One with nature in Yngsjö

Two houses among the pines that invite nature in – all year round. It became reality when Lisbet and Fredrik made their dream of a second home by the sea come true.

There is an almost enchanted atmosphere over Lisbet Dahl Molander's and Fredrik Molander's holiday home in Yngsjö on Skånes east coast. Situated in a moss-covered hollow, between forest and sea, it almost feels like part of the surrounding nature. The facades of the two buildings Tidlös Sommar 70 and Timeless Guesthouse 30 are treated with tar vitriol, which makes them harmonize perfectly with the surroundings.

– Pine, moss and sand – grey, green and earthy. They are beautiful, beautiful colours, says Lisbet Dahl Molander.

When the children were small the family spent a lot of time in the parents-in-law's summer house in nearby Lyngby. Lisbet's parents also had a plot in the area.

– When the children got older we felt we wanted something of our own. We love the beach and the nature around Yngsjö and the proximity to Österlen and Åhus, says Lisbet.

The houses became a symbol

The area is strictly regulated, but they were lucky and in May 2020 they were able to buy a subdivided plot.

– Then we thought that we didn't need to build immediately, that we could take it a bit easy. But then we still got eager to get started, so in the autumn we began looking for houses.

In connection with buying the plot both Lisbet and Fredrik lost their mothers. It became a reminder that life cannot wait.

– It became symbolically important to get the construction going and to be able to be there. They loved the place so much. Quite quickly we decided on Sommarnöjen, based on both aesthetics, colours and the type of buildings we could see would fit here, says Lisbet.

A guesthouse for the children

Building regulations allowed a maximum of 70 square metres, so they knew from the start that they wanted two houses, one for themselves and one for the children – Matilda, 19 and Kasper, 22 – or for friends and family visiting. The choice fell on the floor plan Hav, where the social areas with kitchen and living room open outwards with large windows while the sleeping and bathroom areas block any view from the other side.

– I think we removed 90 pine trees on the plot, exactly as many as we needed to get the house in between the trunks, says Lisbet.

Both houses are built on posts, but are connected by a large wooden deck that follows the slope. The stately pines, which stretch towards the sky like columns in a cathedral, provide both space and seclusion, while the lowered position protects against the sea winds.

– It's very easy to be here. There is no garden to maintain. And the sea lies just over a crest, says Lisbet.

It was just as easy to get the houses in place.

– We chose a turnkey contract with a project manager and everything followed the plan. It was amazing to see the house come flying over the treetops. Then it was just a matter of getting it approved and moving in, it was very luxurious, she says.

Snowstorm through the windows

From home in Malmö the trip is no more than just over an hour, so they use the house year-round. They can turn on the air-source heat pump in advance via an app, and the sun warms pleasantly through the large windows even in early spring and late autumn.

– These are fantastically airtight houses. We have celebrated Christmas here several times. We have a small roe deer that usually comes and goes on the wooden deck every morning, and rabbits and squirrels. The tall pines whisper and sway, but in our little bowl it is calm even when there is a storm by the sea, Lisbet tells and continues:

– The first winter we were there a storm hit late in November. Overnight 20 centimetres of snow fell, which is very unusual by the sea in Skåne, and we woke to a crisp winter morning. Small pines had fallen and branches had dropped, but it was still fantastic with that change, that we drove up on a grey November day and woke to a snowy landscape. That is what is so fantastic about the house, these large windows.

Special solution in the bathroom

When it comes to the interior they have chosen to let nature speak. To highlight the changing ”artworks” on the other side of the windowpanes they chose interior style Calm in both houses. The two small bedrooms in the main building were converted into a larger room and the bathroom received fully tiled walls, a special solution from interior style Clean.

– The windows let nature in so we wanted to keep the interior fairly simple so that it does not take too much focus.

The interior consists of a mix of design classics, Norrgavel furniture and Ikea finds. There, too, a circle was closed.

– My mother was more interested in design, so we thank her legacy. We have mixed old and new, what we think brings harmony to the rooms, says Lisbeth.

Relaxation and togetherness in focus

They go out at least one weekend a month – Fredrik can even work from the countryside. But above all the houses are a place where relationships and relaxation can get full focus.

– It is a fantastic place that gives us so much value in life. Relaxation and togetherness – being able to have friends and family there and offer everyone to be able to sleep over. When we are here we devote ourselves to ourselves and each other in a completely different way than at home. We are out in nature, cooking is allowed to take time, the fireplace is lit. It is a slower pace that makes you more present in the moment. Having both Malmö and Yngsjö gives balance in life. That is probably the biggest gain for us.