– We’re a very sociable family, so one of the most important things for us when we took over this cabin was to have a place where we could gather friends and family. Given the cabin’s view of Mefjorden in Sandefjord, Norway, it was natural that this space should be outdoors, says cabin owner Yvonne Dyve.

And there was plenty to do when they took over.

– The outdoor area was begun, but not quite finished. It wasn’t levelled, the terrace was covered with artificial turf and there was a broken jacuzzi in one corner, she explains.

The first thing they did was to bring in a contractor to level out the area where the terrace was to be placed. Then it was time to get creative.

– We had an empty terrace that we could shape exactly as we wanted. So we had to prioritise. For example, we decided that we didn’t need to replace the jacuzzi, since the cabin is close to the fjord, Dyve explains.

The jacuzzi corner, on the other hand, was very suitable for another purpose much better suited to the wishes of the Dyve family.

– Now we could finally realise our dream of building an outdoor kitchen. Our terrace is planned as an extension of the living room. We’ve furnished it as a sitting area and we also have a long dining table that can be pulled out. We plan to spend a lot of time out there, so it was natural for us to have a kitchen there as well, she explains.

When they built the outdoor kitchen, it was important to Yvonne Dyve to do this properly. So everything was planned to the minutest detail. First everything was drawn, such as the number of cabinets, and how many shelves they would need. Whether the gas barbecue should be built-in or free-standing.

– I wanted large work surfaces, as well as a sink with running water. We didn’t really need anything more than that. The main kitchen is not too far away, and it was also important that it was easy to close the kitchen for the winter, Dyve explains.

Dreaming of a pizza oven on your terrace? Here’s what you need to know!

This made the right choice of materials absolutely vital. The outdoor kitchen can quickly be closed off for the winter.

– We’ve deliberately chosen materials that can withstand Norwegian weather and Norwegian winters, so when the cabin is to be closed for the winter, it’s really just a question of taking in furnishings and equipment, she says.

Both the outdoor kitchen and the terrace are clad in slate. There are several reasons for this.

– Initially, we thought about having a concrete surface on the terrace. It’s a functionalist cabin with many right angles, and a lot of wood in natural colours. So we also wanted a simple and modern feel outdoors, says Yvonne Dyve.

As they investigated further, they found out that concrete required maintenance and could get damaged in Norwegian weather conditions. At the same time, Yvonne Dyve found inspiration on social media. The Dyve family’s outdoor area was therefore clad in antique brushed slate from Oppdal. In rectangular tiles, of course.

– On Instagram, I saw that slate offered many possibilities, even for the stringent modern look we wanted. When we also read about how much the material could withstand, there was really nothing more to consider, she explains.

The outdoor kitchen also has an element of the Norwegian natural stone. The large work surface that Yvonne wanted is also in antique brushed light Oppdal slate, just like the terrace tiles.

– It’s very important for us that the outdoor kitchen can endure the winters, as it will be left unprotected. With a slate worktop, we don’t have to worry about anything being damaged, regardless of wind and precipitation. Neither during the winter nor for the rest of the year. It’s really wonderful, Yvonne Dyve says. Have a look at our countertops here.

The slate worktop also reinforces the sense of a unified property – a red thread linking all its elements.

– We have the same type of slate around the entire cabin: on the kitchen worktops, the terrace and on the stairs. In fact, even around the basketball net our son has set up at the entrance. It’s a real luxury to get all these uses out of one type of stone, she says.

It is not only within the property that Yvonne Dyve wanted the stone to fit. It is also important that it is in harmony with the surrounding area.

– Our cabin lies in a cabin area, but  there is still a lot of nature around it. So it’s been very important to us to choose the right materials and colours for this project.

In addition to slate, the Dyve family has used a lot of kebony.

– The brushed slate fits absolutely beautifully – both with the surrounding landscape and with the kebony. If we had chosen a more sparkly stone, it would have stolen too much focus. The antique brushed slate has a lovely colour and patina that suits our cabin perfectly. That’s why we chose this one, she says. Have a closer look at Light Oppdal antique brushed tiles.

The cabin project has been completed and summer is approaching. Yvonne Dyve already has plans for how to make the terrace even better.

– We’re thinking of building a pergola. It is so harsh here that it’s still very tempting to go indoors. If we had a pergola, we could spend even more time out here, she concludes.