Meet the jury that will award the title of Sweden’s loveliest holiday home 2024

To celebrate the Swedish holiday home culture, Landfolk has joined forces with the interior magazine Hus & Hem to award a very special house with this title. You can read much more about the award and the criteria for the jury’s shortlist right here, but in this article, we will get closer acquainted with the jury members themselves.

Karin Ohlsson-Leijon on architecture, cosiness and wild raspberries

Karin is the editor in chief of Hus & Hem, and a seasoned interior design journalist with over 25 years of experience in various Swedish interior design magazines. With a strong interest in architecture and design, as well as a knack for creating personal and homely spaces, Karin lives in Stockholm and has a small holiday home in the Stockholm archipelago.

1. What makes Swedish stuga culture so different from other cultures (e.g. the other Scandinavian countries), and what can the rest of us learn from it? I think that the Swedish stuga culture is very diverse since Sweden is a big country with all different kinds of nature. What many houses have in common is how close they are to nature, and nature is very important to us. It is also very common to have “stugas” that we share with our family or with friends.

2. With your specific background and expertise, what do you hope to bring to the jury? I hope that I can bring a feeling for both good architecture and a sense of cosiness.

Quick fire

• Ocean, forest or countryside – which stuga destination do you love the most?
  Ocean
• If you could go on a stuga getaway this weekend, who would you take?
  My daughter
• What is your favourite fika?
  Cardamom buns
• What are your 3 stuga musts (e.g. ocean view/remote/reading time/good coffee, etc.)?
  I want to be close to the sea, I love the quiet (but of course with birds chirping) and that I can relax and not need to work.
• Share a holiday home memory that you’ll cherish forever.
  As a child I used to go with my family to my grandparents’ summer house south of Stockholm. It was very simple, but as I remember it, we spent the whole summer there: swimming, fishing, reading and picking wild raspberries.

Katarina Matsson on reconnecting with nature and her childhood summers in Hälsingland

Katarina is an esteemed design journalist and the founder of design studio Matsson Marnell, as well as an author. She has a deep passion for Swedish holiday homes, having spent her childhood holidays in one. Katarina hopes for personal, creative, and fun examples in the nominees, along with places catering to much-needed escapes.

1. What makes a Swedish stuga special in your eyes (e.g. specific details, historical elements, etc.)? A Swedish stuga is a place where the stress and worries of everyday life disappear. It's where you go to let go and be yourself, to reconnect with nature, friends and family. Life is simple and relaxed, which is mirrored in the interior and garden.

2. What's got you excited about being on this jury, and what do you hope to find in the nominees? My childhood summers were spent in our stuga in Hälsingland, where life was simple (no running water and an old outhouse) between the lake and the forest covered hills. It was my happy place! I think we all need an escape sometimes, and the stuga culture really offers this. Among the nominees I’m looking forward to personal, creative and fun examples of this!

3. What makes Swedish stuga culture so different from other cultures (e.g. the other Scandinavian countries), and what can the rest of us learn from it? Well, Sweden was quite late to urbanise, so I guess the connection to the countryside was kept intact. During industrialization a lot of families would send their kids from the cities to relatives in the countryside, to breath fresh air and spend time outside. This connection with nature sort of became part of the Swedish ”folkhem” and the forming of a national identity. As labour rights grew, with longer vacations, it became quite common to build a ”sportstuga” during the mid-1900’s, to spend leisure time during both summers and winters. This outdoor living tradition has lived on and I think it was spurred a little extra during the pandemic – just look at the global gardening and cottage core trend!

When I grew up we spent all summers in our ”stuga” in Hälsingland, with no running water or toilet. Just the forest, the hills and the lake. I always remember my mom saying it kept her sane, leaving the puzzle of everyday life and work at home, and enjoying the moment. We just bought our own countryside paradise – and it's full of surprises, good and bad! But I just know it will become our sanctuary, and all the hard work restoring the house and the garden are a kind of therapy. A refuge from the worries of day to day life and a reconnection with nature, the countryside and a simpler way of living.

4. With your specific background and expertise, what do you hope to bring to the jury? As a design journalist and a designer I have a trained eye for everything that has that little extra. High quality, huge personality, and a composed sense of ”wholeness”. You know, when 1 plus 1 equals 3 or even more.

Quick fire

• Ocean, forest or countryside – which stuga destination do you love the most?
  I've thought a lot about this, before buying our missionary chapel, and I think forest! However, the missionary house is located in the countryside, but walking distance to the forest and a quick ride to the ocean. So I guess the best of all worlds?
• If you could go on a stuga getaway this weekend, who would you take?
  My husband! We've been so busy all year, we've barely had time to sit down for a one on one dinner. A weekend away would be a dream (and couple's therapy, lol)!
• What is your favourite fika?
  Homemade rhubarb pie from the garden, with vanilla icecream of course.
• What are your 3 stuga musts (e.g. ocean view/remote/reading time/good coffee, etc.)?
  A good reading spot in the sun, flower picking (love to make small arrangements all over the place) and a long grill dinner lasting all the way into the sunset.
• Share a holiday home memory that you’ll cherish forever.
  Renting a huge house in Gotland with my three best friends and their families, just spending a week together from breakfast to bedtime, running, swimming, cooking, playing and watching our kids become forever-friends too.

Pernilla Wahlin Norén on slowing down, enjoying nature and being present in your body

Pernilla is an architect and with this background, she brings a rich understanding of craftsmanship to the jury and approaches Swedish holiday homes as unique retreats, deeply embedded in historical traditions. Pernilla loves designs that embrace nature, leisure, and the essence of summer living.

1. What makes a Swedish stuga special in your eyes (e.g. specific details, historical elements, etc.)? The history of changing environments during summer, and also scaling down, goes back a long way. In Dalarna a long time ago, people only changed to a simpler house on the same courtyard. Whether it concerns the simpler sports cabin by a pond or the more luxurious summer fun by the sea, the summer house has one and the same purpose: to enjoy the summer.

2. What's got you excited about being on this jury, and what do you hope to find in the nominees? That very purpose for this type of building is completely unique and so interesting. A house with a focus on enjoying nature, vacation and summer.

3. What makes Swedish stuga culture so different from other cultures (e.g. the other Scandinavian countries), and what can the rest of us learn from it? The purpose of the Swedish stuga is enjoying nature, vacation and summer. As a way of recovering from work and everyday life. That often means scaling down. And to be present in summer, with your whole body. Often a state depending and interacting on nature experiences.

4. With your specific background and expertise, what do you hope to bring to the jury? My focus often lies on craftsmanship, materiality and atmosphere.

Quick fire

• Ocean, forest or countryside – which stuga destination do you love the most?
  Forest
• If you could go on a stuga getaway this weekend, who would you take?
  My husband
• What is your favourite fika?
  Cardamom buns
• What are your 3 stuga musts (e.g. ocean view/remote/reading time/good coffee, etc.)? Silence, swimming possibilities, writing time
• Share a holiday home memory that you’ll cherish forever.
  Swimming alone in the forest black tarn, hearing the black-throated diver calling somewhere in the misty water surface.

Cathrine K. Reimann on simplicity and a slower pace of life

Cathrine is one of the co-founders of Landfolk and is driven by a profound love for holiday home life. She firmly believes that the true essence of a holiday home lies in its ability to reflect the owner's unique personality and style, creating an atmosphere that is both inviting and unforgettable.

1. What makes a Swedish stuga special in your eyes (e.g. specific details, historical elements, etc.)? Swedish stugas are incredibly special because they embody a perfect blend of tradition, nature, and simplicity. I really enjoy the tradition of Falu red, (the classic red paint with white trim, because it’s such a distinctive feature that instantly brings a sense of charm and nostalgia. I love how many stugas have been lovingly maintained and passed down through generations, preserving their historical elements and stories, and how Swedish stugas really seem to combine cosy and practical, yet also beautiful Scandinavian design. The connection to nature is another key aspect since stugas are often located in absolutely stunning Swedish nature and landscapes, providing serene retreats that allow for true relaxation and a deep sense of peace.

2. What's got you excited about being on this jury, and what do you hope to find in the nominees? I am really excited to be on this jury because it is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and recognize the beauty and uniqueness of Swedish stugas. I look forward to discovering stugas that reflect their owners' personalities and creativity while also embodying the essence of Swedish charm. I hope to find nominees that not only showcase aesthetic appeal but also offer a sense of warmth and welcome, making them perfect retreats for their owners and guests. It's about finding those places that make you feel at home the moment you step inside.

3. What makes Swedish stuga culture so different from other cultures (e.g. the other Scandinavian countries), and what can the rest of us learn from it? For me, Swedish stuga culture stands out because of its deep-rooted connection to nature and simplicity. Unlike the often more modern holiday homes, Swedish stugas tend to emphasise tradition and a slower pace of life. They seem to encourage people to unplug, unwind, and truly immerse themselves in the natural surroundings. This culture teaches us the value of simplicity and the importance of creating spaces that are not only beautiful but also functional and harmonious with their environment. It's a lesson in how to live sustainably and appreciatively, making the most of what we have without unnecessary excess.

4. With your specific background and expertise, what do you hope to bring to the jury? I hope to bring a balanced perspective that appreciates both the aesthetic and functional qualities of the stugas, as well as some nostalgia around the lifestyle that surrounds stuga owners. I hope that my eye for detail and a strong understanding of what makes a space truly special will aid me in the jury work.

5. As one of the co-founders of Landfolk, what were you most excited about when it was decided that Landfolk was going to launch in Sweden? It was such a natural decision to open up in Sweden, the country with the most holiday homes in Scandinavia and truly breathtaking nature. We could also see that guests kept asking about the possibility of booking stugas in Sweden, as it is a country and nature you definitely want to experience.

Quick fire

• Ocean, forest or countryside – which stuga destination do you love the most?
  Forest and lakes (but mostly because I am lucky to live right by the sea).
• If you could go on a stuga getaway this weekend, who would you take?
  I would take some of my girlfriends from way back, and spend a whole weekend trying to catch up
• What is your favourite fika?
  Swedish cinnamon buns, hands down
• What are your 3 stuga musts (e.g. ocean view/remote/reading time/good coffee, etc.)? Homemade sourdough buns for breakfast, a run in nature, a wood burning stove to nap in front of
• Share a holiday home memory that you’ll cherish forever.
  Going out on a rowboat with my husband and kids on a Swedish lake and having so much fun with it, since we apparently are terrible at rowing a boat successfully.

Do you own Sweden's loveliest holiday home? You can nominate your house between the 7th of May - 6th of June. Learn more about Landfolk Awards and nominate your house here.