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The couple added two new bathrooms upstairs, making the Victorian-era house suitable for contemporary living.

“When we bought the house in 2018, it was very unloved,” recalls homeowner Miriam Nabarro. “It was structurally okay, but not really fit for purpose. The spaces were all very small and dark, and there was only one family bathroom downstairs.”

Marilyn Monroe is said to have stayed in the charming guesthouse.

Floor Plan of Casa Cookie by Kelly Kai, Rancho Morongo

Floor Plan of Weekend Cottage by Radar Arkitektur

The rough-hewn stone stairs that lead to the cottage were made by a local stone worker.

This region of Sweden is known for its artists and craftspeople, and the cottage was constructed entirely by local timber- and stone-workers. The stone stool on the deck was also made for the couple by one of their friends.

The light interior stands in stark contrast to the black exterior. "The timber cladding inside is painted quite roughly,

The cottage is wrapped in dark timber cladding that allows it to blend into the landscape, while the interior features white and natural timber finishes, making the most of the abundance of natural light to create a bright space.

The custom dining table—which was made by a local artisan—is located in front of west-facing windows that frame the sunset in the evenings. The table can be easily moved inside or out depending on the weather.

The cottage is located on a site just over an hour from Gothenburg and two-and-a-half hours from Oslo, Bohuslän was the ideal location. “We immediately fell in love with the slightly hilly site and its location along a narrow dirt road with cows grazing on the other side,” says Helena. “Until then, I had never thought of building a summer house but when we got the chance, we just had to take it. Especially when my old friend Susanna said she could design a house for us.”

The black paint on the exterior timber cladding is similar to “falu red”, a permeable red paint commonly used on wooden cottages and barns in Sweden, Finland, and Norway. The paint consists of water, rye flour, linseed oil, silicates, iron oxides, copper compounds, and zinc. When it is time to repaint the house, the old paint is simply brushed or scrubbed away.

The cottage features a wraparound deck on three sides. A door leads from the kitchen to the deck, allowing easy access to the deck to enjoy a morning coffee.

The split form of the house is a simple and effective way to separate the social and private areas.

The tiles that can be glimpsed in the hallway are by Patricia Urquiola for Mutina, and have been used to clad the bathroom. They extend out into the hallway to mark the entrance.

Floor plan for Refugio Bariloche by Nicolás Tovo and Teresa Sarmiento