Bringing Hygge and Health to the Burrows Haus

Given that I am a hygge and health-obsessed human and Erick is originally from a line of Fins, it only made sense that we include an element of both in the exterior and interior of our home - and from the day we went and toured the house, we knew exactly how we would achieve that: a Finnish style barrel sauna, which would offer a cozy respite tucked away in the woods, ready to fire up at a moment’s notice. Enter: the Almost Heaven Grandview barrel sauna.

The day we first toured our house, before it was even officially ours, we walked in the forested side yard of the Burrows Haus and told our realtor, “we’re going to build a sauna out here… it will be our little escape from the inevitably rainy and low mood winters.” He smiled and nodded, likely doubting our ability to deliver on our dream… but he clearly didn’t know how committed we are to both hygge and health.

Over the coming few months, we would chip away at our dream, little by little. Erick’s background in landscaping as a teen meant he knew exactly how to tackle the project, and I’m sure glad he did, because it was a bit overwhelming to me at first… mainly, the very thing we love about our house can also at times be a vice: it is built on a sloped, steep hill, which meant all of our side yard was also sloped and tricky to build a flat platform on. But Erick was on the job and by taking it one step at a time, we were able to make the dream come to life.

Step One: Hack away all of the weeds, stake out the perimeter of base.

Creating a level base that is strong and porous (this is the PNW after-all) is important for this project. Removing as much organic material before putting down the gravel base ensures stability for decades to come.

Fern identification and removal planning

Step Two: Build a retaining wall and build a platform to be level, settle in the platform materials

We used a gravel paver base from Home Depot. For a typical project, a few inches over flat ground will suffice for a stable platform. We went above and beyond to build the entire platform with the material because it reduces the risk of damage from water runoff.

Retaining wall is critical for rainy Seattle

Step Three: Assemble the components, install the doors, complete the stave installation

You will need at least 2 people to install the doors, but it was easier than expected. Patience is a virtue, double check all of your work and make sure the staves align as best as possible.

Contrary to initial instincts, we found it particularly useful to install the benches during this phase due to added light and more space for the install.

Installing the top half of the staves is where you should slow down, and use the rubber hammer to lock them in gently. From time to time, we would bring out a level to make sure there were not any unintended changes.

Installing the last stave was one of the most challenging points of the install, but this was because of the height of the pad and a poor angle to get the final staves into place. It should have a slight outward bow, and then the straps will help seal the structure into a uniform cylinder.

First views of a standing sauna structure

Carefully installing the door into its grooves

Step Four: Install the stove, install the chimney, reduce any fire hazards

We had to troubleshoot this step a few times and learned some critical things along the way. Installing a wood stove (Harvia M3) isn’t as well documented as the electric stove install. We pieced together some information to include a few more steps/improve the order of operation.

FIRST, install the stove and install the stove’s heat shield. Attempting this after the chimney was installed is not worth it (ask us how we know). Make sure you use the chrome chimney base provided, not the one that comes with the Harvia M3. Make sure to plug the chimney exit on the back of the stove, and if the screw to the metal flap is stripped, rip it out the flap with pliers.

Once the stove is sorted, then work on the chimney. The provided instructions are very clear on the necessary steps, and cutting a hole into the ceiling isn’t as scary as you’d think. Just reminder to measure twice (or 5 times) and cut once.

Once installed, carefully trim any branches/trees within a 5 foot radius of the chimney.

Surprisingly, the Harvia M3 is able to accept typical length firewood. With that being said, you will want a lot of kindling sized logs to get it doing, and I do not recommend overly thick logs. Slight smoke upon ignition is normal as the flume heats up!

Step Five: Finesse the landscaping to make for the ultimate hygge forest entryway

We found it really important to buy natural materials for the walkway so as not to contrast the natural beauty of the sauna. Flagstone provides a great natural look.

Tools needed for the project:

Hammer
Sizable rubber mallet
Large & small level (we used the large one to make sure the pad was level, as well as the staves)
Nail-gun (it makes things a lot easier, but isn’t required)
Drill
Jigsaw (if you have a wood stove)
Measuring tape
A few friends

Reasons we think everyone should get an Almost Heaven barrel sauna:

Because look at it! So cute. So hygge. Very demure.
The health benefits are undeniable: improved cardiovascular health, blood pressure, joint function, breathing, and don’t get me started on the effects on mental health. As a person who is still in the tail stages of recovery from a significant mold exposure, all these benefits just from… sitting… are music to my ears!
We all need a lot more rest in our lives, particularly during the slower, darker seasons. Having a “third place” to escape to allows us to do that, and have a dedicated place for doing so.
Community: being able to partake in an activity like this with people we care for is a rewarding experience. In the Nordics, there is an entire social component around sauna life, and we are entirely here for it. You are invited to sauna at our house any time… but only if we can join!

As always, we are forever grateful to our partners who support us on these projects. Almost Heaven Saunas has been helpful and supportive every step of the way, and you can feel their excitement for their products, which trickles down to the customer experience. Bravo!