Stylish country retreat in Roslagen

Just north of Norrtälje, on Björkö to be exact, the Alemdar family has shaped their very own summer retreat. On Björkö nature is always present. Ancient pines, bilberry bushes by the doorstep and a path across the meadow down to the sea.

Finding the perfect plot was a challenge and Elin and Kamran searched far and wide for several years. The more plots they visited the more they knew what they didn't want – and the higher their demands became. No more than two hours from their home south of Stockholm, the possibility to swim nearby and views to rest the eyes on were at the very top of the wish list.

At home with Elin Alemdar

Elin Alemdar is a designer and founder of the fashion label Stylein. On Björkö outside Norrtälje, the Alemdar family has shaped their very own summer retreat.

When Kamran dragged Elin to the plot on Björkö she was skeptical:

– It was just a rock! With loads of trees and brown slushy snow. Besides, there was neither electricity, water nor sewage.

But quite quickly they discovered the plot's potential. The large pines gave a feeling of standing alone in the middle of the forest while the hill gave the view they'd been longing for. Up on the hill there was a view over a snow-covered meadow and the water on the other side of the meadow.

When we visit the family in their house there is no power. The fridge is lukewarm and the ice cream has melted in the freezer. Sigh, groan, call an electrician and troubleshoot. Luckily the neighbor can help – it turns out the ground-fault circuit breaker tripped because of a heavy thunderstorm during the week.

– Things like that happen and you simply have to become good at coming up with creative solutions for all sorts of things. For us, a turnkey house that suits our taste became the ultimate choice!

They chose the Tidlös Sommar 90 with planlösning Sjö and interior style Calm. Half the house consists of a large social room with views in three directions. There is also the kitchen with a large kitchen island. Elin has chosen an individual colour for the kitchen doors and composite stone from Silestone both as the countertop and the top of the kitchen island.

The other half of the house consists of three bedrooms, a bathroom and the stairs up to the loft. In Elin and Kamran's bedroom the front interior wall has been removed to maximise the view from the bed.

– The large expanses of glass make nature always feel close. I love being able to look straight out into a forest.

The bathroom is luxurious, here too individual choices, such as the granite-ceramic Norrvange Ivory from Bricmate on walls and floor. The bathroom's colours are tone-on-tone with the kitchen which creates a calm unity.

Elin is a designer and founder of the fashion label Stylein, whose clothing collections are characterised by clean lines and fine materials. Her sense of pared-down design is reflected in the interior.

– The vision for our country retreat was to strip away and create a contrast to everyday life where you travel and work and are with lots of people. I have longed to be completely private and secluded.

– Our thinking activity this sommar has been limited to what we should cook or where we will go on an excursion. It sounds like a cliché but the children have taught me to play vändtia. We have never done that together before!

Tidlös Sommar 90 with floor plan Sjö

The Alemdar family has chosen Tidlös Sommar 90 with floor plan Sjö. The facade is treated with Tjärvitriol with a roof in classic sheet metal. To optimize the spaces we have replaced Tidlös Sommar 90 with Tidlös Sommar 100 in our new collection.rnThis floor plan gives a private section placed next to the social section. Which gives a view through the short side and both long sides. In this way the family, on the one hand, can gaze towards meadow and sea and on the other be situated right inside the beautiful pine forest. The Alemdar family has chosen to install an extra large window in the master bedroom.