The Rococo style, which emerged in the early 18th century, originated in France and quickly spread throughout Europe, […]
Category: Guides – Nordic Decorating
See more pictures of these wall paintings on Miras Mirakel’s blog. Picture Credit – naturbilder.biz […]
Located in a sunny 1,250-square-foot bungalow, Madre features children’s clothing and accessories, furniture, lighting, artwork, handmade ceramics, […]
Guest Post by Jason Phillips The 18th century Swedish interior was a manifestation of neo-classism across Europe. It […]
I don’t know what kind of leader King Gustav III of Sweden was, but he really had some […]
A Swedish twist on French neoclassicism, Gustavian décor may date back to the 18th century, but its suddenly popping […]
A New Dissertation From Uppsala University Shows How Gustavian Style Has Defined Swedish Tastes In Art Why has […]
Theriault’s Antique Doll Auctions, Found on theriaults.com –Antique baby carriage by rubyblossom. on Flickr Stationary Panel Crib W/ […]
19th Century Swedish Painted Cabinets – Find It on Ebay Vintage Mid-Century Daybed by Karl-Erik Ekselius for Dux […]
The Swedish Country House by Susanna Scherman- Found on homedesign.marthastewart.com
Guest Post – Jason Phillips
Linen is a type of fabric or textile manufactured from fibers. The making process is laborious, and the result is truly remarkable. Many things are made of linen including towels, aprons, bags, tablecloths, bed linens, runners, curtains, drapes, upholstery covers and more. Textiles that feature a linen weave texture, even those made in combination with hemp or cotton, are also referred to as linens; some have specific names, such as madapolam, which is a fine cotton yard wove in linen style.
Linen textiles have an incredible history. Fragments of seeds, yards, straw and additional types of materials date back to 8000 BC, and were usually found in Swedish homes. In Ancient Egypt, linens were used as currency, and the mummies had to be wrapped in this luxury material as a symbol of purity and light. Nowadays, fine linens are high-priced yet incredibly qualitative.
Curtains And Drapes
In the early 18th century most homes still used shutters to block light and make the place appear private and secluded from the eyes of people on the street. However, they had a fuller texture and came in different styles than in the 17th century. As for the materials, main fabrics were cotton chintz, taffeta, and velvet. A valance or pelmet cornice was usually employed to hide the workings. Then the paired curtains made an entrance. They were topped with stiffened pelmets and featured embroidery work and appliqués; also, they had a really elegant shape. The linen fabric used for the curtains included Rococo motifs, including knots of ribbons, garlands of flowers, and leave fronds.
By the middle of the century, pelmets became a lot softer, with small tails and shallow swagging and bells. Portieres had lighter curtains and deeper pelmets designed in Italian style. Store marquises, also known as light silk festoons, were widely used with beautifully draped pelmets. At the end of the 18th century, roller blinds made an entrance as well. Their use was first recorded in 1726, in London.
Fabrics
There was a great variety of fancy fabrics one could select from in the 18th century. There was one industry in particular that thrived – the silk industry. Fragile florals, lace, and scallop, as well as patterns that incorporated doves and other beautiful prints were in high demand. Inside people’s homes silk was the most appreciated. It was used for linings, beds, tables and inner covers. During that time the bed in the bedroom had sophisticated hangings, which were also made of silk; those who could afford to invest in such fancy linens, bought Genoese silk velvet.
For the windows, brocades and silk damasks were highly appreciated. For hangings, brocatelle was still in high demand. Ribbed silk, satin, chintz, taffeta and clouded silk were all exceptional materials used mainly for curtains. Those who couldn’t afford such fancy linens had great alternatives, such as moreen for draperies and beds, and velvet or silk mohair for chair coverings.
The most exclusive chintz was manufactured in Versailles, and was produced by Jouy-en-Josas. However, throughout the 18th century, in England and France there was an anti-cloth law materializing. It was aimed at protecting silk and wool industries. The production went full ahead in 1770.
Sophisticated Trimmings
In the 18th century there was a wide variety of sophisticated trimmings materializing in Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, England and Switzerland, mainly due to the battle of Huguenot craftsmen n the 1600s France. Narrow and broad bands of rich colored lace were used thus contrasting the rich, new techniques. Furthermore, fancy details started being used such as frogging, gold galloon and artificial flowers on valance and pelmets; these were meant to replace entirely heavy trims found in the 17th century.Embroidered, tie backs or appliquéd and ended with ribbons or bows became a new feature in home décor that many people adopted for their window treatments.
Decorating with 18th century linens from the French period will add sophistication to your personal space. Give your windows the treatment they deserve and use luxury linen materials for the curtains and shades. Make your bedroom seem romantic, your living area chic and welcoming, and your kitchen practical and fun. Consider the best materials and the finest shapes, and your entire home will come back to life.
19th Century France Napoleon III Settee
Pair of 19th Century French, Napoleon III Armchairs
Gustavian Lounge Chair, Sweden, c.1780, Found on 1stdibs.com
Anna Maria King Upholstered Bed Found on ballarddesigns.com Mlinaric, Henry and Zervudachi Sweden Early 20th Century A great […]
Guest Post Jason Phillips Your kid’s bedroom has to look fun and entertaining; otherwise the little ones may […]
The design of your kids rooms should be an extension of your overall home, and your style. You don’t have to have a room filled with cartoon characters plastered all over the walls to be a fun mom.
Here are a couple quick tips for decorating your kids room with youthfulness, while maintaining a beautiful design.
- Limit The Number Of Pieces In A Room- Free up space. Choose a couple of really nice pieces for your kids rooms, and allow there to be some moveable room for your kids to play. Many modern homes simply don’t have big second bedrooms, so think storage when choosing pieces for their room. Functional dressers, and beds with storage options.
- Add Storage Space For Toys – Teach your kids to put away their toys in a specific space. We made over all the closets in our home using a simple brackets bought from Home Depot. Line baskets in the closet where your kids can put away their own toys. Have one row for their clothes, and use the remaining shelves for their toys. When their rooms are cleaner, you don’t loose your mind over the mess.
- Pretty Up Their Space By Adding Wall Shelves- Their real toys can be housed in the closet, while the more decorative antique toys can be on the wall. If you love design, make their room functional, but use the wall space to your advantage. Use wood that can be painted and then distressed. Rarely do you see people using the full extent of the walls. Create book shelves that go to the ceiling, and use the higher shelves for the decorative toys. So many of the thrift stores today have porcelain dolls for next to nothing. I have picked up beautiful porcelain dolls for our daughter for as little as $5 dollars a doll that she can eventually play with.
- Invest In The Right Fabric- Printed fabric can make a huge statement in a room. If you don’t have time to sew, look for bed comforters that gives you the look you are after. Order curtains in the same fabric for throw pillows, or upholster an accent chair using that fabric to match things up.
- Go For A Really Nice Antique- An antique toy on a shelf, or a nice bed can really make a statement in a room. You don’t need a heck of a lot of furniture, or toys…just one really nice piece and few accent pieces to make a room. The Nordic style is based around simple interiors, so work that look by carefully choosing a few really functional, but nice pieces.
- Mix in New With Old- You can get the Swedish look by using new modern pieces. Decorate with pattern, but incorporate new furniture. Go for the classic check pattern with a new bed. Work with ribbon, and bring in color.
- Blow Up A Vintage Print– I bought several picture frames at local yard sales, but the prints were old and outdated. I took a print that my grandmother gave me from a calendar book, and blew it up at Staples. This is a very inexpensive way to fill up large frames with beautiful art work.
See these posts:
My Botanical Print Gallery Wall – Her Site
My Winter Projects- My Nursery And Framing Projects- Part 1
48 Books Of Antique Graphics For Mod Podge Fabric And Wood Transfers
Melissa and Doug Plush Dogs – Amazon
A History of Book Illustration -Amazon This collection of scholarly articles traces the history of book illustration from its first notion in cave art to the early 20th century. It is arranged chronologically with the first section covering the beginning of illustration; the second moves from the illuminated manuscript to the advent of printing; the third and fourth takes the reader from the earliest woodcut illustrations to the beginning of the 20th century; and the final part is concerned with children’s books
Antique Vintage European Textiles On Ebay
House Beautiful Magazine featured the top favorite red colors from the most famous interior designers. Here are my favorite 9 red shades of paint from their selection of 24
TOP ROW:
1.”This is a really deep coral, kind of like a cheerful Chinese red. Pinks and reds to me are synonymous with frozen drinks and relaxing.” –Richard Mishaan Pictured, Benjamin Moore‘s Chili Pepper 2004-20
2.”When I look for red, I want a pure, true red, like the color in the American flag. Ralph Lauren does absolutely the best. It’s the essence of red. It makes me think of boating or polo.” –Suzanne Kasler Pictured, Ralph Lauren Paint‘s Dressage Red TH41
3. “Red never goes out of style. It’s full of life — always fresh, always fun to wake up to. We go for reds with less blue in them and more orange because they’re happier to live with.” –William Diamond and Anthony Baratta Pictured, Ralph Lauren Paint‘s Lattice Red IB57
MIDDLE ROW:
4. “It’s a true, deep red. I like the temperature of it: it’s a bit cooler. But a little red goes a long way. It’s good in areas where you don’t spend much time or in boring areas that need a strong burst of color.” –Roderick Shade Pictured, Benjamin Moore‘s Million Dollar Red 2003-10
5. Benjamin Moore‘s Redstone was used in Eldon Wong’s cupboard.
6. “All my life I’ve pursued the perfect red. I can never get painters to mix it for me. It’s exactly as if I’d said “I want Rococo with a spot of Gothic in it and a bit of Buddhist temple” — they have no idea what I’m talking about.” –Diana Vreeland Pictured, Benjamin Moore‘s Red 2000-10
BOTTOM ROW:
7. “Red is the color of excitement, and I tend to go for corally orange reds. With red, you know you’ve arrived and you glance in the mirror and realize how great you look and breeze right in.” –Keith Irvine Pictured, Benjamin Moore‘s Salsa 2009-20
8.”I prefer the warm, vibrant reds to the historic reds, which are beautiful but sedate. This is a daring red, a real fire engine red. It has a playfulness that reminds me of a little red schoolhouse.” –Ruthie Sommers Pictured, Fine Paints of Europe‘s Dutchlac Brilliant Tulip Red W1001B-M
9.”Lately I’m on this anti-completely-neutral kick. You have to have some seasoning in your rooms. Sangria is good, universal-donor red — not too blue, not too orange, not too dark.” –Elissa Cullman Pictured, Benjamin Moore‘s Sangria 2006-20
Frijsenborg Castle
House Beautiful Color Celerie Kemble’s Advice
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The Swedish style is a bright decorating style, in which presents a peaceful, liveable, serene place to live in. The lighter interior looks have always been popular in the Nordic countries for centuries. Pale wall colors, lighter painted furniture, throws and bedding in white, or pastels tended to give the illusion of light, which was particularly welcoming through Sweden’s long winter evenings.
1. Lighter Painted Walls Allow You To Do More With Your Interior
To achieve the Swedish style, consider starting with the foundational walls of your room in a lighter paint tone. Gray, or tones of light green, blue or natural creamy white will complement accessories in touches of warm yellow and gold. Using a neutral base color such as ivory, beige, or light gray will complement additional colors added into the room. Consider soft pink, bold red, for stenciling ribbons, scrolls and gatherings of wheat upon walls.
Like your walls and draperies, keep your floors light and bright. Consider blonde or pale woods, or a lighter hued paint for your floors. If you want to jazz things up, stencil or paint pale designs on the floor’s surface.
- Thinking About Painting Your Floor? Consider These 10 Tips First…. Hersite Blog
- Polish Your Concrete To Make It Look Like Marble- Hersite Blog
- How To Paint Your Wood Subfloor- Hersite Blog
- How To Use Plywood As Wood Flooring- The Swedish Furniture
Floor coverings can make all the difference in a room. Natural fiber rugs, such as berber, jute, sisal rugs are natural and a neutral covering that works with any style and decor choice.
An alternative to painted walls is wallpaper patterns. If you consider wallpaper, work with a neo-classic style with soft colors on a white background. Floral prints, swags, ribbons and bows are a common theme that runs through Gustavian style. A touch of gold gilding is important as an accent, and adds the prestige into your rooms.
- 6 Stencils I have My Eye On- Which One Is Your Favorite? – Hersite Blog
- My Favorite 216 Selections From Wallpaper Direct! The Swedish Furniture
- Wallpaper Used In Svartsjö Palace- The Swedish Furniture
- Spring Summer Checks and Florals For The Swedish Home- The Swedish Furniture
- Buy Floral, Chintz, And Gustavian Wallpaper and Fabrics From My Friend Paula At Lily Oake
2. Pair a Settee At One Side Of Your Dining Table
While many of us may not have the room, a settee at the dining table really looks fabulous if you can pull it off. My friend Stephanie Tuliglowski went for a French Provence look in her house, and paired a large farmhouse table with a French settee. In this photo, you can see she left the settee in it’s natural wood, instead of painting it. It gives the room so much more of a natural, cozy feel.
The “Köksoffa” has been known as the kitchen sofa, and originates from the 1700’s. The idea behind this sofa was it could be used during the day, and then pulled out at night to be used as a bed. Rooms were smaller, and often pieces were created for multi purposes. The sofas were often painted and antique versions often can be seen having a dark patina from the paint aging over time.
3. Rotate Your Collections Through Out The Year
The Nordic style of decorating has always been one to border on minimalism. Invest in pieces that function as storage solutions which can hide away your belongings, while at the same time look decorative.
- Leave Armoire Doors Open- If you have a armoire, paint the inside a different color than the outside, and leave the doors open to display what you have.
- Paint The Inside Of Your Cabinets, Or Bookcases In A Different Color– Spice up your collections by painting the inside of your drawers, or cabinets in a color that will pop. If you are decorating around the creams, consider a darker buff, vanilla, apricot, or saffron for the inside.
- Rotate Your Decorative Accessories through out the year, and mount more of your collections on the wall. If you do collect, consider keeping only the best of what you already own, and discard the rest. Use lighting to draw attention to those items that you want to be seen.
- Group Decorative Items In Pairs, or Collections. Gather your pictures in one spot, and create a collection by using the same frames. Simplify your pictures by working in black and white, or sepia tones. Work with cabinets, bookcases, or wall shelving to give your collections a really upscale look.
- Store Collections In Boxes Which Can Be Painted– In this photo, you can see a picture of Eric Pike’s home office, where magazine boxes, and storage boxes look sophisticated on shelves.
26 Ways To Organize With Shoe Boxes- Kids Room Decor
4. Push Chairs And Side Tables Against The Walls
This is a classic Swedish look that is found in most historical Nordic homes. Chairs and tables were pushed against the wall, creating more space in a room. Furniture was positioned in the center of the room, allowing more room between furniture pieces. Position one chair by itself, or gather your chairs in sets of threes.
5. Redesign Your Closet Space
As soon as my husband and I moved into our new home, I wanted to make the best use of our closet space. You can see some of my closet makeovers at my new website Hersite.
- My Summer Projects, My Garage Makeover-Hersite
Shelving brackets were bought from Home Depot, and wood shelves, which were painted were added to our closets. Paint makes everything so much more inviting.
Why NOT make use of the wall space all the way up to the ceiling? Instead of having one rod in your closet, break the wall up so you can have two rods. Show off those expensive heels you only wear once a year, and coordinate your wardrobe into color schemes. Your closets can look like they were professionally designed.
In this picture of Eric Pike’s home, he transforms an ordinary closet into a beautiful display for his tableware. The interior of the closet is painted in a darker gray, and collections are grouped together.
French Wall Sconces On Ebay
6. Work With Neoclassical Lamps And Mount Wall Sconces For The Classic Swedish Look
Wall sconces can look very romantic in the Swedish setting. We should light candles more often, and working with candles on the wall, than on the table is the safer route to prevent fires from happening.
Decide if you want something simple or ornate in style for wall sconces. Today you can purchase an ornate set of French wall sconces for around $90 dollars on Ebay. Place a set of two sconces on either side of a mirror or painting.
Plain table lamps can be dressed up by recovering plain shades. Purchase simple barrel shades from your local big box store, and re-cover them with the same upholstery material as your accent chairs and slipcovers. Chandeliers and lamps add light to an already bright interior.
- 16 Lamp Updates For My Home In 2 Years- Hersite Blog
Use mirrors to create the illusion of even more open space and to reflect light, and use light colored accents like blue and white china, silver and glass to add shine and style.
House Beautiful- 26 Designers Share Their Favorite Grays
House Beautiful Designer Grays 3: Top Row, 1-Pratt Lamberts Argent 1322, 2-Farrow Balls Light Blue 22, 3- Farrow Balls Green Blue 84 Middle Row, 1- Benjamin Moores Cedar Grove 444, 2-Ralph Lauren Paints Blue-Green GH81, 3-Benjamin Moores Colony Green Bottom Row, 1-Benjamin Moores Heavenly Blue, 2-Benjamin Moores Palladian Blue HC-144, 3-Benjamin Moores Sage Tint
House Beautiful- 26 Designers Share Their Favorite Grays
Benjamin Moore’s Colony Green, Ralph Lauren’s Blue-Green GH81, Benjamin Moore’s Cedar Grove 444
Mora Clock Seen At Bagatelle Antiques, Green Painted Mora Seen On Attic Mag.com, Blue/ Green Mora From Eloquence
Lindome Swag Table, H:34″ D:24″ W:36″ Lindome Console Table -H:34″ D:16″ W:62″ If you love furniture with layers […]
Youth Kid-Size Wood Chair Blue , Gray, Black, White Add a little Nordic flavor to your child’s room, […]
Inspiring Interiors Blog posted some terrific pictures of a barn styled home with a Scandinavian styled interior. If you are looking for a country styled look, consider how this home is set up.
Start With A Gray Palette
Starting out with gray through out your house can be a really simple way to decorate the rest of your home. To make it interesting, choose several shades of gray which you can work through your home.
For my own home, I decided that lighter colors worked well in larger rooms, while the more saturated shades could punch things up in the closets, the bathrooms, and smaller rooms.
Using gray through out your home allows your home to flow nicer than having one bright bold color in each room of the house. Later if you want to add color, simply attach a chair rail, and paint the upper half of the wall. You can add depth with accessories and wall art.
Work With Muted Shades For Country Styles
The wood walls in this home look very primitive with a gray wash. Some walls are left natural while others are painted. In one of the rooms, dried floral wreaths add a rustic touch to the walls. Here is an example of a captivating look that is inexpensive.
Helichrysum Strawflowers are one of my favorite florals. Pick flowers for drying when they are open, but not fully mature. Hang the stems upside down in a cool-well ventilated spot to dry. Avoid over-watering during the growing season, and these florals will look spectacular dried in a vase or a floral wreath.
Incorporate Red And Rust…….
Red is a classic country color that is commonly seen in the countryside of Sweden. Barns and countryside homes are painted rich reds, making it a very classic color to work with. Painting a chest of drawers or an accent chair in Falu red can really bring out the country side of Scandinavian decorating. Pair together rusty metal urns, and accessories like natural straw, hay, wicker, baskets for that country feel.
The house below was originally an eighteenth century barn which was converted into a guest house. This lovely barn is located in the village of Saint-Hilaire-sur-Helpe, in France, and pairs together both the Swedish and French rustic styles.
Photography by Corinne Schanté-Angel, All images from here.
Early 19th Century Female Portrait –Maison Maison
Swedish Rococo Chest-A. Tyner Antiques
PÄRLVIVA Cushion Cover From Ikea
One of the easiest ways to decorate in the flavor of the Swedish style is through the use of fabrics.
My husband and I took a trip up to Canada a few weeks ago, and I had the chance to visit one of my favorite stores, Ikea. We got to Ikea around 7pm, so we didn’t have a lot of time to shop before the store closed up. I missed a few items on my list, but thankfully, most of their new and old collections are available on ebay.
In my early 20’s I had the chance to work at Ikea as a short term job though the summer, and I loved it. When I go to Ikea, I tend to look for the classic accessories that would fit into a home designed around the antique styles. Their linens, wood mirrors, bowls, glass accessories, and throw rugs are the best products at Ikea.
Their drapery, bedsheets, comforters, and pillows are always great buys. They have wonderful selection of pillow covers from year to year, which allow you to exchange out patterns in your home without having to sew, cut and assemble it yourself.
Adding florals in your home is one way to bring the garden inside. Ikea often keeps their florals and stripe fabric from year to year, giving you a really classic pattern to work with for your Swedish inspired interior. They also have a friendly mix of new updated modern looks that fit into the Swedish styled looks as well.
Quick Updates For The Summer
Change Up Your Bedroom
If you are looking to update your bedroom for the summer, buy a duvet set. If you can handle a sewing machine, buy a second set of the same pattern and add make slipcovers for your chairs or lamp shades. You could have a summer and winter look for your bedroom without spending a ton of money.
In the book “In Bringing It Home – Sweden” Author Cheryl MacLachlan gives us some really easy tips for pulling together the Swedish look in your bedroom.
– She says that the classic Swedish fabrics belong to three families: Stripes, Checks and Motifs inspired by nature. You cannot go wrong with any of these three choices.
– In the finest homes, the bedrooms were fitted with hand carved poster beds or gracious carved bed-crowns. Consider buying a canopy bed, or replicate the look by hanging drapery from the ceiling using rod holders made for the ceiling.
– If you prefer the 17th and 18th century romantic bed looks, consider making your own bed crown out of wood, upholstering it, and attaching it to the wall. Match your bed linens to the fabric draperies hung from the crown to create a dramatic look for your bedroom.
– Swedish beds were distinguished by the treatment of the wood frame. The bed frames were usually carved and painted in a pale gray, or an “English red” the name for a reddish brown color.
– Select bed linens in pale shades of soft sky blues, pale yellows and grays.
-If you have an antique wood bed, consider sanding it down to it’s raw pine state. Raw pine wood is beautiful without paint.
Update Your Living Room
-A very easy way to update your living room for the spring and summer season is to purchase throw pillows. Ikea has throw pillow covers for as little as 7 dollars.
– Exchange out the heavier blankets used in the winter for lighter throws. Go for color, and pattern on your sofa.
– Don’t be afraid of colors such as pink and light blue. Pink can be pretty on a chair, or consider a print on the wall in the color tones of pink and green. Botanical prints featuring flowers can be a nice way of updating your walls in the summer. Go for a pretty pink slipcover, or bed linens.
– A nice floral centerpiece can be really captivating for the summer. I am always surprised at the quality of the florals at Michael’s crafts. Go for a large floral mix, in the colors you dream about, and build your room around it.
– Pick up a set of summer dinner plates. Adding some color to your table can really lift the spirit.
– Go flea market shopping and pick up something really bright for your interior. Consider painting a side table, or a wood accessory. A pop of color can go a long way. Go for something that really is fun, and exciting!
“ Bringing It Home – Sweden” Author Cheryl MacLachlan
In Bringing It Home – Sweden, Cheryl MacLachlan
Another look at this room from Cheryl’s book…..
NYPONROS – Queen Size Duvet Set $39 at Ikea
Swedish Checks For The Summer Found on housetohome.co.uk
Large Scale Checked Fabric- BERTA RUTA From Ikea
Finding heavy weight blue and white fabric for upholstery can be difficult. After shopping at some of the largest fabric stores, I have found Ikea to have some of the best heavy weight fabrics at reasonable price points.
After ordering several check prints on ebay and amazon, I found the number one problem, is the size of the box print to be very small, or 2, the fabric is so paper thin, that it would be difficult to upholster with. Ikea’s fabric section is limited, I find their fabrics are heavier, and cost less than most fabric stores. I have used the Berta Ruta pattern in my home for my upholstered pieces. Use some of their lighter fabrics for making slipcovers.
Find Berta Ruta in Red, Navy, Black and Beige – At Ikea
There are so many shades of blue, which one do you pick? Swedish decorating is known for their partiality towards the color blue. Blue is one of the staple colors in 18th Swedish century decorating, so if you plan on decorating with this style, we can give you a few ways to incorporate the color blue into your design scheme.
First decide if you want a formal or country appearance in your home. Knowing which look you are attracted to can help determine accessories, furniture, drapery and wall treatments.
1. Formal Blue Interiors – Blue-gray, painted finishes became popular after King Gustav ruled in 1772, and since then they still remain fashionable.
Formal Swedish Tips- Line Furniture Up Against The Wall- This is a classic Swedish touch that can give the look of finer living. If you have a room where you can line a set of three chairs against the wall, or a pair of chairs and a accent table, this will always give your room that refined, superior Swedish appearance. Push your furniture in the middle of the room, and if you have a tv, consider hanging it on the wall. I find that this arrangement always gives the look of more space. You can never have too many chairs. Collect furniture that have fluted legs, such as side tables, benches, or chairs.
Formal Swedish Tips- Buy A Long Oval Table – Here is a Henredon oval table selling on ebay for just over $1000. Strip off the finish and paint it gray. A long, dining table echoes the simple curves of early Gustavian style. Dress up your furniture in light, greenish blue-gray paint finishes to get the high end looks found in the Swedish castles. Consider investing in a crystal chandelier, which coordinates with white or really pale blue or pastel walls and work with white upholstery. Squared picture moldings, and sconces really can add to this formal Swedish appearance. Consider stenciling your walls with green-blue leaf patterns along the inner edges of the walls, and collect old styled portrait oil paintings with dark grounds which give rooms a dark accent.
Formal Swedish Tips- Go For Gold Accents– Dress up your furniture with furniture appliques and ormolu mounts. You can make any picture frame seem so much more expensive by adding gold leaf. Gold leaf is really simple to apply. Follow this link, and I show you where I buy my gold leaf on ebay. Buy a sconce and gold leaf it. Get ideas from this post, where I wrote about the sconces that are the most sought after from collectors world wide. A thin rectangular mirror on ebay can be a great look, which you can then add on a brass candle holder. This DIY project will give you the Swedish look for less.
– Decorative Mirror Molding, French White Bow- $21 Buy it on ebay
– Decorative Scrolls For Mirrors, and Dressers – $40 Buy it on ebay
– Ribbon Bows Mold, Decorate Mirrors and Furniture- $13 Buy it on ebay
-Ormolu French Gilded Furniture Ribbon Large- $35 Buy it on ebay
Louis XV Antique GILT WOOD handcrafted CARTEL WALL CLOCK estimated $1200- buy it for $350, buy it on ebay
Antique Gilt Wood Cartel Clock $450 on ebay– buy it on ebay
– Formal Swedish Tips- Go Brighter With Bright Blue and White- Go for a home that has white accessories and upholstery. Don’t be afraid to go with bolder blues for drapery, upholstery and bed linens. Brighter blues look great in formal settings.
-20 Yard Bolt – 44/45″ White Polycotton Liberty BROADCLOTH- $61 Buy it on ebay
– Solid Poly Cotton Fabric In Bright Blue – Buy it on ebay
-Fabric By The Bolt – 40 YARD BOLT $190 on ebay- Buy it on ebay
-Sunbrella Canvas Air Blue Outdoor Fabric $21 dollars a yard- Buy it on ebay
Cane Back Cushioned Seat Side Wood Chair Fluted Distressed Hammered Nailheads
(Paint it gray, white, blue or what ever colors you are working with. Great frame, great price)
Another great Empire looking Swedish styled chair. Again, the frame would look terrific in a light gray or blue with a white upholstery. This chair sells for $665 on ebay
Here is another great accent chair, get two of these and pair it with a sofa. It is already painted white, and the white upholstery makes this chair look upscale. This chair sells at $719, which includes the shipping on ebay
Swedish Country Rustic Styles
2. Country Keys- Rustic Architecture – Country Swedish style is beautiful and worn. The countryside contains a mixture of rustic elements. Go shopping in architectural salvage yards and collect things that are worn. Wood is the key to getting the look. An old wooden door can be replaced by those builder typical doors you see in new homes. A old ladder can lean against the wall. Paint it in a darker blue and distress the heck out of it. Ceiling beams in their natural wood give an architectural feel to a home. Add some faux hallow wood beams across your ceiling. Get the look without having to hire 5 strong men to anchor it in place. Work with light wood flooring, and natural materials.
–Country Keys- Country Textiles- Skirted sofas, slipcovers in natural blends and textured walls are classic marks of styles found off the beaten path in Sweden. Ebay sells a number of Restoration Hardware’s stone washed Belgian Linen products new in their packages. You can buy new pleated drapes on ebay, along with bedding, pillow cases and more for half the cost in the stores. Raw and natural textures are the key to this look. I ordered this heavy oatmeal linen
for several of my drum lamp shades which I am re-covering. The material is heavy, and would be terrific for upholstery.
– Heavily distressed Mora clocks such as these on ebay, give your room that traditional Swedish look.
– Warm Old Barn Finish Table (paint it, and change the color) – $229 Buy it on ebay
– Reclaimed Salvaged Fir End Side Table- $564 on ebay here
– Country Keys – Go For Color On The Rustic Side– Muddy shades of blue work with the country styles. If you like the lighter shades of baby blue, distress your furniture more than you normally would. This certainly helps when the furniture’s wood is raw and stripped. The paint will blend nicely with the raw woods surface giving you a more authentic appearance. For complementary shades, pair blue with orange-red accents, along with shades of green-blues. Gingham upholstery also looks terrific in a country home, along with florals. Work with carvings, such as art that can be hung on the wall, and accessories that are carved such as standing wood birds which are painted and made from wood. Dala folk horse carvings are a Swedish country favorite. Pillows with embroidered blue-and-white folk patterns nicely work in a country home. Think about hand crafts, such as hand embroidered artwork, quilts, delft fireplace tiles, over-sized ginger jars, and colored glass.
Restoration Hardware Shower Curtains
Carved Mango Wood Accent Table Mindi Veneer Hand Finish Robin’s Egg Blue, this table sells for $229 on ebay Buy it on ebay
Bogstad Manor In Norway Bogstad Manor is a protected cultural monument and one of the few country estates […]
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Osterbybruk The 1700 Collection Swedish Furniture produces furniture that combines the elegant shapes of the furniture found in 18th century Sweden. With […]
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French Commode Lacquered Red From Live Auctioneers
The color red is grand, and is a color everyone considers for their home at one time or another. The color red is a symbol of privilege and wealth. Official seals often use the red, as a gesture of confidence and authority. Red can make a statement in your home in a very powerful way, although it can be hard to execute. We show you 5 ways to pull off this color with success.
5 Ways Of Using Red In Your Home
1. Use Red In The Kitchen Or Entry Way
Red is the color of passion and has been known to stimulate blood pressure and heart rate. Red also sparks passion, love, and enthusiasm, so it is color often used in romantic restaurants. What better place to encourage conversation and hunger, than at the dinner table.
Consider painting your dining room table red. Instead of painting the whole table red, leave the top untouched, in it’s natural wood state. To add a Swedish touch, consider painting the details in gold. In this post, you can see how lovely a red can look in a country provincial style.
2. Use Red In A Pattern on Decoupaged Furniture
There are many ways of decorating with red other than painting your walls. One way of doing this is decoupaging furniture. Decoupaging is rather easy, and you can execute the process a number of ways.
One way is to use cut outs. Simply find an image you like from a magazine or on the Internet, and photocopy it several times over, which you can then cut out, and apply it to a piece of furniture. This Swedish tiled stove would be an excellent example of how lovely a red floral pattern would look on a chest.
You can even take fabric and glue it to a chest, with modge podge glue. Add pattern into your home, or finish off a room based around patterns by decoupaging your furniture.
Inspirational Posts On Decoupaged Furniture
How To Decoupage Furniture– The Swedish Furniture
Louis XV Style Red Lacquer Side Table From Hastening Antiques – Provincial Furniture
4 Easy Steps To Decoupage Beautiful Furniture– The White Dresser
Decoupage Is Simple! Update Your Kids Furniture– Kids Room Decor
Swedish Interiors: How To Decorate With The Color Red– The Swedish Furniture
3. Use Red In Acessories
-Add a bit of a modern glam using abstract art with bold touches of red. Consider using a heavy ornate frame with a modern poster. Modern Styled Paintings or Posters would add a modern touch in a home with plenty of antiques.
–Juju wall hats are a perfect way of adding a bold touch of red in a room. You can purchase these hats in a number of vibrant colors, which can be placed above a dresser, a console table to add in a bold touch of color into your room.
-Below you see the Stockholm apartment in Sweden with the red room. Below it shows a picture of the living room based in white with natural wood furniture. If you want a room based in lighter colors, consider a large area rug in red, like they did. An over-sized floor rug can make a bold impression.
– Another way of adding saturated color into your rooms is to accessorize with red wool blankets. Point blankets can add a rustic touch to your home, and can be thrown over the sofa, or used on the bed, or stacked on a shelf.
– Chairs are a great way of implementing red into a room. Chair frames can be painted red, or upholstered in red fabric.
-If red walls are a bit too risky for you to consider then why not consider red and white bedding? Paint your bed-frame red, with touches of gold, and consider getting a comforter, sheets,a pillowcases all in red. Or paint the frame gold and red, and go with an all white sheeting as you see below.
To start thinking about how you would like to include red in your home, here are a couple […]
This pretty mirror is listed by Junkteer On Ebay
Period 18th Century Danish or Swedish Mid-18th Century Pier Mirror
A small Swedish Gustavian giltwood mirror, Late 18th Century
Swedish mirrors have undergone a number of styles since they were introduced in the country in the 1600s.
German glass makers helped to lead the way, and they created mirrors in the baroque style of their home country. This included carved frames and a single pane of glass. Carvings could be simple or ornate, and frames could be square or rectangle, as seen in this mirror From Cupboards and Roses
Mirrors could also be made more ornate by hanging a curtain over them. This added a bit of flair and formality to the mirror.
A century or so later, more people began acquiring mirrors and the style switched to that of Swedish Rococo. This style featured carvings of shells or arabesques, and the frames were gilded and asymmetrical.
Shortly thereafter, another style evolved. The Gustavian style saw mirrors that were influenced by neoclassical aesthetics. Frames were richly carved and featured intricate leaves, ribbons and crests.
These neoclassical mirrors feature a pair of sphinxes on each mirror on either side of a fruit-bearing
pedestal.
By the early 19th century, the aesthetic was changing again. Roman and Egyptian influences made themselves known, and mirrors featured carvings of things such as lions, sphinxes, and griffins. The frames also took on a distinctive shape, with semi-circular domes at the top and straight edges along the bottom.
This Swedish pier mirror, shows neoclassical details inspired by Napoleon’s Egyptian campaign.
By the middle of the century, mirrors became much more common in everyday households, and production methods became more base. Decoupaged frames became common, or they were veneered.
The style evolution of Swedish antique furniture mirrors was influenced by a number of factors, and it produced some gorgeous mirrors that make excellent collector’s items now.
What is your favorite style of Swedish antique furniture mirror? Share your thoughts or your finds in the comments!
About the Author:
Alexis Bonari writes for one of the largest open databases of college funding opportunities. Specific topics like scholarships for cosmetology school are described in detail to provide multiple resources for students.
Lars Bolander’s Scandinavian Design
Swedish Transition Rococo/ Gustavian Mirror
Turn Of The Century Apartment In Sweden- Interior Design Files
This fine Swedish Adolf Fredrik period rococo gilt wood mirror has carved C-scrolls and foliate motifs.
Swedish Rococo Mirror with gold leaf on wood carved frame and a mirrored
inner frame. Stamped NM (Niklas Meunier), active between 1754-1797.
Vintage Children’s Set On Ebay
With Neoclassical-style fluted details and a high-gloss finish, this chest is a cross between old and new, says Gambrel—“like a country cabinet dressed up for the city.” Given the playful juxtaposition of form and
finish, the 31.5″-tall piece would be at home in a girl’s bedroom. $2,000; chelseatextiles.com
Children dream in vivid color, and anything is possible to them, so why not create a room fit just for their personalities? When it comes to decorating your child’s room, you simply cannot go wrong, because almost anything is pleasing to them. Even if you try to create something special, they are overjoyed at your choices! Children love rooms where they can express themselves, and be creative. Imagination and playtime, – think of those two concepts while you are gathering ideas for their room, and you will do well with an overall theme…..
Most parents feel they can go a bit more daring in a child’s bedroom than what they would do for the rest of the house, which is why it is so darn fun to design kids rooms- you can be a bit crazy and get away with it.
Here are a couple tips to getting a great look for your kids room decor……
1. Invest In A Few Key Pieces- Don’t be afraid of buying an expensive piece of furniture for your kids room. A great chest, or genuine chair can stay in their room for years, and stay in the guest room when they move out and get married.
A great vintage reproduction play table would be a great focal point in a child’s room. Functional pieces that are also visually attractive should be the goal. This Louis XVI Child’s chair would match the Swedish styles quite well. Consider upholstering it with material that matches your child’s drapes and bedspread. This play-table would be great in a little boys room where red, and dark blue would say “I am a Boy“.
Get the general look of the Swedish style, by re-purposeing furniture. Change the hardware, paint furniture, and use a lot of distressing techniques to get the old appeal into the overall look. Buy transfer-ware tea sets for your little girl, and use a vintage french provincial end table, and re-purpose it with child’s chairs. Add wheels to the bottom of the end table to lift the table higher to give your children’s legs room to stretch out. French style play tables aren’t so common, so get the look using a vintage french end table.
Decorating doesn’t have to be expensive. Look out for vintage toys at your local flea markets, antique stores and thrift stores for great looking toys to decorate with. Wood has always been a signature style of the Swedish look. Melissa & Doug have great faux food which will make you want to join in for “tea time”
2. Decorate With Vintage Toys- Antique wood furniture can be painted, and roughed up unlike plastic. Greenleaf Doll Houses come in kits which you can set up, and paint. A vintage nightstand from ebay or craigslist might be a perfect match for a dollhouse. Customize the table to match the dollhouse.
Buy a wood rocking horse, and paint it yourself. You CAN get these horses for less than $1800! On ebay some of the vintage horses sell for $150 or so, which would allow you to customize it yourself. Kids are pretty rough on furniture, so putting genuine antiques in their room, isn’t the best of ideas. Buy something that looks great, but also something that if it gets damaged, you won’t be bent out of shape over. Invest in a few key pieces for their room, such as a bed, or a chest. The bigger pieces will set the theme, rather than the smaller items.
3. Invest In Storage Furniture– Kids have a heck of a lot of toys, and spending money on decorating a kids room does no good if there is no place to house their endless play toys. Ikea has a number of shelving which can be stacked and customized. The Expedit series has worked well for organizing kids toy collections. Organize your kids toy collections with shoe boxes. Buy matching bookshelves which you can devote an entire wall to. Back your child’s bed up to the bookshelves, which costs you only a couple of inches of space, but also save you from walking all over their toys.
For more ideas check out my pinterest page devoted to Children’s rooms……
Children Looking Into A Swedish Antique Shop- Credit
This boy is sitting by a lovely Gustavian childs table. The table has hand carved fleur medallions and a hand carved pearl bead border. The small Gustavian childs chair has the same hand carved pearl bead border. –blog.dnevnik.hr
Childrens Room With Swedish Bench
3D wallpaper from an installation by Swedish Deisgn Front Group
Wood has always played an integral part in the Swedish home life. Beech, birch and pine are the most popular woods in the Nordic region. Hardwoods such as mahogany were rarely used in Sweden as they would have to be imported, as well as the blonder woods were native to the land making it practical to make everything out of wood other than the kitchen sink. Swedish design is known for their use of pale wood, paneling, and solid wood furniture. Furniture was often elaborately painted, or left bare. In this country home we see this very design; shades of white, minimal design, and outstanding Swedish wood furniture.
Tips From This Interior To Your Home:
1. Add Interest- This Swedish interior is based around whites. They add an interesting floor mat to spice things up. A guitar hangs on the wall, which adds a stamp of personality into the home. Make your textiles count in a minimal home. Consider fabrics that have a Swedish styled patterns. Look for upholstery fabric, slipcovers, tablecloths with a distinct Swedish design.
2. Skip Painting Some Pieces. If you are hoping to decorate around white, add in plenty of untouched wood pieces to the overall scheme. Raw wood furniture can be very beautiful. This directoire style chest is washed with solid paint in a unique way that shows off the wood, but at the same time presents a very rustic edge to the style. Use the paint technique for your own wood pieces. Give a Swedish touch to these raw pieces by adding a oil rubbed hardware…. The rustic details won’t be overlooked.
The Dienst’s home is an excellent example of a home decorated around the Baroque themes with a distinct Scandinavian design. The Baroque styles originate in Italy so most commonly we see examples of this style from that region, but rarely from the north or the south or any other region for that matter. In addition, the Dienst’s home is designed around some of the very best Swedish antiques making their home inspirational to all who are hoping to project this style for their own homes.
With so many modern variations of this style, there is no right or wrong when it comes to decorating and color. In fact, you may find that many top designers tend to embrace color to an extreme when working with the Gothic / Renaissance interiors. Many modern professional styled homes set around the Baroque period style tend to favor brighter colored interiors which do give the really primitive styled furniture a modern, updated look. Hot pinks, cobalt blues, reds and bright yellows mixed with the Baroque antiques give rooms a very premium designer feel.
You’ll also find that Baroque furniture is also painted in a plethora of colors. Painted furniture in hues of purples, blues, greens, reds, yellows, oranges can then be matched up with paint colors that work with the original paint on the antiques.
Fresco wall painting can also capture the picturesque look into a room. Stuccoing it can add that castle appeal that are seen in the ancient stone buildings. Many of the Swedish Baroque castles featured elaboate walls covered in wallpaper. Choose wallpaper with a colorful, detailed, motif pattern can still fit into the Baroque schemes.
While many people like to keep the windows rather minimal, study the designs to see what appeals to you best. Windows have been known to be one of the main characteristics of Baroque designs. Consider buying heavier draperies made from velvet, damask or silk which can be hung in a modern way. With this approch, your home can look updated using the right styles of fabrics without it looking like a museum.
Flooring, can truly make a break a room all on its own. Paint can transform a room without much cost, so I always suggest that any budget should be spent on flooring, and a few carefully chosen period antiques. Sweden has been known for its vast forests, so it made sense that flooring was made from wood. You simply cannot go wrong with pine flooring. Pine flooring also allows you to get away with vibrant paint shades on the wall, and almost any wallpaper pattern.
Baroque styled interiors rarely used rugs or carpeting. Rooms in the Baroque era usually used geometrical-patterned wood flooring. Besides parquet flooring, you can also use marble and stone floor tiles that were also used during that period. Make your own stone for the floor or walls using concrete molds. There are a variety of shapes and styles making period stone features inexpensive to produce at home.
Baroque furniture is typically large and heavy. With the modern bedrooms being much smaller in size, plan the furniture out before purchasing to make sure everything will fit to the bedroom. Consider investing your bedroom budget on a bed. A canopy bed with ornate carving and tall posts from which you can hang drapery would be an ideal choice.
Chairs upholstered in Ceylon et Cie’s Ikat print collection
Upholstered chairs are an easy way to match up patterns that match the drapery, bed canopy and the color of the wall. The bedding should match the theme of the drapery, wallpaper, upholstery, and the bed canopy. Ikat patterns have become tremendously popular in the last several years. There are so many different versions of this ethnic, bold weaving style that is likely one of the oldest patterns in existence. Get some examples from Kelli Ford & Kristen Fitzgibbons. Look for combinations of colors paired with white. Indigo and ocher and vibrant contrasting colors would be a great choice for a Baroque interior.
Period styled decor will also strengthen the overall design. Consider a combination of candlesticks and lamps. Choose a heavy crystal chandelier with both brass and glass to enhance the Baroque feeling. Add ceramic vases and bowls with floral oriental patterns to enhance a room that has color, or lack of color. Invest in large scale paintings or very heavy mirrors with ornate gilded frames.
In the two pink rooms, Dienst’s small parlor off the entry features an early-baroque spark screen. The mirror is Danish rococo, and the crystal chandelier it reflects is Gustavian. Brass propellers complete the look. Gray wainscoting and bare floors soften the vivid color of the walls, which are adorned with an array of small paintings, sea fans, and a framed collection of starfish. The Gustavian settee is upholstered in linen, the stool is from the mid-nineteenth century, and the side chair is baroque. A mid-twentieth-century Danish lamp stands on the floor by the settee.
Reclaimed Wood Dining Table From A Tyner Antiques
A.Pair of Swedish Baroque Commodes
B. A late-18th-century Baroque Swedish table with center drawer. Original red paint.
A black painted baroque Swedish desk sits in a guest bedroom.
The small side cabinet is rococo, and
the lamp is Danish.
Swedish Baroque Table From the 18th Century
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