In the ninth episode, Hällevik – Husdrömmar, we follow one of the most spectacular house moves ever to take place in Sweden. Villa Solbacken, a turn-of-the-century house with a rich history, was saved from demolition in Sundsvall and transported over 100 miles to its new home in Hällevik, Blekinge. With a passion for the old and an unwavering desire to preserve the soul of the house, Jette took on this enormous challenge. “I fell in love with the house. It felt like I had lived there before,” says Jette with a twinkle in her eye.
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Background information
Jette, a Danish woman with a penchant for old houses and adventure, has a background as an accountant in Stockholm, a restaurant owner in Oslo and a house builder in the West Indies. When she first saw Villa Solbacken, she knew it was her house. “It was the house I fell in love with. Everything felt right to me,” she says. Together with her 16-year-old son Felix, she decided to give the house a new life in Blekinge, where they found a plot that almost felt designed for this particular house.
Facts about the house
Location: Originally in Sundsvall, now in Hällevik, Blekinge
Size: Approximately 300 sqm
Year of construction: Turn of the century 1900
Choice of materials: Original details preserved, single glazed windows, tiled stoves
Budget: Purchase price SEK 200,000, plot cost SEK 500,000, house move approximately SEK 2 million
Challenges along the way
Moving a house is a logistical nightmare. Despite careful planning, the project encountered several obstacles. “I don’t know anything about moving houses, but someone has to do something,” Jette says with a laugh. Transportation by barge went surprisingly smoothly, but getting the house in place in Hällevik proved more complicated. The foundation was a particular challenge, with discussions between Jette and the house mover about stability. In addition, the project suffered delays, not least due to the pandemic.
Design and inspiration
Jette strove to preserve the original condition of Villa Solbacken. No modern interventions such as insulation or double glazing – instead, she focused on restoring the tiled stoves and installing water-borne radiators as they used to be. “I want the house to shine as it once did,” she explains. The color scheme was chosen with care after a visit from Blekinge Museum: a soft green with English red details.
The renovation journey
After the house arrived in Hällevik, the laborious process of restoring it began. From scraping off layers of old paint to rebuilding the foundation, each step was a labor of love. “It’s actually pretty damn unreasonable to scrape it myself, but if I can’t get anyone to do it, I have to,” Jette says with a determination that impresses.
Final result
Villa Solbacken is now firmly in place, albeit far from finished. But for Jette and Felix, it’s more than just a house – it’s a dream come true. “Now I’m going to live the dream, not just chase it,” says Jette with a smile.
This project is a celebration of the courage to follow your heart, even when the road is bumpy. Or as Jette herself puts it: “Without naive people, the world does not move forward.”
Read more
Season 9, Episode 10, Old West – House dreams
Watch Husdrömmar on SVT Play
