Your new dream mountain cabin: Explore the sustainable Swedish design concept

If the kitchen is the heart of the home, then we’re head over heels for Swedish brand Nordiska Kök’s latest design concept. Dubbed ‘The Fjället Cabin Kitchen,’ it has been uniquely crafted for the sculptural, wooden ‘Fjället Cabin’ nestled in the majestic, mountainous landscapes of Ottsjö, Åre. Inspired by the cabin’s architecture – courtesy of Note Design Studio – and its spellbinding surroundings in the forested Jämtland nature, the kitchen is where timeless, sustainability-first design meets functionality and premium materials.

“We wanted to build upon the house’s recurring alignment but also add an organic form as a contrast to all the straight lines, bringing in more of nature’s shape,” explains Johan Lundkvist, creative director and co-founder of Nordiska Kök. “When we discussed material choices with Gustav and Sophie Odelberg, the owners of the house, we agreed to work with materials that would feel natural to the location. Wood, stone, and earthy tones formed the foundation of the material palette.”

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Upon designing the kitchen, it was crucial for it to seamlessly blend in with the rest of the interior, which features a distinctly Scandinavian minimalist feel punctuated by neutral hues and streamlined shapes set against calming pinewood panelling. Although creating a cohesive whole, Lundkvist notes that the brand also aimed for the kitchen to make a statement. “Therefore, the choice was made to have a dark wood kitchen that clearly contrasts with the light walls, floors, and ceiling,” he says.

While achieving an eye-catching juxtaposition, the cocoa-brown oak, as Lundkvist puts it, “playfully picks up” the tones of the pinewood’s knots, ensuring a harmonious balance bolstered by the limestone countertop, which recalls the cabin’s rocky surroundings. Meanwhile, expansive windows bathe the space in natural light, further enhancing the rustic textures of the wood, which will only grow richer with age.

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Like much of Nordiska Kök’s work, ‘The Fjället Cabin Kitchen’ finds equilibrium between clean lines and soft contours. “We wanted to create a sense of tension in the kitchen and work with finely crafted details both on the outside and inside of the kitchen,” says Lundkvist. These details, cleverly hidden within the sleek design, are what make the kitchen not just stylish but highly functional. “To create a modern and minimalist kitchen, the initial idea was to design a handle-free kitchen. However, instead of removing the hardware, we chose to use the handle as a design element and integrate it into the design of the door,” says Lundkvist. “The door, with its solid handle, is further integrated into the protruding frame.”

More innovative, practical, bespoke carpentry features include the tall cabinets integrated into the wall, concealing the fridge and freezer. Elsewhere, built-in shelves provide extra storage, their glass panels nodding to glistening winter ice. Then there’s what Lundkvist calls the “pizza-door”, built by Sophie and Gustav, which connects the kitchen to the living room.

For smooth movement and to echo the rounded handles, the kitchen island has been adorned with curved edges. “[In this kitchen], genuine craftsmanship has played a significant role in everything from material choices to the fact that we have hand-crafted and tested the new design and its durability in our own carpentry studio,” says Lundkvist. “For us, it is incredibly important that all our kitchens stand the test of time, and just as a mountain cabin must withstand nature’s trials, so too should the kitchen.”

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Although ‘The Fjället Cabin Kitchen’ is currently a one-of-a-kind piece, you’ll be delighted to hear that the design will become available to purchase in April. And like the rest of Nordiska Kök’s kitchens, it will be entirely customisable – from size to colours and finishes – allowing it to fit in a range of spaces, from compact apartments and cottages to expansive homes. “[Our kitchens] are meant to be enjoyed, lived in, and used for a long time. Waking up every morning and having that first cup of coffee, to family and friends gathering in the kitchen to spend time together,” says Lundkvist. With the kitchen as the heart of the home, he adds, “our vision is for that heart to be the most beautiful part of the home.”