Johanna enjoys the ascetic hermit life in a 200-year-old salting shed: “The storm brings rain in through the cracks in the walls”

In this shed, which is over 200 years old, fish used to be salted and preserved. The outer walls have turned weathered grey in gusty winds—the salty seawater has quite literally saturated them.

What a magnificent building! Johanna Wendelin first saw the weathered log cabin by the open sea about ten years ago. The place was so enchanting that Johanna and her then-husband decided to buy the plot and build a summer cottage there.

Today, the cottage is used by Johanna’s ex-husband, and the old salting shed has become an important retreat for Johanna.

The road leading to the cottage is lined with trees leaning southward. It’s because of the strong north wind that blows often and hard here.

Storms bring and take away. Sometimes, after a fierce storm, Johanna has to go searching for the shed’s doorstep.

The best thing about the salting shed is its simplicity. You can make a cup of tea, read a book, and listen to the sound of the sea.

What kind of setting is your summer home in?

There’s a narrow, winding road through the forest. When you arrive, the first thing you see is the sea, and only after that do you notice the salting shed. All the trees on the plot lean southward because of the north wind, which often blows hard here in northern Åland.

What kind of building is the shed?

The roof, floor, and walls are all unpainted wood. The building is over 200 years old and grey on the outside, but on sunny days, the rooms are bathed in honey-colored light, creating a magical atmosphere.

The dining table was made by Johanna’s father. It’s so sturdy you could dance on it. The family sleep in simple bunk beds that Johanna built with her father.

The kitchen doesn’t have any conveniences other than a gas stove and fridge. Water is carried in by hand.

The best thing about the salting shed is its simplicity. You can make a cup of tea, read a book, and listen to the sound of the sea.

Do you have modern conveniences there?

Here, we live much like people used to in the old days—without electricity or running water. The kitchen has a gas stove and a fridge. We’re so far up in northern Åland that even the internet doesn’t always work. I appreciate the ascetic hermit life in the salting shed; it’s a welcome contrast to my hectic job. It’s important to me that the shed remains as simple as possible—that’s what’s the charm of this place.

How have you decorated the building?

Even though interior design is my profession, I haven’t taken it too seriously here. I’ve aimed for simplicity and making use of old items. We turned an old extendable bed into a sofa, and instead of cabinet doors, we hung fabric in front of the kitchen shelves. Many things remain unfinished, but they’ll have to do, at least for now. I believe the charm of a building like this doesn’t lie in material things but rather in the light, the atmosphere, and the location—not to mention the sense of history.

An old extendable bed was turned into a sofa, which is Johanna’s favorite reading spot. She spends a lot of time there.

An old trousseau chest offers storage and catches the eye. The wall sconces above it are flea market finds.

Her grandmother’s writing desk has followed Johanna throughout her life. The nautical charts and decoy bird on it were washed in from the sea.

What changes have you made to the shed?

The building has been expanded, and its plank floor and roof have been renovated. I’ve gotten help from my father with the construction work. We stained the wide floorboards and treated them with Osmo Color wood wax. The old log walls have so many gaps that even birds and bats can get in. That’s why we’ve filled the cracks with flax. It’s time consuming, but I believe it’s the only option to preserve the unique atmosphere of the shed.

What do you most enjoy doing at your summer place?

Some of my favorite activities are building and fishing, which my father also helps with. My father, my sons, and I do a lot by hand: stacking firewood, building something, or placing nets in the water.

Johanna loves hats, and she has collected quite a few over the years. Now they decorate the salt shed’s walls.

Johanna picks flowers by the sea. Interior design is her profession as well.

Do you have any dreams of adding something else there?

I have two wishes. The first is a black cast iron stove, which would be very useful because on gusty days, the storm brings rain in through the door and the wall cracks. At the moment, there’s no heating in the salting shed.

My other wish is a sauna, which would let me spend even more time here. We’d need the sauna for washing up, and it would be a wonderful place to unwind. I’d add a small chamber next to it for extra space. I’m going to draw the plans myself and build it with my father. I’ve already picked out the spot: there’s a small dip to the right of the salting shed where the building would hardly be visible.

The salting shed doesn’t need a garden. Red granite cliffs, stunted pines, and moss are all that’s needed.

What special features does this place have?

After a storm, you might find anything outside. Five years ago, after the Alfrida storm, I found perch washed ashore from the sea. The decoy bird on my grandmother’s writing desk also came from the sea. And when the wind really blows, even the wooden step outside the door can go flying.

What kind of weather do you like best?

It’s always amazing to be here, no matter the weather. Even if it’s calm, the “old waves” are still rolling in. Perhaps the most wonderful time is when a storm is raging; it’s lovely to sit inside, read a book, and listen to the wind and sea. You can see the rocks, the open sea, and the horizon. It’s simply magnificent.

The open sea is never truly still, even when there’s no wind. For Johanna, the salting shed is a place to relax and spend time alone, fishing and building.

Outside the shed is the perfect place to sit and enjoy the sunset.