Thea Lovstad on Living Summer Outdoors
Through her lens and lifestyle, Thea Lovstad invites us to slow down and reconnect with nature, and with the quiet magic of an untamed Norwegian summer.
Where is your summer home, and what drew you to this location?
Every year I am lucky to visit two different summer houses: one that is from my Mum’s side of the family and has been in the family for more than 100 years, and my Dad’s summer house. Both are located within the archipelago of Kragerø, a beautiful coastal town located South East in Norway, and the town I grew up in. Some parts of the archipelago is UNESCO protected and the nature in these areas have a truly special place in my heart.
Do you have any cherished rituals or routines that mark the start of the summer season?
Morning dips no matter temperature and weather, the first Norwegian strawberries (due to the cold climate and the fact that it takes them so long to ripen, they taste incredible, so much flavour and so much sweetness)
What scents remind you of summer, and how do you incorporate them into your home?
The smell of fresh strawberries, newly cut grass, the salty sea, wild flowers, someone having a bbq, filter coffee brewing. Simplicity is everything: in summer I open the windows wide open and let all the scents and fresh air in.
What’s your favourite room or outdoor space, and how do you love to spend time there?
For me, summer is all about the outdoors, I want to spend as little time as possible inside the house. I am very fortunate to have access to two houses with private beaches and piers, which is my favourite place to spend time when the weather allows it. On a rainy day though, it is the living room – both of the houses have huge windows facing the sea. There is also something quite magical about observing the drama unfolding on the sea when there is a storm, within the comfort of your home.
How do you bring the essence of summer into your interiors?
I think the essence of summer when it comes to the summer house, is all about light and air. Don’t fill your home to the brim, let there be air and space. Bring in wild flowers, fresh produce, soft textiles. Light and neutral palettes, natural materials. Open the doors and windows for that wonderful breeze, the smell of the outside and the sounds of the birds.
What colours, textures, or materials define the feel of your summer retreat?
Wooden materials, creamy palettes, soft textiles, natural elements like rocks, shells, flowers. Lots of books, games and candles for entertainment and gatherings.
Is there a particular piece of furniture or décor item that embodies summer for you?
Shells and rocks connected to memories, scattered around the house.
What’s your ideal summer gathering at home—who’s there, what’s on the table, and what’s in the air?
My birthday is on 23rd June, which is also when we in Norway celebrate St. Hans. There are bonfires lit all over the archipelago and people watch them from their boats at midnight (it does not start getting dark until then). This celebration is the start of summer and the perfect occasion to throw a party and gather everyone I love.
I would invite my nearest family and friends to the summer house. The table would be decorated with wild flowers, organic produce, linen table cloths and vintage tableware. We would eat prawns the Norwegian way: Served whole and everyone has to peel their own prawns. You eat them on a freshly baked slice of loaf together with a drizzle of lemon, a pinch of salt and pepper, a bit of mayonnaise and top it with dill and salad. It’s a messy but a fun and social way of eating. All of it accompanied with lots of white wine of course. For dessert I would serve a Pavlova filled with loads of raspberries, strawberries and wild blueberries (and if I’m lucky, some wild strawberries too!). After dessert we would take our boats out on the water to watch the bonfires. The evening would end with a dip in the sea.
FIND THEA:
IG: @theasnevelovstad
Website: www.thealovstad.com
