Vipp transforms listed fisherman’s house for latest guesthouse opening
Vipp has transformed a riverside log house from 1876 into its ninth guesthouse destination.
The former listed fisherman’s house, once used as a roadhouse between Riga and Wolmar, has been gently relocated to a Latvian nature park, the Salaca River Valley.
17 years ago, Arturs Martinsons, founder of Latvian design studio Xcelsior, bought 42 acres of landscaped meadows and woodland, having heard about an old fisherman’s house that was soon to be dismantled. Each log was meticulously numbered and transported to its new home, where the log house was rebuilt on a foundation of 180 stones. Martinsons then approached Vipp with the idea of including the house in Vipp’s guesthouse portfolio.
After a thorough interior renovation, Vipp’s interior design team transformed the space into a contemporary cottage, where Scandinavian minimalism meets the charm of log house architecture.
Vipp Salaca River spans 1,180ft², divided over two floors. Many of the previously small rooms have been replaced by a large open-plan living area oriented towards the river. A black Vipp V1 kitchen is fitted into one corner of the living area, while a dining and seating area is accompanied by a fireplace with a mirrored wall that reflects the natural surroundings.
Half of the former low ceiling has been removed, opening up the space. The master bedroom, complete with a freestanding bathtub, is situated on the first floor. The ground floor meanwhile is home to a second bedroom, bathroom, entrance hall, and a combined living area and kitchen.
The historical dark ceiling has been painted in a dark grey-brown hue, preserving its original character. Together with the dark brown log walls, the tones create a cave-like ambiance, complemented by Vipp’s neutral-toned furniture pieces, the V1 kitchen and items from nearby craft shops and vintage finds.
Outdoors, a terrace equipped with a wood-fired hot tub offers 360-degree panoramic views.
“Surrounded by old-growth trees in Latvia’s national park, this new guesthouse, situated on the bank of the Salaca River, is a compact log cabin that demonstrates how older homes can be transformed for modern life while still maintaining their historic charm,” concludes Kasper Egelund, CEO of Vipp.
