gravel roads invite small excursions that make time slow down. The children usually pick edible flowers to decorate the food with. Tagetes for its distinctive lemon flavor. And borage for its sky-blue color.

The house the family chose is called Tidlös Sommar 35.