Nordic in No Coast USA
I stumbled onto these AMAZING little cabins while looking for “glamping” sites near us here in Kansas. Located at a place called Base Camp Humboldt, these places just shouted Nordic minimalism to me. The clean lines and large glass windows coupled with the waterfront views and trees, got me thinking of “Friluftsliv.”
The concept of friluftsliv, translates roughly to “open-air living” and is deeply engrained in the Scandinavian heritage. Friluftsliv means a commitment to celebrating time outdoors, no matter the weather forecast. We have a saying in Sweden: “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.” And yes, there’s a book dedicated to that Scandinavian idea too.
“There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.”
You don’t need to be in New York of San Francisco to find modern Nordic minimalist design. No Coast USA has some amazing places and ideas, too.
These cabins were also very cool because of how they were built. There was clearly a sustainability thought process in the design. Many of the elements were eco-friendly, such as on-demand water heaters and low flow toilets. The rustic wood side tables (pictured below) are made from locally milled trees.
I was intrigued when I saw the exterior siding close up. It was just charred wood; no paint, no sealant. Wanting to learn more, I asked about how the siding was done. The wood siding is “carbonized” through the charring in an ancient Japanese method called “shou sugi ban.” It’s very effective at preserving and protecting the wood. Once I heard this, I realized the cabins might be considered “Japandi” design!
“Japandi” is a mix of Japanese and Scandinavian, or “Scandi.” Both styles are rooted in simplicity and comfort. The shared aesthetics of the two come together to create a style that is both easygoing and sophisticated. Neither Japanese or Scandi decor are new; but the combination of the two is going to be a rising trend over the next few years, you watch.
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Weekend getaway
Connected to nature
Aka “ friluftsliv”
And consumed a ridiculous amount of coffee
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