Bergholmen Island

Two private islands connected with a small bridge, ideally located between Djursholm and Lidingö, two of Stockholms most exclusive suburbs. Within easy and close reach of the coast. Fabulous isolated setting with wonderful panoramic view over Strandvägen in Djursholm. Close to golf and tennis club, horse riding, schools, super-markets etc. Charming rustic home built in 1930 with spacious terraces, livingroom with fireplace, outside dining area with barbecue.

Area: 10 0064 sqm with own water area Floor area: 230 sqm with potential for expansion 5 bedrooms 2 berths for yachts own beach own water well heating with oil or electricity phone, ADSL connection

Those arriving in Stockholm by sea can never get enough of the picturesque coastal archipelago. But there are islands, which are inhabited all year round even within the boundaries of the metropolis.

Two small islands- Stora och Lilla Bergholmen - are situated on a narrow stretch along the strait between the forest-covered Lidingö and the impressive Djursholm garden suburbs. The pillars, beneath, on the granite waterside there crouches a funny barrel-shaped sauna. A bridge is leading to the flat and plain small island.

The boatlanding is situated on the more flat shore of the big island - at the distance of 300 m from one and 150 m from the other coast. In places the sea is 30 m deep here.

A dream of a family home on one's own island.

A then-famous master of glasswork built the island house in 1906. Being an artist, he had a taste for beauty and style and obviously he belonged to the ranks of walthy peaple- the total space of the islands ( on the sea-level) is over 10 000 sq.m. The house, which has preserved its cosiness, occupies 230 sq.m. The traditional hip roof, the high plinth floor made of rough quarrystones as well as the interior layout reveal traces of the Nordic Art Nouveau.

At the end of the 1950s, the islands and the house obtained a new owner, who started his active renovation work in order to make the place a permanent home for his family. It is almost everywhere that one can feel his masterful hand: he was busy repairing, building and renovating, modernising the lighting and heating systems, reinforcing the shores, founding the terraces and taking care of his garden. 1965 was the year the renovation work was concluded. This date is inscribed also to the forged fireguard.

Unfortunately, the life work and dreams of the elderly Swedish gentleman had a sad end. His wife died, his three daughters did not want to spend their lives on the island like their father had done. One after the other they moved out. And once, after taking the winter iceway to go home, the lonely widower disappeared without leaving a trace behind. According to the law his inheritors had to wait for fifteen years (and pay taxes!) before they obtained the right to sell these islands.

The present owner, an Estonian by nationality, bought the empty and deserted villa and the islands, which become covered with woods, more than twelve years ago.

Time has stopped in the forgotten villa.

One can detect a particular fascinating feeling in the spacious and high (3,5m) rooms on the ground floor. It seems that time has stopped there to preserve the way of life of its former owner. Different interior styles of the beginning and middle of the last century are mingled here into a strange and nostalgic unity. Both of the former owners have evaluated local traditions, heavy-looking soundness, massive and bold furniture, natural and lasting materials.

The hub of the building is located in a spacious living room from where one of the two-wing glass doors opens into dining room and the other- into the heater-equipped veranda. The white ceilings of both the living and the dining room are lined by dark corniches and partitioned by dark decorative joists. Bright varnished floors are made of high-quality deal (without any nails!). The four-frame window in the living room, placed unusually high, also has a dark frame and a similar long shelf under the window stresses its heaviness. In one of the corners of the room there is a staircase, marked with massive threaded post, leading upstairs.

Symmetrically opposite to it there is a balustrade with a similar post, partitioning the bridge corner located on an levated podium. Its hard-looking leather upholstered corner couch is fixed to the wall and seems to be dating back to the beginning of the last century. At the same time the old and beautifully shaped fireplace in the living room has obtained forged decorations reflecting the taste of the owner. The former owner had ordered a huge ashen dining table for the dining room, accommodating ten high-back chairs around it. The set includes also a typical Swedish settee with a removable upholstery and straight wooden back.

Heavy-looking dark posts decorated with fretwork partition the walls of the glass veranda, finished with sheeting. The room is furnished by somewhat shabby but stylish rattan furniture. From the veranda one can go to the living room, the main staircase and the keen balcony situated high above on the plinth from where one can enjoy a beautiful view over the trees to the sea.

Beside the spacious and comfortable kitchen there is a small maid's room and a wide hallway leading to the backstairs. Upstairs there are four bedrooms and a bathroom, their doors open into a long corridor. The romantic bedrooms with sliding ceilings are furnished with white furniture; the cock-loft is full of mysterious storerooms. At night one can hear strange noises in the old house - sometimes there is a creaking of floorboards, then a cupboard door falls open with a low creak. The area totals one hectare including the garden shore and woods.

Nature has revealed its capricious spirit in making the two islands, connected by a bridge, totally different including their relief, soil and flora. In the middle of the bigger islands one can see places with bare granite ridges, on its abrupt and dangerous slopes reaching the sea there grow pines, ashes, oak-trees and limes. In the middle of the low small island there is a meadow, young trees from the seaside hide the campfire ground amid it. Brushwood and trees have sprawled wild on these islands sound asleep like a Sleeping Beauty.

The long terrace with its white pillars, penthouses and a crescent-shaped end, built on the gigh granite base attaches a special festive and slightly Mediterranean look the silhouette of the island. All possible conveniences have been created here in order to make it possible to enjoy the beautiful view, drink one's morning coffee or watch the colourful sunset at any time and in any weather. In the evenings the glow of the lighted colonnade is seen far away on the opposite shore. There are several places for sitting and eating on the terrace. In the white stone wall dividing the terrace in two one can find a field fireplace, an oven for smoking fish and a number of small lattice-door cupboards and shelves. One can even find a refrigerator placed in the hollow of the mason to have drinks and snacks nearby. In the terrace basement there is a full-scale cellar to keep the supplies.

The former owner has placed stone window boxes on the escarpment along the terrace and founded a rock garden on the opposite slope. Persevering rhododendrons and rambles sprawling everywhere have conquered the deserted garden. The tough alpine plants have seeded themselves even over a wider territory, reaching the pinewoods.

On a nice summer day one can see white yachts gliding by on both sides of the islands, watch speedy motorboats or waterskiers. From time to time there is a bigger water-taxi rushing by. Swans and ducks are taking a rest on the pier; brand geese walk around even under the windows.