Wanting an occasional break from the city, Hákon and Lilja started looking for a place they could escape to. “It was important for us to have a retreat where we could disconnect from the fast pace of urban life and immerse ourselves in nature,” Hákon says. The Reykjavík residents imagined something in the countryside where they could relish Iceland’s short-but-sweet summers, and in colder months, peer out from wide windows. “Somewhere we could experience the changing seasons from our living space,” adds Lilja.

Reykjavíc residents Hákon and Lilja built a cabin outside the city that provides them with a slower pace. The exterior is Norway spruce, the windows are from Velfac, and the sliders are from Schuco." layout="wide" credit="Photo by Nanne Springer" photoUserId=""/> the Gláma-Kím team calls the home’s glass-wrapped second level, sits directly above the living room." layout="" credit="Photo by Nanne Springer" photoUserId=""/>

Kím designed the cabinetry in the kitchen, which features Venice terrazzo tile from Concrete Collaborative." layout="" credit="Photo by Nanne Springer" photoUserId=""/>

After buying a parcel near Reykjavík in a forest clearing accessible only by a narrow road, the couple brought on architecture firm Gláma-Kím to design a cabin for it. “We wanted the home to connect with nature in a beautiful and modest way,” says one of the firm’s architects, Bæring Bjarnar Jónsson. He and his peers created an L-shaped plan with two levels, nearly covering every wall of the 1,400-square-foot home with windows.

The second level feels especially immersed in the setting. “To bring the forest’s vibrant birdlife and natural beauty even closer, we created a small, glass-enclosed living room known as ‘the nest,’” Jónsson says. “Here, the line between the house and nature blurs, offering panoramic views not only through the trees but also across the valley and toward a fjord beyond.” The home also has a green roof, which is covered in vegetation that matches the surrounding landscape.JónssonJónsson

In keeping with their goal of focusing on nature, Hákon and Lilja asked for the interior design to be as minimalist as the exterior’s untreated wood cladding. The walls inside are finished in birch plywood, letting clean-lined midcentury-style furnishings like the Bullet chair in the living room provide touches of color. “A restrained color palette complements the environment,” adds Jónsson. “The floors are laid with smooth, continuous stone, creating a sense of unity with nature.” Color is most apparent in the kitchen, where blue cabinetry contrasts more natural wood finishes.

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The property was completed in 2023 after two years of construction, and since then, Hákon and Lilja have been able to escape into this peaceful hideaway as often as they please. “We wanted a place that encouraged a slower rhythm, offering tranquility and a deep connection to the landscape,” Hákon says.

Updated on 4/16/25: This article originally attributed quotes to Gláma Kím. We have corrected the attribution to Bæring Bjarnar Jónsson.

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

Project Details:

Architect of Record: Gláma-Kím

Interior and Cabinetry Design: Gláma-Kím

Builder: Laufás Trésmiðja

Structural Engineer: Verkfræðistofa, Þráinn og Benedikt

Other: Tera, Electrical Engineering Studio

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The Green Roof on Their Icelandic Cabin Blends With the Forest Floor