If you are dreaming of a relaxing Danish mini-break, drinking coffee and scoffing cinnamon buns whilst perusing covetable Scandi homewares, you’ll be delighted to know that somewhere ticking all these boxes that isn’t as far as Stockholm is actually right on our doorstep! I give you…..Rutlandshire, the smallest county in England and home to some really rather lovely places to Sleep, Shop, Eat, and Play. Our guide to to all the Hygge Hotspots is one of my all time favourite Instagrammers @kinshipcreative_dc who recently spent a happy weekend there with her family.
SLEEP
We stayed in beautiful thatched Bee cottage http://thebeecottage.co.uk which has recently been renovated by creative couple Steve and Hanri with sustainability at its heart and a desire to retain as much of its period character as possible.
The beautiful Bee Cottage. The perfect base to explore Rutland's delights
Modern Rustic kerb appeal
The simple white decor with hygge added fairy lights in one of the bedrooms
Tiled floors make for a lovely entrance to the cottage
The blissful bathroom with patterned tile floor and a rather nice statement mirror
Some of the stunning pieces in the cottage have been handmade by Steve using reclaimed scaffold boards and Hanri has also added some of her native Dutch style with lots of beautiful, simple design pieces and natural materials. The result is a super-cosy, modern rustic, heavenly hideaway. You can also walk to the local shop for supplies and the village pub is just around the corner which is always a bonus.
The cosy sitting room at Bee Cottage
The master bedroom at Bee Cottage with a fabulous reclaimed wood headboard
Lots of welcoming touches at the cottage like these biscuits and note
SHOP
Rutland may be small, but it packs a punch when it comes to small independent businesses and forms a rich hunting ground for creatives looking for Scandi modern rustic homewares or vintage treasures. Pretty market town Oakham is home to Rutland Gallery selling beautiful ceramics and hand-made pieces by local artists. The local family-run department store @cavellsfashionboutique has a cool clothing department and a beautifully styled Scandi homewares room filled with designer lighting, muted linens, glassware and vases and obviously lots of candles!
Oh Curio should go top of your shopping hit list
A lovely mix of interiors and fashion and a cupboard I wouldn't mind taking home either
One of my favourite shopping discoveries of the weekend was Oh Curio, a dreamy interiors shop hidden away just outside Oakham where new homewares mixed with vintage pieces, all gorgeously styled. Uppingham Antiques Centre was another great find, rooms full of vintage and antique furniture and a garden bursting with reclaimed treasures.
A modern rustic display of delights at Uppingham Antiques Centre
Gorgeous rustic, earthy ceramics in a palette of blues and greens
Eat
We were spoilt for choice when it came to Fika time; The Larder at Oakham had a tasty array of coffee and cake to be enjoyed in their cool industrial vibes interior, but my favourite was the beautiful Fika Oakham which served the most delicious warm cinnamon buns and hot chocolate in a beautifully hygge space with a lofty beamed ceiling and an abundance of large foraged leafy branches
Soaring ceilings and crisp clean Scandinavian interiors at Fika Oakham
Hygge vibes and a lovely modern rustic corner in Fika Oakham
An added bonus was that my Hubby could keep the kids happy with large amounts of cake whilst I snuck through the doors leading to the Scandi homewares department next door! (see Shop). In Uppingham we broke up the antique shops with more coffee and cake at Scandimania, a fab little café with a healthy menu and covetable Scandi interiors.
Grabbing a cinnamon bun at Scandimania in Uppingham
Industrial interiors inspo at The Larder, Oakham with the bar papered in brick effect wallpaper
Rutland really is spoilt for choice when it comes to Scandi cafes like Scandimania
PLAY
Rutland Water is a beautiful reservoir and nature reserve, we hired bikes and braved a bitter side wind to explore the shore on one side. We saw lots of wildlife and some even braver windsurfers out on the water. We biked round to the iconic Normanton church which sits on the South shore and features on any decent Instagram image of Rutland water! A great way to burn off all the cinnamon buns we had consumed!
Sail away with me honey at Rutland Water
Some of the stunning scenery at Rutland Water
Plenty of places to sit and admire the views
The perfect place for a bike ride
Thank you so much to Kay (@kinship_creativedc) for sharing her rustic Rutland escape with me. If you enjoyed this slice of Fika and fun then be sure to follow her Instagram which is full of Scandi interiors inspiration.