Set against a crisp blue Icelandic sky, rolling green hills, and yellow plains, Gylfi Óskarsson’s little red cabin looks like it’s part of a cheery children’s painting—perfectly at home in a symphony of primary colors. But the inspiration for this cozy cottage isn’t a box of crayons, but the cabin culture of Sweden.

Gylfi, a pediatrician, spent a decade living there, and long admired the bright red cabins that were a signature of the region. So when it came time to expand his own family vacation home with the help of Hlynur Sævarsson, principal of Glama-Kim Architects, it was only natural that Scandinavian design (and, yes, that iconic scarlet hue) would become part of the game plan.

Though the Icelandic landscape seems to sprawl out endlessly, in the 1980s, restrictions were placed on certain kinds of construction projects. So the existing cabin—built by Gylfi’s father-in-law decades ago—was only allowed to be 530 square feet. It was a great vacation spot for the family when Gylfi’s kids were growing up, but now fully grown with children of their own, the cabin was bursting at the seams. Time to go big—and see red.

Sævarsson started by blowing out a wall and bumping out the room an extra 100 square feet to meet the existing overhang of the roof. But the additional floorspace isn’t just what makes this space feel bigger: he also replaced that wall with sliding glass doors. The living area is now flooded with natural light and visually connected to the rolling fields outside. A 490-square-foot extension makes even more room to breathe, and wraps around a central patio.

Previously, the cabin just had two small sleeping rooms. Now, a trio of bedrooms (including a large loft) and two bathrooms allow the house to sleep more than a dozen guests comfortably. “All the spaces have been enlarged. It’s easier to be here. Everyone feels more comfortable,” says Gylfi.

This enjoyable vibe is enhanced by the thoughtful choices Sævarsson made to connect every indoor space to the great outdoors. Windows elevate every room and frame the view, and every single room features a door to the yard—swing any one open and you’re instantly in the thick of nature. And really, if you’re making the trek to the Icelandic highlands, you’re here for the nature. You can go fishing, hiking, biking and running—Gylfi even admits that he’s been able to go cross-country skiing in July.

While the exterior of the house is that fiery red, the interior features a simple, Scandi-chic muted palette. “We focused on using minimal materials, to take it to a place of calm,” says Sævarsson. Everything is lined in timber slatting or oiled, polished plywood; acoustic panels in the ceiling dampen the sound. Even the countertops in the kitchen match the wood floorboards.

The plywood is glued and nailed, with no screws, a tiny detail that elevates the project in big ways, and the old building and new building have matching flooring and ceiling material. “It helps it all melt into one,” says Gylfi. Interior doors all slide to the side and blend visually with the walls; with panels and entryways appearing and disappearing with the homeowners’ whims, the hallway is like a pleasing puzzle box.

It’s a home with charm, color and plenty of breathing room for Gylfi’s family and friends—if this were a child’s painting, you’d call it picture-perfect.

Project Credits:
Architect of Record and Interior Design: Glama-Kim Architects

Builder: Páll Ingi Árnason á Leiti and Halldór Hjartarson

Structural and Civil Engineer: Verkfraeðistofa Thráinn og Benedikt ehf

Lighting Design: Voltorka

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A Little Red Icelandic Cabin Gets a Swedish Cottage-Inspired Expansion