Crystal clear in Stockholms skärgård

When the old 1960s house began leaking in the roof, Johan and his mother decided to tear it down and build anew. They longed to get away from pine and dark corners and actually had only a single requirement for their new house: a long side entirely in glass. Something that proved to be more difficult than they could have imagined.

– I was prepared to agree to almost anything to get a long side with large glass sections facing the sea. We looked at different package solutions but often missed items in the base price, such as appliances, Johan says.

In the end they got in contact with Sommarnöjen. The then newly launched architectural style ”modern” with floor plan ”sjö” offered not only a long side with windows from floor to ceiling – but three.

– We hadn't found anything else that resembled that house. It was perfect in all its simplicity, Johan states.

The problem was simply how the 80-square-meter house would fit on the rocky seaside plot. The plot is very large but consists mostly of dotted land, that is, land you are not allowed to build on. The house therefore could not be placed with the long side facing the sea as Johan had intended, but had to be positioned the other way around.

– Instead of one side with windows we got three and can now enjoy both the sea and the forest. It actually turned out even better!

The house build was preceded by a long process of applications for permission to demolish the old house, and an equally long process to obtain a building permit. In total it took about a year to demolish, a year to search for a new one and a year to build.

– You have to be prepared for the ketchup effect – first nothing happens at all, then suddenly there is a completely finished house standing there. All the bureaucracy around tearing down a house and building anew nearly drove me insane, so I really recommend getting help from professionals. Sommarnöjen helped us with the new house, it was very convenient.

At the same time as the new house, both the pandemic and a baby arrived in the family. With the new family member, the interior choice ”clean” has been extra practical. The dark wood floors and the bathroom floors in dark gray granite ceramic make dirt less visible.

– But mostly I like that my newborn daughter can always look out at nature because the glazed sections go all the way down to her level on the floor.