This charming old house is tucked away in a remote spot called Steinsholt, Norway. No big cities nearby. Houses in this area stand alone along roads or high up in the mountains.
The family living here has quite a story. Back in 2010, a woman named Vibecke went through a divorce and was left alone with two little boys (they were just 4 and 6 years old). She managed to rent an old house in this secluded spot for a modest price. But their time there was short-lived. After a year, the owners sold the house.
“Yes, we were just renting, but we really bonded with that house,” Vibecke says. “It was hard to leave.”
That very house, built in the 1950s, captured Vibecke’s heart.
Fast forward to 2022, and Vibecke came across a listing for the house—now up for sale again. At that point, life wasn’t easy for her. Her older son was starting college, she was recovering from back surgery, and her only income was unemployment benefits.
She managed to work out a payment plan with the seller. By late 2022, Vibecke and her younger son moved back into the house. This time, it was truly theirs—a place they could call home.
How do they live out here, away from the buzz of cities? What keeps them busy in this remote setting? And what does their cozy home look like now? Let’s take a closer look.
Meet the homeowner: Vibecke and her shaggy dog, Trevor.
A few facts about the family: Vibecke is 49 years old. Her older son, 20, is studying carpentry and is already putting his skills to use helping renovate his mom’s house. Before her back injury, Vibecke worked at an acupuncture clinic. Now, she doesn’t have a regular job.
Her income comes from a few sources: part-time work at a horse farm and private online Norwegian language lessons. By training, she’s a youth and child care specialist, though she hasn’t worked in that field for many years.
The view from the living room into the kitchen.
Vibecke has lived here for just over a year, but she’s already accomplished a lot. She repainted the exterior, made repairs inside (like replacing floors and redoing the staircase), and gave the interior a fresh new look.
Here are a few renovation snapshots.
This staircase was a family project. Vibecke and her sons closed off the steps and built storage underneath for coats and shoes.
The previous owner had put in laminate flooring. Vibecke decided to remove it and restore the original wooden floors. The result? A much cozier vibe.
Before and after: The kitchen.
While the furniture stayed the same, Vibecke made a few updates—painting it, replacing handles, and removing the backsplash.
“I had to strip away four layers in the kitchen to reveal the original wooden walls. First, I took off a glass panel, then a layer of wallpaper, old tiles from the ’90s, and finally another layer,” Vibecke explains.
The dining area: White wooden floors, mint green walls, and warm wooden furniture.
The rustic wooden table, porcelain tea set, and brass candlesticks—simple yet striking pieces—add a magical touch.
Even the simplest meals feel special on this table. It makes you want to spread butter on some bread and drizzle it with strawberry jam.
Almost nothing in the house is new. The dining table was a gift from Vibecke’s parents—her father, also a carpenter, made it himself. She found the bench on the street, left out as trash. The rocking chair? A friend gave it to her while cleaning out a storage room.
“Sometimes friends and colleagues come by with old furniture, asking if I want it instead of throwing it away or selling it,” Vibecke shares. “It warms my heart. It shows they think of me and bring these pieces to my home.”
The kitchen and dining room are separate spaces, but both have dining tables.
All of Vibecke’s beautiful dishes are stored in a glass-front cabinet—too pretty to hide!
A magazine spread featuring Vibecke’s home.
She also found this vintage dresser at a flea market. It cost less than a jar of coffee.
Cozy details of the interior.
The house is heated by several stoves.
This gorgeous linen cupboard was passed down from Vibecke’s great-grandmother. The coffee table? A birthday gift from her dad when she turned 16.
Vibecke’s bedroom. All the furniture in this room belonged to her grandmother. Vibecke spent a lot of time at her grandmother’s house as a child. After her grandmother passed away, a note was found in her bedside table asking for the furniture to be given to Vibecke.
On the nightstand now sits a black-and-white photo of her grandmother.
The bedroom renovation isn’t complete yet. Vibecke plans to paint one wall mint green (the same shade as in the dining room) and wallpaper another.
The house has two more bedrooms—one for each son. There are no photos of those rooms, but here’s a heartfelt family snapshot of Vibecke with her boys.
Her older son lives in a student dorm but visits home on weekends and holidays.
And finally, winter scenes from Vibecke’s home. This is what November in Norway looks like.
The view from the house might feel lonely to some—especially city lovers and extroverts. But for Vibecke, this place is where she’s found happiness and peace.
“Sometimes, the simplest things are the best,” Vibecke told journalists who visited her remote home.
It’s hard to argue with that when you look at these photos.
Image credits: Lise M. Stang-Jacobsen / Vibecke Sandaas
