How Homes in Iceland are Different than the USA
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Published 2023-06-18
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All Comments (21)
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The reason they don’t have a lot of carpet is due to one of your differences—they heat their floors not the air. Putting carpet over heated floors would make the heated floors less effective at heating the home.
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It all sounds very sane and practical. No one trying to out do another, just living a good life. I like that.
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If you don't have space, it's good to be content and grateful for what you do have in life!!
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Im an Icelander in America, and I prefer the American walk-in closets, big fridge and big appliances. Also big beds and bedrooms. I’m keeping the separate duvets though and the hardwood floors 😁
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My family has always removed shoes when entering the house. It probably comes from the type of work that was done outside the home. It's a habit I grew up practicing and I still practice it today. Most of the people I know consider it to be good manners to remove your shoes when entering someone's home.
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I think most homes in Iceland are made from concrete and steel because they have no timber resources. Japan has a lot of earthquakes. They also get typhoons. They also have a lot of timber. Their wooden temples and homes have withstood earthquakes and hurricane winds for centuries. Wood is supposedly superior to reinforced concrete for earthquakes as it bends and sways with the shocks.
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We started using separate comforters a long time ago due to medical needs. It was a game changer! It's one of the best things we did as a couple. No more fighting for blankets or one pushing the covers off while the other is pulling them up. I actually give that as my "marriage wisdom" comment for weddings. lol
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In Japan, everyone takes off their shoes when entering a home or school. It is being respectful. On my side here in the US, just super practical to cut down on all the grossness of the outdoors coming in and reduces my cleaning house work load!
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When I was in Iceland in 2021, I was so impressed by how safe it felt. Everyone walks everywhere in the city centers and I didn't feel sketchy about being out after dark.
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As a NYC resident, I visited Iceland in 1981 in late November (cheap flight). My memories are my Alafoss wool jacket, freezing all night in Hofn, and stopping all traffic in front of the Parliament because I was standing on the corner and drivers did not know which street I would cross. I was just taking pictures until someone asked which way. 😂
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I have a ranch style house with big porches. In the late spring, summer and early fall we spend a lot of time outside hanging out or doing things in my stand alone 2 car garage with shop. Americans who don't live in the city want privacy and freedom. I am from Germany and there are all these considerations you have to make living with neighbors all around you. I can play music, watch movies at midnite with surround sound and do things without everyone knowing my business or being on the other side of a wall.
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the washer/dryer (and sometimes one machine that does both) are in the bathroom because that's where the plumbing piping is located for easy hook up.
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I grew up in a house outside Boston, built in 1740'. Solid maple timber framed. Stone foundation. All original hardwood floors. It will easily be around 100 years from now.
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I like how you get right to the point and don't have a lot of fluff in the beginning of your video and really all throughout. Very nice.
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I got to live outside the US for 4 years, what an eye opening experience. I was in the desert so not so civil as Iceland but the experience was life changing. I encourage everyone travel, it will make you life better.
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Everything described here is similar to the area around Stuttgart, Germany, where I lived in ‘92 and ‘93. I have to confess, I never got used to the aesthetic of Northern Europe. Except for the restored historic town centers, everything looked to me like a warehouse district or housing project. Combined with the perpetually overcast skies, I found it to be terribly depressing. I was so happy and relieved to get back to the ‘big skies,’ the lush greenery and wide open spaces of southwest Idaho.
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Wood is not necesarily too fragile for earthquakes and storms. There are very old wood buildings in Japan, a country on the "Ring of Fire" and in the path of typhoons. It's the design, not the material. It actually very interesting how they adapted their building to the hazards of the environment. Architects have studied the earthquake adaptations of Japan's old buidings to improve the earthquake proof designs.
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As a general contractor, in Oklahoma, I can share that carpeting is much less common than hard surface. Oklahoma was an area that carpeting was common, but that has greatly shifted over the years. When we are asked for carpet its typically in a bedroom, but still less common
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I would be very happy with a smaller but well planned functional home. One thing I loathe about my open concept home is that so much of it is unusable space. Love cozy rooms! ❤
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We have wall to wall carpeting in our period home. Its cozy and beautiful. We wear slippers or socks inside , street shoes outside. Vacuum several times a week , professionally cleaned once a year.
