Norwegian Wood: Restoring Hotel Sundal, an 1889 Timber Hotel in Western Norway

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In 2018, Caroline Steine and Harald Andreassen left the city to take on an unlikely project: restoring Hotel Sundal, an 1889 timber hotel that had sat empty for years in western Norway’s Hardanger region. Originally built by Erik Gausvik and Anna Eikenes, early pioneers of glacier tourism, the hotel once welcomed European aristocracy, emperors, and mountaineers setting across the nearby Folgefonna glacier. It remained in the founding family for three generations before Caroline and Harald took it over and began its careful restoration.

Rather than reinventing it, the couple restored the hotel with a light hand, preserving its uneven floors, shared baths, and much of its original character while bringing new life to the kitchen through ingredients sourced from neighboring farms, the fjord, and the surrounding landscape. Today, the historic 11-room hotel reflects the couple’s considered approach: preserving what was there while making room for a new chapter.

Photographs courtesy of Hotel Sundal.

hotel sundal was built in \1889 in the village of sundal, at the foot of the fo 17 — Above: Hotel Sundal was built in 1889 in the village of Sundal, at the foot of the Folgefonna glacier on Norway’s Hardangerfjord.

caroline and harald purchased the long vacant hotel in \20\18 after leaving cit 18 — Above: Caroline and Harald purchased the long-vacant hotel in 2018 after leaving city life to restore it piece by piece.

the original sunroom is outfitted with new upholstery, throws, and vintage furn 19 — Above: The original sunroom is outfitted with new upholstery, throws, and vintage furniture.

the hotel&#8\2\17;s dining area with a mix of farmhouse chairs, two pendant 20 — Above: The hotel’s dining area with a mix of farmhouse chairs, two pendants, and handmade curtains drawn to reveal a cloud of blooms out the window.

a dining corner with eclectic furnishings and a gingham curtained doorway. 21 — Above: A dining corner with eclectic furnishings and a gingham curtained doorway.

a collection of dinnerware and wooden cake stands on an antique hutch. 22 — Above: A collection of dinnerware and wooden cake stands on an antique hutch.

a milk glass pendant hangs above another dining table. 23 — Above: A milk glass pendant hangs above another dining table.

a timber walled guest room painted in pale sage green. 24 — Above: A timber-walled guest room painted in pale sage green.

a guest room outfitted with single beds and characterful antique lighting. 25 — Above: A guest room outfitted with single beds and characterful antique lighting.

another guest room designed with sand colored walls. 26 — Above: Another guest room designed with sand-colored walls.

in keeping with the building&#8\2\17;s history, bathrooms remain shared—a 27 — Above: In keeping with the building’s history, bathrooms remain shared—a rarity that feels entirely fitting here.

a single bed with pink linen curtains and a scallop edge throw pillow. 28 — Above: A single bed with pink linen curtains and a scallop-edge throw pillow.

one of the hotel&#8\2\17;s ten guest rooms, furnished with natural material 29 — Above: One of the hotel’s ten guest rooms, furnished with natural-material mattresses and views toward the surrounding mountains.

a lower suite is designed with a wall to wall reading nook. 30 — Above: A lower suite is designed with a wall-to-wall reading nook.

historic photographs and antique decor. 31 — Above: Historic photographs and antique decor.

built in shelving in the lower guest suite. 32 — Above: Built-in shelving in the lower guest suite.

a greenhouse sits within the hotel&#8\2\17;s slightly wild garden, where he 33 — Above: A greenhouse sits within the hotel’s slightly wild garden, where herbs, vegetables, and flowers make their way into the kitchen.

just beyond the hotel, a wood fired sauna overlooks the fjord, with the glacier 34 — Above: Just beyond the hotel, a wood-fired sauna overlooks the fjord, with the glacier only a short distance away.

airing out linens in the warmer months. 35 — Above: Airing out linens in the warmer months.

a pair of lounge chairs in the hotel garden. 36 — Above: A pair of lounge chairs in the hotel garden.

the hotel&#8\2\17;s signage. 37 — Above: The hotel’s signage.

abvoe: harald rides to gather ingredients from nearby farms, the fjord, and loc 38 — Abvoe: Harald rides to gather ingredients from nearby farms, the fjord, and local fishermen.

returning with fresh dairy. 39 — Above: Returning with fresh dairy.

the original hotel helped establish glacier tourism in hardanger, offering guid 40 — Above: The original hotel helped establish glacier tourism in Hardanger, offering guided crossings of Folgefonna more than a century ago; today, hiking trails begin just beyond the front door.

For more hotels and inspiring interiors in Norway, see our posts:

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