Secluded Icelandic retreat with stunning vistas and equally stunning interior

Place to Read / Borgarfjör∂ur / Iceland

I love the unique which is perhaps not a surprise considering it is the foundation of this blog. To always look for and to stay at hotels that truly offer something unique. And when I am there I just want to take photos that make the place justice and later write a blog post that describes the uniqueness while trying my hardest to stay away from cliches (which is super difficult. So easy to fall into the superlative swamp). This post is about one of those truly unique places. A place that blew my mind when staying there. It is called Place to Read.

Sigri∂ur and her husband used to run a guesthouse in the north of Iceland but had been looking for a plot of land and found some just north of the town of Borgarnes, closer to Reykjavik. They had it for 5 years before construction of the house started, which took them more than two years to complete and one can quickly say that was it two years well spent. The result is spectacular. It gives me (warning for an outdated reference) Little House on the Prairie vibes. The house is standing next to a meandering river, floating through a lava field, litterally in the middle of nowhere. When you drive her you exit the main road and the final 15 k you follow a narrow dirt road. At the end of the road (which they had to construct themselves), Place to Read is waiting for you, emerging after a final bend in the road.

The house has three bedrooms, a large kitchen/lounge area, a huge terrace wrapping around the house and a sauna with uninterrupted views of the mountains. The interior style is best described as friendly and warm. The mix of vintage and new pieces makes the style feel personal. The main features are wood and exposed, raw concrete. And books. A lot of books which makes sense considering the name of the place.

When staying here I can highly recommend to venture out and explore the surroundings. Go for a walk along the river looking for salmon, continue across the bridge to the lava fields before you return back to the house for a sauna and after that some cozy time by the fire place. And when talking about the fire place, we had the best start of our day when we were staying here. We lit up a fire, made coffee and watched the sun come up, sitting in the sofa under the duvets while listening to the roaring northern wind.

The drive from Reykjavik to Place to Read is spectacular!

Welcome to Place to Read! It is located in a surreal location. On a rugged field, next to a river, lava fields and surrounded by a frame of tall mountains.

The wooden house is contemporary and traditional at the same time, honoring Nordic building traditions.

The interior is all about wood and concrete. The floors are polished concrete and the walls are a combination of raw concrete and wood.

I love this photo and the play between light and shade.

Since this is called Place to Read it makes sense that there is a lot of options when it comes to reading.

Another of my favorite photos from our stay here.

Around the corner from the kitchen was our bedroom.

Upstairs there are an additional two rooms.

The sauna is located on one of the corners of the house, which is accessible only from the outside.

M is doing what he loves most, having a loooong sauna.

Even though the interior is stunning, this is a place where a lot of time should be spent outside, enjoying the marvelous Icelandic nature.

We did a hike along the river to the nearby lava fields.

….and we enjoyed some time in the sofa by the fire with our friends Jack and Tanja.

The sun is slowly rising (while we are drinking coffee by the fireplace) and a new day begins at Place to Read.

RG inside info

This place is perfect if you…

…are truly looking for something off the beaten track. If you like your privacy, stunning rugged natural surroundings and beautiful, contemporary architecture and homey design, trust me when I say that you are going to love Place to read.

My favorite thing about this place…

…is difficult to decide but I will have to say the location. You leave the main road and drive almost 15 k on dirt roads straight into nowhere, surrounded by lava fields, mountains and rivers. it is easy to think you have the wrong directions (at least we did). But then, all of a sudden at the end of the road (literally) there is a stunning wooden house waiting for you.

What not to miss when staying here…

…is to bring all that you will need for your stay. The closest shop is not down the road if you would get some kind of craving. The tip is to bring everything you connect to cozy. And some red wine to drink by the fire place. We forgot the latter and I still regret that.

If you like this hotel you might also like…

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