Eye on Design | Sweden | Sublime Sandhamn

Sandhamm_sweden

The village of Sandhamn is like one big quintessential Swedish style moment.

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From the moment we docked at the harbor and I saw the beautiful blonde girls sitting on the dock, there was a photo op everywhere I turned.

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The town of Sandhamn is located on the island of Sandön, literally “Sand Island,” the last bit of Sweden in the Baltic Sea before Finland and Estonia.

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Since the late nineteenth century, the village has been known as a harbor for sailers and yachters, and a location for the summer holidays.  In fact, the population increases by the thousands in the summertime . . .  it’s like Sweden’s answer to Nantucket.

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I wandered through narrow lanes that wound around charming houses.

Sandhamn_Sweden

sandhamn_sweden

sandhamn_Sweden

sandhamn_sweden

sandhamn_Sweden

Many Swedish country houses are painted red – “falu rödfärg.”  In the 16th century, the red pigment was derived from copper ore, and the tradition has continued. 

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sandhamn_sweden

sandhamn_sweden

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Remnants of midsommer festivity were still evident: the greenery-adorned maypole and Swedish flags flying over the houses.

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In full bloom, there was lavender lilac, lupine in heavenly shades of pink and periwinkle, and resplendent golden yellow wisteria.

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One local café had a unique way of providing shade to outside tables, and another provided tufted cushions along a long bench outside.

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This lovely hand painted sign advertising waffles hung on a red picket fence with white “finials.”

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At the edge of the village, I discovered a dramatic vantage point at the top of a rock.

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sandhamn_sweden

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And, just because it was that kind of day, I got to capture this enchanting moment – a mother and daughter surveying the breathtaking landscape of the archipelago.

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Fabulös!  (That’s Swedish for fabulous, awesome, magnificent – well, you’ve just seen the pictures.)

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One response to “Eye on Design | Sweden | Sublime Sandhamn”

  1. marylou

    thanks for sharing -it’s beautiful, charming, sublime, storybook-ish.  i’d love to go in person, but for now i will enjoy your photo-logue.  it’s wonderful!