At the end of January, we finally moved into Kvarnviks Gård – a moment we had been looking forward to for months. Right from the start, we were lucky to have our parents from Germany join us, ready to lend a hand. Without them, the beginning wouldn’t have been nearly as smooth.
The garden was completely overgrown, especially the flowerbeds and the old boxwood hedge, which were buried in brambles. Our mothers spent days cutting, pulling, and clearing. Thanks to them, the original structure of the garden is visible again – a perfect starting point for what’s to come.
A major priority was renovating the four guest apartments, all lined up in one long building. We wanted them ready by spring: new parquet flooring, fresh paint, trim, furniture, decoration. Thankfully, we could keep the cozy beds from the previous owner. Axel’s dad laid all the floors and also sanded and painted three doors in the main house. Axel’s mum painted all the door frames. True family teamwork!
Life in the countryside is a little different – the nearest hardware store is a 45-minute drive, so forgetting screws is not an option.
We wanted the apartments to feel like charming little hotel rooms – simple, welcoming, and thoughtfully styled. The south-facing terrace stretches along the building, soaking up sunlight all day with wide views over the fields that shift with the seasons. Pure countryside bliss.
Despite all the work, we made time for outings too. We had four weeks off with the kids, which gave us space to enjoy the surroundings. A special highlight: Christian’s mother turned 70, and we celebrated with a beautiful dinner at Le Petit Bistrot in Ystad.
At the end of the month, Busi, Christian’s childhood friend from Rostock, came by and pitched in. It meant so much to share this new chapter with an old friend.
We’ve accomplished a lot already, but there’s still a long road ahead. It will likely take years before everything looks and feels exactly how we imagine. But the first steps are done – and we’re ready to welcome our first guests.
We’re so excited for summer: for laughter, blooming gardens, sunny days, and the joy of sharing this special place.
Welcome to Kvarnviks Gård.