They are happy to share their dream home

For more than ten years, the Carlson family has built a small paradise in their old official home in Maryburg. The house was built in 1792 as part of the Maryburg Manor and is the only surviving building from the 18th century.

It was so hard to get here for so many years, and then it wasn’t finished yet. The current plan is to install an additional bathroom with clay walls.

Lotta says the house is not K-marked but the family wants to take care of the old parts of the house. The clay lining they now use in bathrooms is a work method with a long history and is similar to that used when the house was built.

– This is an old house and it breathes, so it is important that we use materials that allow it to continue. Such old houses would otherwise die. It will become stable and then it will rot, Jens says.

The family has received help from many places to learn more about maintaining an old house and artisan Stephen Westerberg has become a mentor.

Without him, I don’t know what we would have done, Lotta says.

They keep the story alive by keeping the old stove of the house, which can share a room with an unusual bath and shower. That is, they have converted the old back room of the house into a bathroom and they can bake bread from the bath in a fully functional oven.

They were not expected to become in charge of a piece of local history. No one in the family was particularly interested in history. But they say it’s easier to get involved when you live in the middle of something historical. Now Jens and Lotta can talk for a long time about their home and the whole history of the area.

– When you see a house with this history, you want to manage not only the building but also the history, says Jens.

All of that history means that the word has spread to others interested in history. They had to show the 200-year-old house to different groups several times.

– When people like home it becomes clear that it is fun. We did two or three screenings where people were told to look at the house, Jens says.

– Once the crowd was high, Lotta says.

Maryberg is a coincidence and very lucky for the Carlson family. After living in the Caribbean for ten years, Lotta accidentally found the farm while driving in the area and immediately fell in love. Have a nice day, a sign for the sale.

– I drove home fast and the car almost broke down when I passed all the bumps on the road here. I was very happy, says Lotta.

This was followed by a prolonged sale between the Carlson family and a couple from England. After several turns back and forth, Lotta and Jens gave up everything. But suddenly the broker called and said the house was theirs. When Lotta talks about it, she cries in her throat and it becomes clear how much emotion there is over that house.

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Time has passed since they moved here with their three small children. Now that all the kids are more or less out, Lotta and Jens say they have started to have a lot of space. This is not a moving question, instead they consider renting a portion of the basement as a bed and breakfast. Among other things, the later finished, earthen bathroom.

– We think it’s a lot of fun to share this wonderful house, says Lotta.

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