Tour Ólafur Darri Ólafsson’s Homes in Iceland

The actor, whose credits include The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and True Detective, tells us about his favorite spots in his Icelandic apartment and scenic summer home.

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August 14, 2015

By: Susan Hornik

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Summer House: Exterior

When he’s not acting, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson (who you may remember as the hilarious drunken pilot in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty) splits his time between his Iceland apartment and his parents' summer house, seen here.

View

“There is a lovely view from the summer house all the way out to sea,” Ólafur says. “A lot of Icelanders have ‘summer’ houses, as they are called. It has to be said that most of them are also used in winter.”

Deck

A view from the veranda. Despite its name, Ólafur says his favorite time to visit the summer house is mid-winter. “It is so cozy when you can just stay indoors, reading a book, while the really bad weather and long hours of darkness are outside,” he notes.

Dining Area

A casual dining area opens to the home’s large wraparound deck.

Living Room

The small but cozy living room features a large window to showcase the home’s stunning views.

Guesthouse

A view of the summer home’s guesthouse and hot tub. “It’s really lovely to use it, especially in winter,” Ólafur says.

Exterior

Ólafur’s other home is what he calls “the typical Icelandic apartment.” Pictured here is the view from the balcony. “On a clear day you can see forever,” he says.

Living Area

Red is one of Ólafur’s favorite colors for home decor, as seen in this sitting area with a red velvet couch handed down from his girlfriend’s grandparents. “This is my girlfriend’s favorite piece of furniture,” he says, “It took me a while, but I think it is quite lovely now.”

Sculpture

Displayed in the living room, this sculpture was created by Ólafur’s high school classmate, Halla Gunnarsdottir. “I went to her studio and saw a much bigger version of the sculpture, which I really loved, but was far too big for my apartment,” he says. “A couple of months later, she called and said she had made a smaller version of the sculpture and asked if I would like to see it. It was love at first sight!”

Daughter’s Bedroom

Ólafur’s daughter’s bedroom features a wealth of stuffed animals, books and other toys. “I just bought the car at a flea market in Madagascar,” he says.