Spring Summer Checks and Florals For The Swedish Home
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
EMMIE RUTA Duvet cover and pillowcase(s), pink, white $39 From Ikea
“The Chinese room at Värmlands Säby. Completed in 1774 by master carpenter Johan Georg Reincke” Kristinehamn. Found on tdclassicist.blogspot.com
Summer Time – Go Pink! Found on c-home.com
Found on zsazsabellagio.blogspot.com
AINA Drapery From Ikea
Cushion Covers From Ikea
In Bringing It Home – Sweden, Cheryl MacLachlan
Hervé Pierre, the creative director of Carolina Herrera, is a man with an utterly romantic eighteenth-century sensibility. His lower Fifth Avenue condo has been transformed into home thrown back in time. “I am in New York during business hours,” Pierre explains, “but at home I need to be in Paris.”
Herve’s bedroom shows off a spectacular Louis XVI Lit de polonaise bed with blue and white fabrics that are used for the bed skirts, bed drapery, and wall curtains.
Hervé Pierre’s Blue and White Check Bedroom
Hervé Pierre’s Blue and White Check Bedroom
2. Go For Florals – The Emmie Blom Fabric From Ikea
The Emmie Blom duvet cover and pillow case set sells for $49. Buy another set to make slipcovers for a pair of chairs. The set comes with two prints. Simply flip the duvet cover over for a smaller rose print. The best thing about this print is the white background. The white gives the print a fresh spring and summer feel.
EMMIE BLOM From Ikea $49
EMMIE SOT, $49.99 for full/queen set
This ikea mirror looks just like the French Louis Philippe Mirrors-$99 At Ikea
EMMIE BLOM From Ikea $49
Other side of Emmie Blom Fabric, A Small Scale Floral
“Our EMMIE collection combines 19th century French floral patterns with stripes and checkers in delicate colors. Using mostly natural materials” www.ikea.com
HÅLLROT duvet cover and pillowcase(s) Ikea
Herve Pierre is featured in the identical bed, except a different pattern
3. For For Toile With The EMMIE LAND Print From Ikea
Toile is a very popular French choice for bed linens, drapery, and upholstery. Buy the duvet cover and pillow set from Ikea in Queen for only $20 dollars, and a King set for $29. Collect blue and white transferware for your walls instead of hanging wallpaper. Add in a antique wood chair which is not painted to offset the detailed pattern.
30 Inspirational Cobalt Blue Painted Furniture Ideas-Painted Furniture Online
The Emmie Land Print From Ikea Seen here
Decorate With blue and white transferware, and cobalt blue. Picture Credit pierwszykrokwchmurach.wordpress.com
4. Go For A Larger Blue Floral Print – ÄNGSÖRT From Ikea
I have looked at this print in person, and have to say it is impressive. The scale of the print is larger, and the white background makes this fabric bright and light in appearance.
The Queen sells for $79 which includes a duvet cover and pillow cases, and the king sells for $89.
ÄNGSÖRT From Ikea here
In Bringing It Home – Sweden, Cheryl MacLachlan reveals the secrets of Swedish decorating and entertaining and explains how to capture those charms anywhere.
After spending much time visiting homes and conversing with families in towns and cities throughout Sweden, she became familiar with the subtle but unmistakable qualities of Swedish life: how furniture is chosen for its pure, fine lines; how simple fabrics are used to great effect; how soft, delicate colors are layered to create rooms full of light and elegance.
Now in this book, she offers the essence of Swedish style, with an abundance of practical information, handy how-to projects, and colorful inspiration to enrich any home. From the finer points of Gustavian furniture (now available in reproduction everywhere) to the exquisite choices offered by Swedish crystal, from the secret to buying the perfect down comforter to the ultimate recipe for Swedish meatballs, the best of Sweden is shared with readers. Richly illustrated with more than two hundred color photographs by Ivan Terestchenko.
In Bringing It Home – Sweden, Cheryl MacLachlan
Classic Round Mirror From Ikea $50
Don’t you love the color?
Description: Set of Six Louis XVI Style Medallion Back Dining Chairs, early 20th c., upholstered in yellow fleur-de-lis fabric, on tapered reeded legs, now in white paint, H.- 38 1/8 in. www.crescentcityauctiongallery.com
Sweden Gripsholm Castle Hans Thorwid / Nationalmuseum
Here we see the interior from Gripsholm Castle. The Princess’s bedchamber
The Princess’s Apartments were fitted out at the beginning of the 1780s for Gustav III’s younger sister Sofia Albertina. At the end of the 17th century these apartments were lived in by Crown Prince Karl, who later became King Karl XII.
The interior decorations have remained virtually untouched ever since 1782. The painted Chinese silken wall-hangings, however, have faded considerably and the bed curtains have twice been replaced, most recently in the 1890s. The chest of drawers, made in about 1780, was originally purchased for Sofia Albertina and is typical of its maker, Jonas Hultsten. There were no portraits on the walls in Sofia Albertina’s days. Several of those to be seen here now are tapestries modeled on oil paintings.
Picture Credit Sätt slottsstilen i sommar – Sydsvenskan
The red room at the Chinese Pavilion of the Drottningholm Palace, Sweden. The Drottningholm Palace is the private residence of the Swedish Royal Family. The Chinese Pavilion was built in the middle of the 1700s, a period in European history when chinoiserie was the height of fashion. Today, the pavilion houses one of the finest remaining examples of such an interior.
Exotic Taste, Oriental Interiors by Emmanuelle Gaillard and Marc Walter features a whopping 236 pages of rich, luscious interiors, textiles and furniture from Japan, China, India and the Middle East. Pictures Seen on The Lonely Wife Project
Auvergne, France – AD DesignFile – Architectural Digest
Chinese Pavilion of the Drottningholm Palace, Sweden Fauxology
Chinese Pavilion Blue Salon Drottningholm Found on abebooks.com
Farrow & Ball Wallpaper The St Antoine Papers BP947- Buy It On EBAY For Less……
The Farrow & Ball St Antoine wallpapers are based on an 18th century French damask wallpaper originally produced in 1793 at St Antoine. This colourway is part of the F&B Special Edition I collection of contemporary adaptations of Farrow & Ball designs.
Farrow & Ball Wallpaper The St Antoine Papers
Farrow & Ball Wallpaper The St Antoine Papers nestnestnest.blogspot.com
Colefax and Fowler The Best in English Interior Decoration by Chester Jones- Amazon
Found on vibekedesign.blogspot.com
ÅKERKULLA Set From Ikea here
ÅKERKULLA Set From Ikea
ÅKERKULLA Collection From Ikea
70 Swedish Furniture Pieces That Sell For Less- Swedish Decorating On A Budget
White Lacquer Finish Round Accent Table $321 From Overstock On Ebay
17th and 18th century furniture is still tremendously popular today. One of the biggest draws to Swedish and Nordic styles is the wood, the carvings and depth of detail. In a typical home in Sweden centuries ago, you would find almost everything made from wood. Wood furniture, plank flooring, wood walls, and decorative accessories made from wood. Each piece would be individually carved, and often painted, and overtime would endure natural distressing.
Gustavian Looks
Gustavian style drew a lot of attention from around the world, so much that they became known throughout Europe as the “Paris of the North.” Gustavian style embraced all the grandeur that Paris had to offer, but without the money that France was able to spend. Instead of marble, they brought out their paint brushes, and learned how to paint faux marble. Instead of mahogany woods, they made their furniture from the white blonder woods found in their native land. Silk and satin was exchanged out for linen. Painted swags replaced the costly hand carved garland-like swags found on the walls in France.
Sweden’s vast forest industry made it possible for citizens to be skilled in some sort of trade that involved wood. So, as the trends came out from France and England, the latest looks would be crafted inexpensively. Woodworkers could modify the designs, change out the distinctive English or French designs, and add or change the look to suit their taste. Furniture feet, leg style, color, wood was all modified for what they found most desirable in their communities. From region to region different styles of furniture and accessories were made, which also had their own character trait, and color palette.
France and England heavily influenced Europe at that time, and so it was natural that Sweden also followed suit. They adopted the Louis XV and Louis XVI styles founded in France, but made them their own. Over time, with the excavations from Pompeii, Gustavian style also incorporated the classical looks that circulated around Italy, and Greece.
How To Get The Look On A Budget
I used to paint furniture as a hobby, spending most of my days hunting through thrift stores, estate sales, and I always had my eye on craigslist for the best finds in Virginia. My husband worked full time, which allowed me the ability to shop for worn out pieces which I then updated and sold. We moved away from the city, and into the country, where blogging is now my day to day life. Over the years, I have found some pretty amazing finds second hand, but I also have come to know, they just don’t compare to what you can buy new. I find I am always running across great pieces of furniture around the net which are sort of hidden away. I have come to realize that you can find really nice furniture for under $500 dollars. When you add up your valuable time, and gas- buying online simply just makes sense, especially if you are pretty particular in what you are after.
Here are 70+ links to great pieces from a couple big sellers on Amazon and ebay to give you the Swedish and French looks on a budget.
Here are just a few tips to pulling your look together…..
Arrow Ormolu Mounts From Ari Luxury On Ebay
1. Use Ormolu Mounts– If you have a pretty simple table, dress it up using decorative appliques. Europe embraced the use of gilt-bronze mounts, brass inlay and quintessential gilded enrichments that we all admire to this day.
Articles:
-Affordable French Furniture Appliques- Hersite
-How Decorate With French Empire Antiques- Hersite
-Architectural Molds- French Style Authority
2. Look For Straight Leg Furniture– If you live in America, look for the straight legged shaker style table and chairs. Straight legged tables, chairs, benches will give you the Swedish look and they are pretty easy to find in America.
Additional Articles:
– Amazingly Affordable Swedish Looking Furniture- The Swedish Furniture
-Swedish Furniture And Decorating On A Budget- Mora Clock Reproductions And More – The Swedish Furniture
Turn this unfinished international concepts table, sells for $42 dollars into a thousand dollar table with an additional marble top and some paint. Consider white paint with gold accents for a classic Swedish style. The Second table, sold by International Concepts features straight legs with a round round table top with Drawer- $104
3. Look For Fluted Legged Furniture -Gustavian furniture is well known for their use of fluted leg tables, square back chairs, and demi lune tables. If the legs are right, often times, you can add to the look to make it Swedish.
– This dark brown side table needs some color. Gray, pink, or blue, it would look prettier painted. It has spectacular legs, and a round table top that looks like it belongs in the Louis XVI collections. Only $133 On Ebay
-This 3-piece nesting table set sells for only $110 Dollars On Ebay I would strip off the existing paint, paint it, and then heavily distress it. Or, paint it a muted pastel and gold leaf the details. What a great price!
– Another pretty Console Table $418 On Ebay Gold leaf the details, or use white paint on the details, and a pretty color on the other features.
4. Use The Right Colors– Paint has always been my best friend. Typical ‘Gustavian’ colors include gray, pale blue, and pale green colors. Consider accenting your home with light pink and pale yellow.
Additional Aricles
– The Shocking History Behind “Emerald Green Paint-The Swedish Furniture
-Top Designers Pick The Best Furniture Paint Colors- The Swedish Furniture
-Swedish Paint Finishes -How To Wash Wood-The Swedish Furniture
-Salmon Paint Shades- Decorate With Apricot, Peach and Terracotta –Hersite
5. Paint With Matte or Chalk Paint – Swedish furniture tends to have a matte, chalky or powdery look. Limewashes were once used to brighten furniture and saturated colors were used along with glue or oil to make paint.
Chalk paint sold through distributors can give the look that is commonly seen on Swedish furniture. Or, consider adding in a bit of un-sanded grout to your paint. I tend to buy it in an off white color at the local hardware store, and a tablespoon goes a long way. It will give you chalk like finish. Use brown glaze to add an antique appearance. What I tend to do is brush it on, and after 2 minutes, I wipe it off using a facecloth. It can add a tint to your overall paint finish, and give your paint a look that doesn’t appear to be so new.
Additional Articles:
– Furniture Painting, Distressing & Glazing Examples-The Swedish Furniture
-What’s With Chalk Paint? 80+ Pictures Of Annie Sloan Chalk Painted Furniture – Painted Furniture Online
-How To Paint French Provincial Furniture A Perfect White –French Provincial Furniture
-Priming Furniture- French Provincial Furniture
-Staining And Re-Finishing Furniture- 40+ Pro Tips- Hersite
-What We Are Not Being Told About Furniture Strippers – Hersite
-DecoArt Chalk Paint Line Sold At Home Depot – Hersite
-50+ Pictures Of Great Painted Pieces- Painted Furniture Online
-56 Greige Pieces- Exceptional Painters And Their Furniture Painted Furniture Online
6. Work With Blonde Woods- Swedish style generally only features the lighter woods, because that was what was available in the surrounding regions. Swedish country homes contain a lot of birch, white pine, beech, and alder. It is used for furniture, floors and walls, and either left natural, bleached, or painted in pale colors.
If you have a piece of furniture that is stained, consider investing in a heat gun, to remove the existing finish. By doing this, when you go to paint and distress the piece, the lighter wood color will show through than the mahogany or darker stains. It will give your pieces a more authentic appearance.
Safavieh American Home Collection Concord Console Table $112 on Amazon
Safavieh American Home Collection Brigg White and Dark Brown Console Table $196 on Amazon
Natural Washed Tray Accent Table $381 Overstock On Ebay
Solid Oak Paola Arm Chair $863 From Overstock On Ebay
Safavieh American Home Collection Lexington Console Table $125 on Amazon
Safavieh American Home Collection Newburgh 6-Drawer Storage Unit, Vintage Grey $184 on Amazon
Safavieh American Home Collection Newburgh 3-Drawer Storage Unit $242 on Amazon
Safavieh American Home Collection Orford Off White Low Bookcase $208 On Amazon
Victoria Padded Bench with Distressed White Legs ONLY $70 From Overstock On ebay
Stratton Linen Side Chairs with Nail Head, Beige, Set of 2 $413 On Amazon
Safavieh Ashton Carved Side Chairs – Set of 2 $436 On Amazon
nuLOOM Casual Living Vintage Patchwork Blue Bench $275 Overstock on ebay
15.7 inches high x 31.5 inches wide x 15.7 inches in length
Cleopatra Solid White Oak Bench $182 Overstock on ebay
Safavieh American Home Collection Emma Four Drawer Storage Cabinet $204 Amazon
Safavieh American Home Collection Barnet Wall Shelf $148 On Amazon
Tabouret 24-inch Metal Counter Stools (Set of 2) $72 Dollars From Overstockon ebay
Tabouret Furniture From Overstock On Ebay
Safavieh Hudson Collection Johnny Linen Side Chair, Beige, Set of 2 $479 on Amazon
Safavieh Chloe Linen Club Chair $447 On Amazon
Safavieh Nottingham Taupe Nailhead Club Chair $360 at Overstock on ebay
Safavieh Mansfield Linen Pillowtop Ottoman Free Shipping $211 Overstock
Angelie 3-seater Sofa $1149 Overstock On Ebay
Ladderback Armchair $699 Wisteria
Lounge Armchair $799 Wisteria
Gustavian Tub Chair $799 From Wisteria
Louis XVI Dining Chair in Royal Blue$299 Wisteria
Chateau Arm Chair in Lavender $389 Wisteria
Camille Premium Linen Down Wrapped Sofa $1433 Overstock On Ebay
Lexington Oval Swivel Storage End Table $159 On Amazon
Remiremont Antique White Upholstered Bench $76 on Amazon
Cherry Wood Side Chair, Set of 2, Cream $479 On Amazon
Safavieh Mercer Collection Heather Linen Nailhead Dining Chair, Set of 2- $346 on Amazon
Safavieh Mercer Collection Stella Velvet Side Chair $305 Amazon
Featured above is the Ivory and Taupe chair sold for $270 Amazon
Becca Side Chair Finish: Upholstery: Leather- Clay with Nickel Nailheads $261 On Amazon
Alexia Contemporary Fabric Dining Chair $246 On Amazon
Sean Sofa $1393 Overstock On Ebay
Marie Curved Grey Settee $1094 From Overstock on ebay
Eddie Black Onyx Club Chair $569 on Overstock On Ebay
Baxton Studio Antoinette Classic Antiqued French Accent Chairs (Set of 2)
Buy them on OverstockOn Ebay
for $1050
Joe Dark Teal End Table $147 On Ebay
Swedish Style Pulls – 12 Pulls For $24 Dollars On Ebay
Thelma Ash Grey End Table $140 On Ebay
Notting Hill 6-Drawer Dresser $654 at Overstock On Ebay
Notting Hill Collections From Overstock on ebay
3-piece Nesting Table Set Only $110 Dollars On Ebay
Wood Console Table $418 On Ebay
Safavieh Bernice Dark Brown Side Table $133 On Ebay
Andrew Carved Oak Side Chairs, Set of 2 $514 On Amazon
Nara Side Chair (Set of 2) $494 on Amazon
Safavieh Mercer Collection Randy Linen Bench $343 On Amazon
Charcoal Grey Castro Armchair $570 Overstock On Ebay
Oval Accent Table $307 From Overstock On Ebay
nuLOOM Casual Living Weathered Vintage French Upholstered Linen Ottoman $269 On Overstock
Safavieh Pecos Reclaimed Wood Stool in Brown$272 On Amazon
Swedish Storage Bench $1149 Wisteria
Lisa Cradle (Free Shipping) $164 On Amazon here
Orbelle Trading Ga Ga Cradle (Free Shipping $164 on Amazon here
White Naples Media Chest $256 on ebay
Search out the rest of the furniture collection on ebay
Simply replace the hardware…..
Swedish Secretary $1999 From Wisteria
Thelma Distressed Vanilla End Table $140 On Ebay
Toby Eggshell End Table $135 On Ebay
Safavieh also sells a lovely set of nesting tables that have a Swedish look to them. The dimensions are 35″ H x 20″ D x 20″ W.
Chelsea Textiles Demi Lune Table– here
Oxford Beige Linen Arm Chair $179 From Overstock On Ebay
Lauren Upholstered Queen or King Canopy Bed Only $319 From Overstock on ebay
Check out other canopy beds from Overstock here on ebay
Naples King Canopy Bed $638 From Overstock on ebay
Wooden Nightstand $219 From Overstock On Ebay
Louis XV Chest $999 From Wisteria
Safavieh Mercer Collection Danni Side Chair with Nail Head, Beige and Antiqued Oak $417 On Amazon
Eddie Camel Club Chair $754 On Overstock On Ebay
Safavieh Abram Dark Teal Console $130 On Ebay
Safavieh Andy Ash Grey Shelf Unit $147 From Overstock on ebay
Hand Painted Black Finish Rectangular Accent Table $401 Overstock On Ebay
Safavieh Doris Black Round End Table $105 On Ebay
Safavieh American Homes Collection John Side Table, Antique Black $173 On Amazon
Safavieh Suncoast Arm Chairs – Set of 2 $283 on Amazon
Safavieh Dolan Sideboard, Light Oak $311 on Amazon
Safavieh American Homes Collection Susan Side Table, Dark Brown $190 On Amazon
4-Foot 6 by 6-Foot 6 Handpicked Argentinian Cowhide Area Rug, Natural Brown and Off-White $201 On Amazon
Safavieh American Home Collection Devon Walnut and Antiqued Pewter Etagere $281 On Amazon
Safavieh American Homes Collection Simon Console Table, Natural $208 On Amazon
Safavieh American Homes Collection Alexander Bookcase, Natural $195 on Amazon
Ossett Antiqued Pewter and Light Ash Wooden Storage Bench $214 On Amazon
Safavieh American Home Collection Leyton Writing Desk $342 on Amazon
Safavieh DHU205B Dhurrie Collection Handmade Wool Area Rug, 4-Feet by 6-Feet, Ivory and Green $128 On Amazon
Safavieh American Home Collection Howden Sideboard $263 on Amazon
Natural Fibers Collection Sisal Area Runner, 2-Feet by 10-Feet, Natural and Rust $75 On Amazon
Safavieh American Home Collection Sussex Light Brown Console Table $167 On Amazon
Retford Medium Oak Finished Dining Table $194 On Amazon
Safavieh Jethro Honey Natural Console
$113 at Overstock on ebay
Safavieh Amos Honey Natural Console
Safavieh Abram Eggshell Console
Thema Honey Table $140 On Ebay
Deniz End Honey Nature Table $156 On Ebay
Safavieh Coby Honey Natural End Table $126 On Ebay
Midwest CBK Marquetry Print Accent Table
This product has been dis-continued
Inlay Cherry Veneer Accent Table $289 On Ebay
Safavieh Tami Night Table $165 On Amazon
Auckland White Washed Console Table $194 On Amazon
AA Importing 18243 French Wall Clock $112 here
Winfrey Hutch Cabinet $2340 Overstock on ebay
Gustavian Console Table $399 Wisteria
‘La France’ Round Distressed Dining Table $1389 On Ebay
Cosmo 4 Door/3 Drawer Buffet $1232 on Overstock On Ebay
Chael Distressed Pine Bookcase $1716 From Overstock on ebay
Hamshire Round Dining Table 60 inch $1400 On Ebay
Decorating With Blue: Swedish Style Decorating Ideas
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)
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
This Weathered Solid Fir Fireplace Mantel could be used as a bed crown for a rustic country Swedish look. All you need to do, is attach the drapes. Sells for $739 Buy it on ebay
This chair features the pretty shaped backs we see in the Swedish style with a new edge to it. This chair sells for $595 Buy it on ebay
-Hand-Turned Hardwood Accent Table $439 on ebay here
Beige Stripe Loveseat $1500 Buy it on ebay
Buy the matching chair here
– Blue Makes Everything Appear Larger- “Shades known as cool blues―like cobalt, turquoise, and ice blue―have yellow in them and tend to recede, or back away, which can help a small space look bigger. Color experts explain that cool blues encourage calmness (which is nice for a bedroom) and focus (say, in a home office). Sometimes cool blues can go a little further and be cold. But in a bathroom, where you want a crisp, clean vibe, that can be a good thing” Real Simple Magazine
– Decorate With Blue Slipcovers, Drapery, and Linens– One of the easiest ways to decorate with blue is to do it through throw pillows, slip-covers, linens and drapery. Bed coverings are simple to find in the Swedish style. Every time I am at Ikea, I notice their beautiful printed bed sheets. They have a variety of newer patterns, shapes and designs that would work with a Swedish design perfectly. Florals, stripes, and plain sheets are always a design that never goes out of style. If you love the rococo looks like I do, go for florals. Blue and white florals always take the edge of a room, and make it feel more comfortable.
– Dye Your Existing Fabrics Blue– Rit came out with a color called aqua-marine. The color is bright, and light. If you have old fabric that you no longer have use for, or the patterns colors simply aren’t your style anymore, consider dying it. The aqua-marine color can be tinted a slightly different shade by adding a bit of purple to the mix. Their royal blue also is sensational. The ability to dye fabric has been used since ancient times. The earliest record of the use of natural dyes was found in China around 2600BC. Indigo, a blue dye had been known throughout the ancient world for its ability to color fabrics a deep blue. The dye was extracted from several plants, and was imported from India. The shrub was found in India, and was quite expensive to import, so England began growing the plant. Prussian Blue came about in 1774, which was created by mixing iron salt and prussite of potash and aniline and bleaching powder to create bright blue. By the 1800’s, Prussian Blue was known as one of the earliest known chemical dyes.
– Finding the right hue of blue for your room is simply found by what color you enjoy the most. Then, work with the darker and lighter shades of your preferred choice for the trim, drapery, bedding and upholstery. For my bedroom, I found a set of pleated drapes on ebay in blue, and I had my paint colors matched to the drapes. It gave me a starting point. Most important, choose a color which you adore. It makes living in it day after day so much more enjoyable!
– Never Discount A Nice Quilted Throw “Benjamin Moore’s Ashmead Gray transformed the master bedroom’s mahogany Henkel Harris four-poster. Custom drapes from Calico Corners add a hit of pattern, and an antique leather trunk provides extra storage. The duvet and shams are by Area.“– See The Picture At Country Living See beautiful quilts like the one in the picture here……
-Show Off Blue, Brown, Lilac Transferware – “A white background, with hints of pretty gray-blue, is a great backdrop for displaying collectibles and antiques. This dining room’s built-in cupboards show off some of the owner’s transferware collection” View The Picture at Country Living
– Go Bold In The Bathroom With A Bright Shower Curtain. In this photo, a shower curtain has three different white trims stitched on top of it. Borrow this look for your own home by purchasing a plain shower curtain, and dressing it up with ribbon.
-Use One Color Throughout – “Although singular in hue, a monochromatic color palette can have multiple dimensions. Using one color in a room creates a sleek, sophisticated look, but including a few variations on the featured hue will boost character. In this cool blue living room, vivid shades of sky blue pop against blue-based neutrals” See the picture at Better Homes and Gardens
– Cool Tones With Other Cool Toned Pastels “If you like the idea of adding more color to your room but want the bright blue to blend into the overall design, decorate your walls with items in cool colors. Because blue is a cool shade, you’ll create a soothing, cohesive look for the room by incorporating colors like green and purple. Look for prints and artwork that feature shades like sage, mint or hunter green to dress up the walls, or try hanging vinyl wall decals of purple flowers and green leaves. You can even frame squares of fabric with green and purple patterns for a simple but colorful piece of artwork to hang on your bright blue walls.” – Home Guides
– Paint Your Architecture Blue– I saw this picture above on This Old House, and it immediately caught my attention. It is a breathtaking laundry room, isn’t it? One of the best elements about this room that I love, is that the cabinetry, and the walls are painted the same color. Architecture can stand out, even if it is painted the same color of the walls. Doesn’t this look fantastic? Adding extra architectural elements such as crown molding and wainscoting can give your room additional intrigue. Getting the style of furniture to fit into the desired period is often half the battle. Swedish style borrowed much of its style through this time from France, so the two styles mix together quite well. Furniture can always be painted, and dressed up with hardware, so don’t discount a piece of furniture because it is not painted, instead, look at the lines of the furniture, because everything can be altered. Borrow this look by painting a piece of furniture in your room the SAME color.
– Leave Your Furniture Raw With Bold Blue Interiors– With bold punches of color on your wall, consider leaving solid wood furniture in their natural state. No makeup needed! Natural wood when paired with blue, gives a room warmth, because blue often falls in the cooler tones. Having that bit of warm contrast, doesn’t make it feel like an ice palace. In fact, gold, brown and cream can also be neutrals in a brightly painted room. Adding a pretty console table that has been painted and accented in gold can unite the room giving a really elegant feel. Accessorizing with some bergere chairs framed in gold really does wonders for pulling all the elements together.
– How To Use Several Shades Together All At Once “The gentle progression of color in ombre suggests the transition from wakefulness to slumber, especially in soothing shades of blue. The headboard slipcover and matching pillowcases are shrouded in sky-blue linen that’s dyed a deeper, sea-inspired tone, embodying the spare beauty of a monochromatic palette.” Check out the picture at Martha Stewart.
– Display A Collection Of Wedgewood “Tin containers have been manufactured in a very cool color of Wedgwood jasperware. For display on a neoclassic sideboard, we’ve chosen grays, blues, and greens. Symmetrically arranged with eighteenth-century formality, stacks of the circular “Wedgwood” tins can be used for storage. On the wall, a row of lids is displayed like a collection of antique plates or prints.” See the picture at Martha Stewart
– Find Vintage Neoclassical Lamps Which Can Be Painted- In this picture (1 of 9) a classic style lamp is painted a slightly more vibrant shade seen in the wall color. Painting something the same color as the walls allows you to add more accessories to the room without it appearing to be busy.
– Work With Blue Upholstered Furniture, And Then Determine Your Wall Colors – “Keep the background pure with the same color on all four walls and add unexpected pops of color using pillows,” designer Steven Gambrel recommends. Here, aqua paint is just a supporting character; the real conversation pieces are the cerulean sofa and powder-blue-and-white patterned rug.” See the picture here (picture 3 of 9)
– Dark or Light, That Is The Question You Must Determine First “The hardest thing about decorating with blue is that blue can be a hard color to nail down. Blue’s variety of shades can either feel reserved or expressive, subtle or loud. And depending upon the undertones, blue can run the gamut from warm to cool, which change the entire dynamic of a room. When decorating with blue, consider these tricks and tips to creating an interior space that reflects the best of blue’s characteristics” Read more here
– Confused With Color? Work With The Color Wheel- “Complementary Colors- Complementary colors are directly opposite of each other on the color wheel. You can create bold, yet pleasing, color combinations. Nature provides some beautiful examples: the red rose with green foliage, a monarch butterfly against the blue sky, or a purple petunia with a yellow center” See more about this at Home Decorators
– Use 3 Shades To Put Together A Blue Room“Using different shades of blue will work beautifully in a room as long as they complement each other. Blue comes in many different shades from a greenish blue to grayish and purplish tones. One should keep within the same palette, or harmonizing tones, when decorating in several shades of the same color. Use the odd number rule, such as three, when mixing shades of a color.” Examiner
– Create A Bed Canopy And Add Blue Fabric– In this photo, a bed crown is paired with a slightly more vibrant shade of fabric than what is seen in the walls. Curtain hardware nicely hold back the drapery. Borrow this look for your own home.
More Great Links:
-Blue: 350 Inspiring Ways to Decorate with Blue House Beautiful
Swedish Furniture & Decorating From Classic Swedish Interiors Lars Sjoberg.
This lovely picture was featured on The Style Salonite Blog
Swedish Furniture – Gustavian Decorating Classic Swedish Interiors, by Lars Sjoberg
Featured on en.paperblog.com
42” Wide Premium Broadcloth Sky Blue Fabric By The Yard $9.96 yrd on Amazon
A Swedish sofa/bench from the Gustavian period 1790-1810 in its original paint but in a desperate need of some new fabric. Old Is New Blog
A Swedish, Gustavian Console Table
Gustavian Style Chest of Drawers
Swedish Furniture – Gustavian Decorating Classic Swedish Interiors, by Lars Sjoberg
Featured on en.paperblog.com
This Cape -Cod home shows off blue painted walls with antique portraits. “Pair a nuetral-tone linen with a dark blue wall paint for an elegant finish.” See more of this home at Country Living Magazin
Princess Victoria of Sweden’s Dining Room
The dining room is elegant in shades of royal blue. The mirror on the far end of the room is original from when the castle was built in 1805. The dining room table can be extended to the length of the entire room.
When Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden opened the doors to her home she shares with husband Prince Daniel, Duke of West Gotland and daughter Princess Estelle, we were expecting big stately rooms and design standing on ceremony, but what we found was an elegant, yet comfortable home for a young family. The Haga Castle in Stockholm is small by some standards. It has “only” 45 rooms, out of which 25 are in the private use of the family (the rest are offices and other official spaces.). Before the family moved in, the castle went through a 4.5 million euro renovation, making it suitable for young children. (The couple welcomed their first child, Princess Estelle in 2012.) Most of the money was spent on modernising essentials like the kitchen, bathrooms etc. Victoria and Daniel were both very hands on and involved in designing the interiors. Read More At marthafied.com
Dottingham Palace, Chinese Pavillion- Picture Credit- fauxology.com
Dottingham Palace, Chinese Pavillion- The Chinese Pavillion at Drottningholm. Built in 1750s as a birthday present from King Adolf Fredrik to his queen Lovisa Ulrica- Uploaded To Pinterest
This charming little painted secretary from the Château de Bellevue, belonged to Madame de Pompaour. Notice the red painted legs – reminds one of the red painted heels worn only by the nobility of the French Court. Learn more about 18th Century France on Titillating Tidbits About the Life and Times of Marie Antoinette leahmariebrownhistoricals.com
Sandemar, Sweden, 17th century- Jeff Barnes on Pinterest
Two door Gustavian Sideboard in a worn blue patina- here
Patina Style: Brooke Giannetti, Steve Giannetti- Buy the Book on Amazon
A very early Swedish drop-leaf dining table with original beautiful blue paint. The worn paint on this piece gives it great antique character.- here
Swedish Extendable Bench 19th Century here
Pair of Swedish Rococo Side Chairs – here
Make A Game Room By Spray Painting Antique Sporting Equipment in White- Photo William Waldron- Country Living Magazine
Style at Home magazine featured this breathtaking cottage in Peterborough, Ontario. The entire space is decorated around navy and pays attention to the rustic and refined side of decorating. From the delicate French furniture to the shingled walls, this home is unique. More images and full story at Style at Home
Blue & White 1 Inch Checkered Gingham Poly Cotton, 60 Inches Wide By the Yard $3.99 On Amazon
An Interview With Daniel Larsson- The Go-To Guy For Swedish Antiques
D.Larsson Interiör & Antikhandel
I recently was able to interview Daniel Larsson, owner of D.Larsson Interiör & Antikhandel, one of Sweden’s top sources for authentic antique furniture and decor. Daniel opened his store in July 2012 and has quickly become recognized in the industry as the go-to guy for Swedish Antiques – He not only locates the goods you’re looking for but also educates you when buying your first slice of Swedish history or adding to your ever growing collection of rare Scandinavian finds.
Unlike other dealers who wouldn’t dream of sharing their sources, Daniel is a guide with The Antiques Diva® & Co European Tours which means he takes clients hand in hand to wholesale warehouses and secret sources.
Daniel has traveled around the world, and has lived in the USA, England, India, Norway, Spain and Holland, but has returned back to his roots in Helsingborg, Sweden where his main antique store is located.
He and his better half, life partner and wife- Cristina, work together to run D.Larsson Interiör & Antikhandel, a busy antique store, which offers Swedish furniture ranging from 18th to late 19th century. They specialize in presenting Gustavian painted furniture and Swedish country styled pieces. They supply directly to private or trade customers worldwide, and network with easy and reliable shipping companies. Daniel is one of six dealers in Decorative Collectives; a new Antiques Center in Petworth, Uk, where he currently features the majority of his stock.
Here are my questions for Daniel:
Q- What had you interested in antiques? Where did that passion come from?
A: I have always been interested in Interior Design and it came rather naturally to me. In my early 20s I got hooked on the modern retro Scandinavian style when I decorated my first apartment. After taking several years to tour the world I settled down with my wife in Helsingborg, Sweden and together we began to make my house a home. A friend recognizing my talent in design approached me and asked if I wanted to start a business selling antiques together. After a couple of years together we eventually decided to each go our own way – but I was hooked! I had been bitten by the antiques bug and I was committed to staying in the trade. I began to concentrate on higher quality Swedish pieces and expand my repertoire in to Baroque, Empire, Rococo and Gustavian pieces.
Q: Was there one antique that you let go, and wish you hadn’t?
A: Sigh… the one that got away. I’m dreaming of a stunning Rococo mirror (see attached pic) that I wished I would have kept for myself. I try not to get too attached to the pieces in my store – but must confess sometimes I sell items to quickly and find I don’t have enough time to enjoy them properly.
Q:Tell us a few keys to look for when determining if a piece of furniture is an authentic antique?
A: The authenticity of antiques is a complex matter, there are great books about the subject but for an untrained eye it can be very hard to spot a fake. A good way to start is by looking at the wood to check if it’s old and has a nice patina. The best thing you can do is to buy from a trustworthy dealer which will be able to give you all the information about the piece so you are sure of what you have bought. And you can always ask for a certificate of authenticity. Another tip is to always check the price, if it is to good to be true… it probably is!
Q:What are the most sought after styles right now? What are people asking you for?
A: The Gustavian style with it’s pale colors is always popular and people are also asking for good Swedish country pieces because they fit perfectly in a modern setting as well. People are looking to mix things up nowadays, it gives more caracter to a home.
Q:Like many of us who are fond of one thing over another when shopping for furniture and decor, is there a particular style or antique that your wife Cristina buys over and over? Tell us her secret antique fetish?
A: Cabinets, She always need to have at least one big cabinet in the showroom. She likes big and impressive things 🙂
Q: For New Buyers, ….what would you suggest to invest in first?
A: Always buy something that you love, follow your heart. If you want something really Swedish go for a tall case painted clock or a Gustavian sofa. Both are very decorative. Another great choice is a Rococo or Gustavian mirror as they are easy to place making a fabulous statement peace.
Q: Many Swedish dealers shun the thought of re-painting antiques. I find many dealers re-painting furniture in the most popular colors such as gray, or white, and others cringe at the thought of disturbing a finish. What are your thoughts on this?
A: The majority of Swedish painted furniture has been painted several times thru the centuries and to find one in original color is extremely difficult nowadays and when you do find them they sell for extraordinary sums. What happens sometimes is that the latest layers of paint are dry scraped to reveal traces of the original color but the majority of times this is not possible because the paint has suffered to much damage thru the years and needs to be repainted. This way the tradition continues. Don’t be mistaken; repainted pieces, if done properly are still highly valued.
Q:From a Small Business point of view, here are some pooled questions that have been asked from small furniture collectors who represent smaller markets:
How would you suggest going about determining the price for an item? Do you recommend reproduction pieces and if so what determines a good piece? How do you go about restoring pieces that are not in tip-top condition?
A: When I determine the price I look at the originality, rarity and quality of a piece. It’s also important to know the market value.
I certainly do recommend reproduction pieces especially when clients are looking for more than one-of-a-kind pieces. What often happens in the hospitality market is that they need many arm chairs of the same model and that is an impossible to find in the antique market.
I always use a specialized furniture carpenter to restore my pieces if they are not in tip – top condition. It’s important that the restoration work is done the traditional way sympathetic to the past.
Q: Finally, what should clients who wish to participate on the hardcore antiquing tours be prepared for?
A: At The Antiques Diva® & Co we’re known for giving clients access to the best little black book of antiquing address on the continent – in Sweden as well as all over Europe. On my tours I really try to educate my clients. All our tours are private and customized – and thus, when a client books a tour we inquire what they’re looking for and then we plan a route that gets them to down the back roads to the places they need to know about. On tour we translate, negotiate and then we liaise with a shipper to help get the goods home sweet home across the pond. While you can book at 1 day tour – real dealers want to delve deep into the countryside – and our trade tours can run 3 or 4 days of hard core antiquing.
Visit Daniel and Cristina’s website dlarssoninterior.com
Follow Daniel on Twitter- here
D.Larsson Interiör & Antikhandel
Wrangelsgatan 13 254 39 Helsingborg, Sweden
+46 73 438 18 43 info@dlarssoninterior.com
7 Scandinavian Country Decorating Books
Of all the European country home styles, none is more universally popular than Scandinavian Country. These fresh, light-filled northern interiors have an effortless grace that never fails to delight the eye.
JoAnn Barwick and the editors of House Beautiful lead us on a tour of more than twenty exceptional residences in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland that show this immensely appealing look at its very best.
These interiors are both steeped in tradition and utterly contemporary. Scandinavians have a passion for color and an abiding reverence for nature: stippled, spattered and even faux-marble painted finishes enliven even the most humble country furniture; and an abundance of rich woods, crisp tiles and robust textiles embody the pleasures of natural materials.
With nearly 300 full-color photographs and an extensive directory of sources for Scandinavian furnishings and accessories, this engrossing and seductive book encapsulates this most inviting of country styles.
JoAnn Barwick was editor-in-chief of House Beautiful magazine for more than a decade, and is acknowledged as a pioneer in the development of American and international country style. She was the founding editor of Country Living magazine and has been an editor at Good Housekeeping and Modern Bride.
Norma Skurka is the former Home editor of the Sunday New York Times Magazine. She has taught at Parsons School of Design, lectured at the Cooper-Hewitt Museum, and is the author of several books, including The New York Times Book of Interior Design and Decoration.
Scandinavian Country by , JoAnn Barwick On AMAZON
Scandinavian Country by , JoAnn Barwick On Ebay
Bringing It Home Sweden by Cheryl Maclachlan- Buy It On Amazon Starting at $12
Bringing It Home Sweden by Cheryl Maclachlan Buy it on Ebay
Renowned for its lovely blond woods and delicate color palette dominated by pale blues, Sweden is a country of simple and elegant interior design. In a bright, well-photographed presentation, lifestyle writer Cheryl MacLachlan beautifully captures the essence of Swedish design: clean lines, pale hues, natural materials, a powerful sense of light and space, and fresh folk-art charm. The living room, bedroom, dining room, and kitchen each merit a chapter filled with ideas about walls, floors, windows, colors, fabrics, lighting, and furniture. Scattered throughout are tips on decorating, such as transferring a decorative motif to a wall, setting an attractive table, and mixing your own paints for an authentic look. You’ll also find a chapter on Swedish foods (complete with tempting recipes), and a source list.
From the Inside Flap
Is it possible to bring home the best of an entire country?
This is the question that came to author Cheryl MacLachlan when she fell in love with the charms of Sweden–its pristine landscapes, its warmhearted people, and above all, its delightful homes. What was it that made her visits there so memorable? And how could she replicate those pleasures back home?
In Bringing It Home–Sweden, Cheryl MacLachlan reveals the secrets of Swedish decorating and entertaining and explains how to capture those charms anywhere. After spending much time visiting homes and conversing with families in towns and cities throughout Sweden, she became familiar with the subtle but unmistakable qualities of Swedish life: how furniture is chosen for its pure, fine lines; how simple fabrics are used to great effect; how soft, delicate colors are layered to create rooms full of light and elegance; how the freshest ingredients are combined to prepare delicious meals. Now in this book, she offers the essence of Swedish style, with an abundance of practical information, handy how-to projects, and colorful inspiration to enrich any home.
Bringing It Home–Sweden explores the full range of life in this beautiful country. From the finer points of Gustavian furniture (now available in reproduction everywhere) to the exquisite choices offered by Swedish crystal, from the secret to buying the perfect down comforter to the ultimate recipe for Swedish meatballs, the best of Sweden is shared with readers. Richly illustrated with more than two hundred color photographs by Ivan Terestchenko, Bringing It Home–Sweden also includes recipes, resources, and a useful buying guide. Learn what makes Swedish life so welcoming–and then bring its best qualities back to your own home!
Review By Amy K -Her books on each country are so wonderful-not just for viewing the photos for decorating ideas, but to get an all-around feel for that particular country’s lifestyle and how to create it yourself. These are not just your average home decorating books, they make an excellent read as well. You won’t be disappointed.
Review By M. Carlson If you’re into swedish country, you have to get this book! It’s been my decorating bible! I love the beautiful photographs, but the text is even better. It explains the origins and purpose of the color palette, flooring, furniture, window treatments, room layouts, fabric and accessories used in ths style. It also discusses the influence of King Gustav, Carl Larsson and Josef Frank. The only part of this book I don’t find useful is the recipe section. Other than that, I use this book constantly! It stays on my coffee table so I can browse through whenever I want.
By Horsey Knitter -This is the first Swedish design book I’ve found that I can clearly understand and put to use when I redecorate a farmhouse in Swedish Country within the next couple years.
Even though Decorating With Antiques, is several years old, (published in 1999), it is far greater than some of the newer 2013 books I have spent money on. It contains over 400 color photographs, and I honestly have to say every photograph is of high quality. Many books, you end up spending money on just a handful of photographs that you enjoy, but this book I have found myself looking intensely at each photograph, gathering ideas for my own home. Check out my book review, along with some of the details that I found most interesting on my new flagship blog- Her Site.
Interiors By Min Hogg- Buy it On Amazon
This book contains stunning photographs hand selected by The World of Interiors Archives. The eight major decorating styles seen in today’s most fabulous rooms, presented by the most acclaimed magazine of interior design. More than 300 full-color photographs. This book contains breathtaking images, and remains to be one of my favorite books ever. This book features a ton of beautiful antiques. Get ideas for decorating, staging, what to buy for accessories and color themes.
The book is divided into 8 sections. 1, Cluttered Interiors, 2, Hot Climate, 3, Designer Decorated, 4, Minimal, 5. Ancestral, 6, Simple, 7 Shabby Chic 8, Eccentric. The book is 255 pages long.
Reviews:
By A Customer -“One of my all time favorite books on interior design. I have bought this book a number of times to give as gifts. Great photos & great selection of homes shown.I’ve never tired of flipping through this book.”
By Lynne in San Francisco-“I read and re-read this book so much I had to buy a 2nd copy. Lots of gorgeous pictures of unusual interiors!”
Part of Taschen’s Country Houses series, Country Houses of Sweden by author Angelika Taschen illustrates the magnificence of castles and manor houses of Sweden. Barbara and Rene Stoeltie journeyed through Sweden in search of exceptional houses to write about and photograph.
With captions in English, Swedish, and French, this collection of handsome photographs will appeal to world travelers searching for the perfect resting place. Here a reader can get lost in placid lakes reflecting unthreatening clouds; a white sunlit room of peeling paint and alluring bookshelves; a dusky bedroom in which the walls are papered with botanical illustrations.
Some of these Swedish country houses have been turned into museums, and some are private homes. Painter Anders Zorn’s studio has been preserved exactly as he left it when he died in 1920–his “Zorngarden” is a marvel of gilt-framed mirrors and stunning, somber portraits.
Reviews:
No particular aesthetic prevails in this coffee-table book. Some homes have been modernized, replete with Martha Stewart-style amenities. And the images aren’t only distant shots of interiors; a photograph from the Varpet estate near Stockholm shows jars of freshly made jam on a chipped white counter top. What’s constant throughout Country Houses of Sweden is a sense of delicious luxury and relaxation. Like a Merchant-Ivory film, it’s the kind of book that makes you want to get dressed up. –Emily White
By A Customer “This is a beautifully presented publication. Its padded hard cover and thick paper quality are matched by excellent color photographs. The choices of homes is good: from palaces to simple country cottages. The text for each home is limited because of space for translation into French and German, but its gives a personal background to each building and interior. It has none of the frilly interiors or silly text that often accompanies the English versions of Scandinavian interior books. It is an excellent companion to The Swedish Room, which gives a more comprehensive historical perspective”
By K. Casey –“Not long after I checked this book out from the library, I was wild to own it! The first reviewer is right — these are not “cutesy” or “quaint” old houses. In poring over the many, many rooms and homes included in this volume, I felt I gained some understanding of Scandinavian design in general. Many of the styles represented can be described as spare, simple and unpretentious. The clean lines of this aesthetic seemed to me to border on the exquisite. Not just “form follows function,” though. Ranging from an artist’s colorful, almost eccentric home to the all-white interior of a flat in a centuries-old stone building: almost all of the examples chosen show a strong sense of place and time, and a sensitive and respectful response to the design and nature of the house”
A Passion For Pattern By Katrin Cargill- Buy It On Amazon
This book was a surprise for me. I have loved it, and even though it is a bit dated, I am so glad I own it for my library. The contents is divided into 5 sections. 1, Texture, 2, Stripes, 3, Checks, 4, Motifs, and 5 Pictorial.
On page 40 she shows you how to create a painted striped room. On page 86 she shows some beautiful pictures of slipcovers in a Gustavian setting. On page 90, she shows you how to put together a patchwork bedspread using check fabrics. On page 100, she shows you how to paint a check wall. On page 130, she shows you how to paint a Greek Key pattern on a rug. For a classic Gustavian Interior she shows how to paint a garland wall panel on page 142. On page 166 she shows you how to apply fabric to the walls.
Even though this may be an older book, all of the pictures that are in the book are either Gustavian, French, or Classical in nature. There isn’t any modern pictures in this book. She shows a wide variety of antiques, and how to beautify your home with the styles I mentioned above. I love this book, and for the price I bought it, it was a steal. One of my favorites for sure.
About The Book:
Lavishly illustrated and organized by type of pattern, A Passion for Pattern provides hundreds of useful tips on working with pattern throughout the home. Complete instructions for 12 sophisticated projects are accompanied by step-by-step illustrations, and a resource directory lists important sources. 300 full-color photos, 60 illustrations.
Great Houses of Sweden
Impossible to locate, and listed on Amazon for $400 Used, $500 New
The 22 homes which include palaces, castles, and manors as well as a couple of rural residences exemplify the refined simplicity of the “Gustavian style” implemented by Sweden’s King Gustav in the latter 1700s. The King worked with the country’s leading architects and artists to assimilate the “ancient sculptures of the Vatican and archaeological objects at the sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum” which inspired him on a trip to Italy. Besides the order of such classical forms and motifs, the King’s style favored light colored wood and light colors, particularly white, making for a play of light in the rooms, spaces, and facades. This latter distinctive feature of the style is attributed to the special Swedish appreciation of light from being in a northern area with long winters. Photographer Listri and art and travel writer Rey, who have collaborated before, capture in photos and words the beauty of this Swedish architectural style in rooms, hallways, fronts and other angles of homes, wall and other furnishings, and the design of surrounding grounds.
Book Reviews By Others:
“This is a book about Swedish castles and mansions and mentions several from the 18th century. The photos in the book are really beautiful, but other than that I was pretty disappointed with this book. Every castle or mansion gets a chapter, but there is very little real information. There are mostly anecdotes and speculations and pretty much nothing about historical architecture or interior decorating. Another big problem with the book is that there are no captions, nothing is told about the beautiful rooms and buildings in the pictures. I’m glad I have the book because of the photos, but I would not recommend it if you actually want to learn something”
“Great Houses In Sweden is a wonderfully beautiful book. Although it does indeed feature truly great houses, the title may have suffered in translation. Presented here are palaces, castles, museums, public buildings, and, yes, even some houses. The photographs, all in color and very handsome, often fill a whole page and sometimes a two-page spread. The text, though brief, is interesting none-the-less”
“After a Forward by the King of Sweden and an Introduction, each chapter features a building, a group of buildings, or a part of a building. Starting with the 14th century (and later) Gripsholm Palace which was given improvements by Gustav III inspired by his admiration for French classicism, it ends with the classically-inspired modern interiors of the Stockholm City Hall completed in 1923. This book will be greatly appreciated by connoisseurs of Swedish neoclassicism.”
“This is another journey through the centuries of Swedish interiors. From the renaissance to the early 20th century. Very similar to “The Swedish Room” published some twenty years ago. But the houses are grander and fewer. If this is in your taste this is a very good buy. The photography is almost flawless but the text is just a short introduction to each site. What is depicted on the
spreads that follow is not commented, a pity i my opinion. That, together with a minor reservation about the selection of houses, renders this book 4 stars instead of five”
here is a very interesting book on ebay called Scandinavian 1700-years furniture w/drawings for DIY Norwegian Swedish furniture. The book features furniture from the 1700’s and is illustrated with pictures and drawings in the scale 1:5. Chairs, tables, drawers, shelves, dollhouse, mirrors and much much more. The drawings are made after the original furniture, so if you are interested in wood working, then this book might be right up your alley.
This book is a hard bound with 192 pages from 2003, written in Norwegian. This book would be shipped from Norway. Sold from ebay seller Estescon. This is a one of a kind book, and may be sold quickly, although, if you are interesting in building Swedish Furniture, consider Making Swedish Country Furniture & Household Things By Hans Keijser, Lars Sjoberg and R Willick which has 35 classic Swedish projects that can be built.
With two books under their belt, Swedish Interiors, and Swedish Country Interiors until this year when their newest book was published. Reflections on Swedish Interiors a book with not only Gustavian furniture, but modern furniture from Sweden.
Swedish Country Interiors By Rhonda Eleish, Edie Van Breems, published in 2009, includes the very best of Swedish country furniture and decorating. The style has gained tremendous popularity as more people are drawn towards the natural elements such as wood, marble, natural linens, but also want the luxuries as well. Swedish decorating combines both for a relaxed yet sophisticated look.
Rhonda Eleish and Edie Van Breems combine years of experience as interior designers and Swedish antique dealers into a guide of how-to decorate and design in Swedish country style and decorating.
Eleish Van Breems Antiques was opened in 1998, located Woodbury, Connectict by both women. The store was set up in an 18th century house rather than a commercial building to give customers the genuine feeling of walking through a historic Swedish residence instead of a store front. The house was totally made over, – floors were stripped, and pickled, the walls were painted, giving the overall feeling of genuine Swedish. The location served them well for over eleven years until the business grew and a larger showroom was needed for photographing antiques and office space which lead them to a larger showroom in Washington Depot, Connecticut.
Get a wide pre-view of the book at Google Books
Swedish Country Interiors on google books includes a generous 27 page preview including glossy pictures and text of the book.
Swedish Country Interiors showcases 15 homes from across the United States that vary in style but all have Swedish elements that unite them.
The book breaks down into 15 homes which are as follows
– Swedish Mediterranean- Page 21 Features the home of Cherie and Michael McKinney.
– The Swedish Mill House – Page 33
– New Hampshire Island Living Page 47
– Farmhouse Romance Page 57
– A Swedish Inspired Cabin Page 69
– Lanuna Light Page 75
– Neoclassical Living in Atlanta Page 85
– Seaside: The Swedish Dream Page 95
– Woodstockholm : The Artist Cottage Page 105
– Daisyfields: Swedish Splendor Page 119
– The Swedish Pool Pavilion Page 135
– White Wisteria Page 143
– Northern Treasure Chest Page 159
– A Swedish Country Retreat Page 171
– Dawn Hill Antiques Page 181
Gustavian alder wood veneered table holds a pewter platter filled with pears
A ship Model sits on top of a Swedish early nineteenth century yellow orche Buffet with fluted diamond panels- From Richard Hershner’s Home
Dawn Hill Antiques Located in New Preston Connecticut- From Swedish Country Interiors
Dawn Hill Antiques Located in New Preston Connecticut- From Swedish Country Interiors
Dawn Hill Antiques Located in New Preston Connecticut- From Swedish Country Interiors
75 Swedish Nordic Pinterest Pages! Oh Yes…More Eye Candy!
Cannot get enough of gray furniture, Nordic style decorating and the lush interiors of Gustav III? Pinterest can be your best friend when it comes to ideas for re-decorating, painting, and inspiration to get your creative juices flowing in the morning. There are hundreds of pages that have to do with themes of the Nordic Heritage. From decorating, to cultural costumes, to travel ideas; pinterest is rich with ideas.
Here are 75 Pinerest pages that have to do with all things Nordic. Follow these pinterest pages I have listed, and if YOU have a page that fits with the Nordic theme that we haven’t listed, PLEASE leave a comment below in the facebook comments section, or regular comments section with a link to your page. Share the love people! You might discover a new friend.
So here we go:
1. Furniture: Gustavian – Meranda Devan here
2. Interior Design: Nordic – Meranda Devan – here
3. Interior Design: Swedish Meranda Devan –here
4. Poutres Blanches- Anne Magnier – Here
5. Jeanne d’Arc Living Magazine Photos- Here
6. Swede Blog- Swedish Antiques- Here
7. Nordic Style From White Lace Cottage- Here
8. Gustavian Style and Inspiration Kristin Fägerskjöld- Here
9. How Swede I am- Judy English- Here
10 Sweden – WP- Daily Themes Group Board- Here
11. Beautiful Pins From antiqbr.blogspot.com here
12 Marie Antoinette Vanna H- Here
13 Day Bed Love Jane Love Here
14 French & Belgian- Anna Tausend- Here
15. Swedens Red Houses Kristin Fägerskjöld- Here
16 Scandinavian Themes -Susanna Nykänen Here
17. Interiors Gustavian Cornélie Polderman –Here
18. Norwegian heritage, foods, crafts Bette Calderone Here
19. Mäster Henriks Blog Kristin Fägerskjöld- Here
20. La Maison de Mes Rêves- Hanna H Here
21. Scandinavian Inspiration Laura Landrum Here
22. Scandinavian Dreams Leslie Strovas Here
23 Swedish History By Sara – Here
24 Euro Treasures Sweden- Here
25. Swedish Walls and Furniture Lorraine Casinghino Here
26. Swedish Gustavian Style – Paula’s Page Lily Oake- Here
27 Paula Arndt’s Page:
– Blue & White Home 1-here
-Blue and White Home 2-here
-Blue and White Home 3 –here
-Blue and White Table – here
-Red and White Home- here
28. Scandinavian Winter, and Scandinavian Summer – Lara Dennehy Horsting
29. Guest Room ~ Swedish Gustavian- Lara Dennehy Horsting here
30. Violet Hoarder’s Pinterest Page
– Gustavian Style 1 –here
– Gustavian Style 1 –here
– Gustavian Style 1 –here
– Gustavian Style 1 –here
– Norway -Violet Hoarder here
31. Style Gustavien- Les marottes de la marmotte here
32. All things Swedish SwedishCornerDownUnder here
33. Scandinavian Country -Brooke Decker here
34. Country style :: Scandinavian – Apples and Pears here
35.Tile Stoves “Kakel Ugn” Frankie Black – here
36. Cottage & Swedish Style Fleaing France-Brocante Society –here
37: Swedish: Gracefully Vintage –here
38: NORDIC INNOCENT Jane von Rathsach – here
39: Scandinavian Style- Carol Bender –here
40: Swedish Style Nora Eva Lovgren here
41: Swedish Chic Lauren Howley – here
42: 18th c. Swedish Interiors Elin Hansdotter here
43: Swedish Carla Slayden here
44: Swedish Clocks Cheryl Figliola here
45: Swedish: Denise –here
46: Nordisk Shabby Chick- Nana Sörensen –here
47: Swedish Sensations -Lynn Burgoyne -here
48: Swedish -Christin Holt- here
49: Swedish Heritage Ingrid Achamizo here
50: Swedish Folklore- Carina Jones here
51: Scandinavian Sandi Haynes here
52: Sanna’s Homeland- Donnetta Murray here
53: Swedish Love Michaela Martens here
54: Scandinavia.Love – Rallief v.Venus here
55: Norway Norge J. Jensen here
56: Norway Inez Nordahl here
57: My Norwegian Heritage Lois Forde here
58: Norwegian Favorites Martha Schoffmann here
59: Scandinavie si jolie ! Agnes Casas here
60: NORWEGIAN AND SWEDISH STYLE Cecilia Vinueza here
61: eEverything Svensk -Synia Anderson here
62: Sweden & Scandinavia Deborah Browning here
63: Sweden Deborah Browning here
64: Smallish Houses Robert Hudson here
65: Välkommen Kaye Kraus here
66: Swedish Style Theresa Hardy here
67: Swedish Style Ingrid Olson Margason here
68: Swedish Style Andrea Smolensky here
69: Swedish Gustavian Darlene Bowes here
70: Swedish Bridgett Conway Mason here
71: Svenska Flicka here
72: Swedish Lilian Shines here
73: Swedish SKK3 here
74: Swedish White Camilla Svensson Burns here
75: Swedish Houses Sweet Stuga here
19th century Swedish Mora clock – Visit nordouestantiquites.com
Wood stove by the style files on Flickr
Gustavian Antiques –Visit atelierdecampagne.webs.com
18th Century Swedish Painted Clock –Jacqueline Adams Antiques
Clocks Stellan Herner Seen On Skarp dot se
Le Grillon voyageur Brocante Collection 2012 – Visit legrillonvoyageur.com
Distressed Wood Cabinetry Visit zsazsabellagio.blogspot.com
Classic Swedish Interiors Buy it On Amazon For $33
Reflections on Swedish Interiors: Rhonda Eleish, Edie Van Breems – Buy it on Amazon
Washed Wood Panel Wall gardenhomeandparty.com
Photo by Dan Mayers Seen On Barbara Jacksier Blog
Visit thefullerview.tumblr.com
Frederick VI of Denmark
Swedish Seals A Tyner Antiques
Swedish Seals A Tyner Antiques
Reflections on Swedish Interiors: Rhonda Eleish, Edie Van Breems – Buy it on Amazon
Visitmatildeco.se, Visit thefullerview.tumblr.com, Nordic Dresser, Pinterest
Swedish Antiques, Midnight Sun, Ltd.
Interiors By Min Hogg– Buy it On Amazon
Visit alexandrafrenchantiques.com, Visit tidningenlantliv.se
Wooden horse on a painted wooden chest Visit lucasantiques.blogspot.com
Plaza Interior Visit plazainterior.se
Country Houses of Sweden by author Angelika Taschen- Buy it On Amazon
Floor Candle Holder- Buy it here
Visit chintz-of-darkness.blogspot.com
Antique Swedish Mora Clock Paint – Swedish Interior Design
69 Inspiring Pictures Of Nordic Country Style Decorating
Bogstad Manor is a protected cultural monument and one of the few country estates in Norway. The history of the estate dates back to 1649, while Norway was still Catholic the land was rented out to tenant farmers by Hovedøya Monastery. After the reformatin in 1536 it was confiscated by the Crown. It was then in 1649 that the Danish-Norwegian King Fredrik III sold Bogstad and number of other farms to Morten Lauritzen. This land provided great timber for sawmills which was rapidly expanding in the 17th century.
The Manor remained in the same family from 1649 until it was left to the Bogstad Foundation in 1955, administered under the Norwegian Folk Museum. The museum has left the estate authentic to the original time period, leaving a monument that shows layers of layers of history.
Peder Anker, became the first Norwegian Prime Minister in Stockholm in 1814 during the union with Sweden (1814-1905). From 1773 to 1780 Peder Anker made some alterations and additions to Bogstad Manor’s main building. He designed the ballroom with inspiration from Versailles, bought a huge collection of paintings in Rome and created the first English landscape park in Norway.
Bogstad Manor is open to the public throughout the year, as well as guided tours of the main buildings are offered from May-September. Bogstad Manor also has copies of artifacts for sale in the museum shop that relate to the history and tradition at Bogstad manor. The museum shop sells glass, pewter and porcelain.
The gardens at Bogstad are sensational to see. The baroque garden was established in the first part of the 18th century. The English style park was created by Peder Anker around 1780 and has canals and ponds for carp and ducks. Peder Anker introduced more than 400 rare trees and plants from abroad. This park became a model for number of parks in Norway.
Bogstad Manor In Norway
Stave church, Rollag, Buskerud, Norway
Picture Credit Visit google.no
Røldal stave church, Hardanger region in Norway. The church was built at the end of the 13 th century and is famous for its crucifix. According to legend it sweats once a year (July 6 th), and the sweat has healing power. After Trondheim (Nidarosdomen cathedral), Røldal was the most important site of pilgrimage in Norway during the middle ages.
Garden Snails – Cepaea Hortensis (Detail) New painted ceiling on antique floorboards.
Peter Korver Amsterdam 2008
Norwegian cubbord beds adorned with wood carvings and Rosemaling
The colorful knotted throw was created to compliment the wall painting.
Visit homedesign.marthastewart.com
“The lady’s bedroom at Skogaholms herrgård (Skogaholm Manor), Skansen open air museum, Stockholm.” Visit upload.wikimedia.org
Antique 1840-1870 Swedish Mora Clock Visit seattle.craigslist.org
Swedish Antiques Visit bukowskismarket.com
Stora Nyckelviken, Stockholm – Visit upload.wikimedia.org
Hall (ivistoga) with intricate rosemaling; Yli farm in Telemark
Skansen Museum in Stockholm- See More At New Girl’s Accessories Blog
Länna Prästgård, Norrtälje Visit homedesign.marthastewart.com
Skansen Museum in Stockholm- See More At New Girl’s Accessories Blog
Skansen Museum in Stockholm- See More At New Girl’s Accessories Blog
Two Scandinavian Homes Visit inspiracionline.blogspot.com
Lone Ranger Antiques 321 Walnut Street Hollywood, Florida, 33019.
Swedish Palette – A Galvinized Pail Is Used As A Vase
Näs herrgård, Norrtälje, Uppland –Wikipedia
Skogaholms Herrgård, Skansen, Stockholm.
18th century weeks at Skansen by Johanni on Flickr
Sunlight in the dining room at Haga, Haga Pavilion, Late 18th century, Gustaviansk or Swedish Neoclassicism Photograph by Magnus photo Seen on Pinterest
Sweaters by Designer Solveig Hisdal
Traditional Swedish Nordic Dining Rooms – Visit solgarden.se
Visit knowingtheroyals.wordpress.com
Adolf Frederick was born, 14 May 1710 -12 February 1771) was King of Sweden from 1751 until his death. His father was Christian Augustus (1673—1726) duke and a younger prince of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp, prince-bishop of Lubeck, and administrator, during the Great Northern War, of the duchies of Holstein-Gottorp for his relative Charles Frederick. His mother was Albertina Frederica of Baden-Durlach. On his mother’s side, Adolf Frederick descended from king Gustav I of Sweden and from Christina Magdalena, a sister of Charles X of Sweden. From both his parents he was descended from Holstein-Gottorp, a house with a number of medieval Scandinavian royal dynasties among its ancestors. Adolf Frederick was also a 13th-generation descendant of Erik V of Denmark; a 13th-generation descendant of Sophia of Denmark and Valdemar I of Sweden; and an 11th-generation descendant of Euphemia of Sweden, Duchess of Mecklenburg and her husband the duke Albrecht.
Pair of Swedish Baroque Commodes created in the 1850s. Unknown Dealer
Nordic Architecture Visit homedesign.marthastewart.com
Sarah Richardsons Country House Visit houseandhome.com
GRUVGATAN 13 Blog Visit gruvgatan13.blogspot.se
The pale colors and bare windows give this room a Swedish feel….Colefax and Fowler
18th Century French Carved Wood Louis XVI Panel
18th Century Giltwood Barometer with Allegory of Science
This comfortable and fresh vacation home displays simple palette combined with clean lines and rustic finishes. In place of a traditional oil painting, designer Jessica McIntyre created an art installation for the dining room with wall brackets from Ballard Designs, pewter chargers from Pottery Barn, antler trophies from Two’s Company and antique Chinese water vessels from Club Cu. The rustic Durango light fixture by Arteriors Home contrasts nicely with the more traditional Zentique dining chairs. The tonal damask rug is from Shaver-Ramsey.coloradohomesmag.com
A Swedish Farmhouse- Source: Skeppsholmen.
Lennart Castelius Antiques & Interiors- here
Lennart Castelius Antiques & Interiors
Pictures:
20 Scandinavian Gift Ideas
KAWAI grand piano $168 Amazon
Are you interested in buying something different than the typical gifts found in the big box stores? Scandinavian style gifts come with a taste of heritage and family traditions passed down through generations. Below we list a selection of gifts that are inspired from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland.
1. Consider buying a Dale Of Norway Sweater – Dale of Norway is a world leading designer and manufacturer of premium knitwear, and is available on Amazon All of its garments are knitted at Dale, a small village by the west coast of Norway, located between beautiful steep mountains, waterfalls and fjords. The company was established in 1879, and has since then developed many innovative yarns and knitting techniques, creating beautiful designs made of 100% pure, high-quality wool.
2. Make Your Own Norwegian Mittens and Gloves: Over 25 Classic Designs for Warm Fingers and Stylish Hands by Annemor Sundbo This gorgeous collection showcases traditional Norwegian mitten and glove patterns, providing an accessible format for new and old lovers of knitting. Presenting a beautiful selection of 29 classic figurative concepts, this array is a fashionable representation of Norway’s history of the craft. Used From $12
3. Create Your Own Nordic Gifts: 35 Projects Inspired by Scandinavian Style by Mia Underwood – Add a touch of Scandinavia to your home and your wardrobe. Scandinavian style has never been more desirable, with its emphasis on natural materials, light and fresh colors, and classic motifs. Mia Underwood inherited her love of making things from her Danish grandmother, and she understands both the techniques and the heritage of crafts from Scandinavia. In Nordic Crafts she presents 35 new projects which reflect the traditions of the Scandinavian countries, with a modern twist. Projects for the home include a novel bread basket, and a gorgeous bird mobile. For a child’s room, there is a beautiful baby blanket, and a woodland scene to hang in the window. For playtime, felt animal masks will fire your child’s imagination, while nisse – mischievous elves – are easy to make from scraps of wool. The Danish love of coziness and comfort – ‘hygge’ – is reflected in patterns for felted slippers, embroidered mittens, and snoods for both adults and children. Buy New from $16
4. Can You Knit? Make Traditional Scandinavian Knitting Gifts (Dover Knitting, Crochet, Tatting, Lace) by Sheila McGregor lassic guide to the styles of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, and the Faeroe Islands. Vibrant patterns for an array of garments include jerseys, gloves and mittens, stockings, and caps. Illustrated with 191 black-and-white and 20 color pictures, this volume is well known and prized among longtime practitioners of the craft.- Buy Used From $5
5. Our Nordic Heritage Ingalill Snitt-Our Nordic Heritage presents the 18 sites in the Nordic countries which have been inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List – the cultural and natural heritage of mankind. Areas with this status represent outstanding and irreplaceable cultural and natural treasures. They are important to us as sources of experience and understanding of our manifold historical, cultural and natural background. Buy It Used From Amazon $18
6- Gifts For Little Girls- Scandinavian Girl and Boy Paper Dolls (Dover Paper Dolls) by Kathy Allert and Paper Dolls (Aug 17, 1993) Two dolls, 32 traditional, accurately detailed folk costumes. Full-color renderings of a Norwegian bridal ensemble, Finnish Lapp outfits with colorful “four winds” hats, Swedish Lapp summer garments, Danish bridal apparel with a floral crown, an Icelandic folk-dancing costume, and more. Includes map showing countries and regions represented – Buy Used From $1
7. Have a Baker In The Family? Or Consider Baking Scandinavian Style. Scandinavian Classic Baking by Pat Sinclair and Joel Butkowski- Shows you how to do Scandinavian coffee breads and cakes to cookies and tarts. This gorgeous cookbook offers forty-three recipes, along with photographs, history, musings, and stories. Buy it new from $13 on Amazon
8. Make Something Out Of Paper For A Gift– Norigami: The Art of Norwegian Paper Folding by John Roth Buy Used From $2
9. Classic HOW To Nordic Needlework-Scandinavian Needlecraft: 35 Step-by-step Projects to Create the Scandinavian Home by Clare Youngs and Sarah Hoggett – Incorporating the finest elements of Scandinavian crafting traditions, inspiration is taken from a range of backgrounds including classic folk art and local needlework, as well as more contemporary sources. These delightful designs, each with clear step-by-step instructions and beautiful photography, will have you itching to get stitching. Buy used from $5
10. Swedish Cooking Guides – In Kitchen of Light readers are transported to Viestad’s Norway—fishing for cod, halibut, and salmon; gathering chanterelles, porcini, and wild berries. More than 100 recipes emphasize fresh, simple ingredients in delicious and elegant dishes such as Pepper-Grilled Oysters and Scallops and Roast Dill-Scented Chicken with Leeks and Potatoes. This inspired cookbook, a companion to the public television series New Scandinavian Cooking, is perfect for home cooks, armchair travelers, cultural food enthusiasts, and anyone who yearns for the simple life. New From $17 on Amazon
11. The Knitter’s Directory 150 Scandinavian Motifs is an inspirational collection of favorite motifs found in the traditional knitting of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, and the Faeroe Islands. New From $16 on Amazon
12. Embroidery Books- Scandinavian Stitch Craft: Unique Projects and Patterns for Inspired Embroidery – Highlighting traditional Swedish embroidery techniques and featuring easy instruction, Scandinavian Stitch Craft will be an inspiration to modern crafters. Through thirty inspiring projects, Holmberg highlights many of Sweden’s traditional embroidery stitches and uses them in new and exciting combinations. The projects can be used to make new buys more personal, to embroider clothes that you already have in your wardrobe, or to brighten up a flea-market bargain. Also included is information about materials used, tips and tricks, descriptions of the various stitches, and removable pattern templates which can be used to create your own works. Buy it new from $15, Used from $11 on Amazon
13. Buy New Kitchen Baking Accessories From Nordic Ware. Here are my favorites:
-Nordic Ware Platinum Acorn Cakelet Pan $33 Amazon
-Nordic Ware Non-Stick Cast Aluminum Fleur De Lis Bundt Pan $22 on Amazon
– Make Traditional Danish Pancakes with an ebleskiver pan $22 Amazon
-Nordic Ware Gingerbread House Bundt Pan $14 On Amazon
-Nordic Ware Cake Pops Baking Pan $14 on Amazon
– Nordic Ware Popover Pan $29 Amazon
-Nordic Ware Snowflake Shortbread Pan, Silver $22 Amazon
-Nordic Ware Norwegian Krumkake Iron Buy it for $50 On Amazon
-All Season Cookie Impressions $31 on Amazon
-Egg Waffle Pan $57 On Amazon
14. Buy From Fjallraven- Fjällräven develops products that make it easier for people to enjoy the countryside. Åke Nordin developed a backpack frame that sowed the seed which would go on to become the Fjällräven company. And ever since its Örnsköldsvik beginnings in 1960, Fjällräven has continued to produce innovative, functional products which are appreciated by generations of outdoor enthusiasts across the world – and which have also received a number of distinguished awards over the years.
15. Geometric Knitting Design Book- Nordic Knitting Traditions: Knit 25 Scandinavian, Icelandic and Fair Isle Accessories by Susan Anderson-Freed Traditional Scandinavian and Icelandic designs are given new life in the projects found in Nordic Knitting Traditions. 25 projects feature original floral, star, feather and geometric motifs, all knit in fresh and modern colors. With a diverse collection of hats, tams, mittens, gloves, socks, knee-highs and legwarmers, you’ll find plenty of jaw-dropping, colorful accessories to knit for yourself and the ones you love. Buy Used From $10
More Knitting Books
20 Contemporary Accessories Inspired by 4 Traditional Sweater Patterns -Traditional Nordic patterns can be seen everywhere, from the catwalk to the high street. In this book from new knit designer Eline Oftedal, four iconic Norwegian knitting patterns – Marius, Voss, Setesdal and Fana – are given new shapes and forms. Includes stories about the inspiration and traditions behind each of the patterns, charting their origins and exploring what it is about these patterns that so appeals to knitters all over the world. Buy on Amazon from $17
Quick Nordic Knits: 50 Socks, Hats and Mittens- An accomplished designer’s signature patterns for hats, gloves, wristbands, socks, and ankle-warmers are collected in this enticing project book. Using two-ply yarn in an array of colors and including both color photography and black-and-white charts to illustrate the designs, this guide gives comprehensive instructions for following the patterns within. Buy used from $5
Norsk Strikkedesign: A Collection from Norway’s Foremost Knitting Designers by Margaretha Finseth -A colourful, lively and practical book which showcases the variety represented by some of Norway’s best knitwear designers. The designers featured in this book have influenced Norwegian hand and commercial knitting during the last fifteen to twenty years. – Buy Used From $34
16. Buy From CucinaPro.
-Make traditional pizzelles or cannoli in minutes here,
– Make 18 triangle shaped ravioli at a time -CucinaPro 127-18 Raviolamp Tortelli $18 Amazon
– Make classic Swedish crepes with CucinaPro 12 Inch Griddle & Crepe Maker,$50 Amazon
-Cucina Pro Ravioli Attachment $79 Amazon
-CucinaPro Krumkake Baker $47 Amazon
17. Swedish Styled Stamps- View My Selections “Rococo Gustavian Stamps And Accessories- 70 Ideas For Your Home or Business” here
18. Buy From Essence of Europe Gifts, where they feature a selection of Bavarian German Steins, Swedish Dala Horse gifts, Victorian Kids costumes and more
19. Check out Swedish Hasbeens On Amazon, a company which sells clogs, shoes, toffels and accessories.
Buy Wood Toys From Kawaigakkiseisakusho on Amazon
Uncle Goose Swedish Alphabet Wooden Blocks $36 Amazon
20. Buy Real Wood Toys From Uncle Goose. – Very few companies still manufacture wood toys. This company still makes the wooden blocks we have come to enjoy, and never get tired of. Buy their products on Amazon
Tove Adman Concrete Candlesticks; $42.45 at Scandinavian Design Center.
Tove Adman is a Swedish designer, well known for her products in concrete and aluminum. Her products often looks like something one might find in a home, but different somehow, and with a function not expected! Her company is located on the island Gotland, all concrete objects are made in Järna, Sweden. Products in aluminum are sandcast in Moradabad, India.
Buy New Kitchen Baking Accessories From Nordic Ware.
Dale Of Norway Sweater Look Though Pages of Stunning Sweaters on Amazon
Swedish Furniture From St Barths- Buy A Quilt For A Gift.
Birdcages- housemartin.typepad.com
Swedish Crisp Bread Recipe from Lotta Jansdotter — Visit sweetpaulmag.com
Swedish fika on a four tiered serving stand “Fika” – The Swedish coffee hour, or fika break, is a combination of coffee and chatting. A “fika” is not complete without buns, cookies or cakes, and has been popular since the second half of the 1800s. Swedes consume most cardamom in Europe and put it in buns that go with the coffee. Location: Grythyttan, Västmanland
Walter Pfeiffer‘s use of pattern within his work, is always intriguing and his colorful editorial for January’s Vogue China is a real treat. The story features Edita Vilkeviciute looking sophisticated in festive pieces chosen by stylist, Anastasia Barbieri.
Norwegian Wedding Cake –The Knot
Krumkake Iron Visit google.co.uk
Springerle Rolling Pin
Carved Norwegian Spoons-Visit plumo.com
The Sweets of Sweden A selection of Scandinavian candies included salted licorice pastilles, chocolate nonpareils with arrack liquor, and Swedish marshmallows called sockerbitar.
Kransekage – Visit karenklarbaeksverden.blogspot.com
Swedish Christmas Toffee. Spoil friends and family with this yummy treat. Visit kikki-k.com
Aebleskiver Visit stephs.com
Norwegian krumkake cookies- Visit stylishcuisine.com
Pink Champagne Cake Pops Seen At Sweetapolita Blog
Nordic Ware Cake Pops Baking Pan $14 on Amazon
Smörgåstårta: 15 Savory Sandwich Cakes
Smoked fish, tender seafood, fresh veggies, creamy binders and soft fresh baked bread; Layer it all together and what do you have? Smörgåstårta. It’s a Swedish staple that’s perfect for parties, brunches, and those days where your family never seems to eat at the same time. Plus, come on — it’s a cake made of sandwich! You know you want it! A Smörgåstårta isn’t quite cake and it isn’t quite sandwich. Read More at www.thekitchn.com
5 Ways To Add Life Into Worn-Out Furniture
Furniture ages just like everything else…and like with most other things, you don’t notice the small changes that happen to your furniture until one day, a few years (or maybe even a decade or more) down the line, you stop and say, “When did my furniture develop this natural patina?”
Obviously you love your furniture — you wouldn’t have kept it for so long if you didn’t — but loving your furniture doesn’t mean you can’t update it or dress it up a little. What’s more, you can make your updates and do your dressing up for very little cost (which should be a relief since it’s doubtful you’ve got a Steve Wynn-sized bank account to fund these projects).
Here are a few cost-effective ways to do just that.
1. Put on New Hardware
Consider adding a little bit of bling to that old chest that you want to fall back in love with. Putting on new hardware is a great way to dress up old cabinetry and furniture. For example, maybe instead of having handles on the dresser drawers, you can put pulls on instead. New hardware can completely change (and update) the look of a piece and costs way less than buying a whole new item.
2. Refinish It
That chest sitting in the back of the garage may look nice in it’s all natural elements. Consider sanding off the old layers of varnish and finish. Maybe this time you can choose a different paint color, or maybe you’ll leave it all-natural.
Refinishing vintage furniture helps get rid of layers of gunk and grime. It can also remove dings and scratches that might have dampened the appearance of the piece. While it won’t often make the piece look brand new, it can help it look re-energized.
3. Paint
As someone who is undoubtedly into the purity of his or her furniture, the idea of painting over the current finish, stain, or varnish probably turns your stomach. Before you hurl, though, know that light paint colors are very “in” right now (and has been for a while). You don’t have to paint the furniture a garish color if you don’t want to. In fact, one of the best things you can do is paint it white. A coat of white paint helps it keep its integrity while also updating its look.
4. Reupholster It
The simple fact of the matter is that over time, fabric (in spite of your good intentions and good care) starts to rot. Cushions (even with minimal pressure) lose their strength. Reupholstering the seat, sofa, or stool helps maintain its beauty and structural integrity. You can even find antique-looking fabrics fairly cheaply online. Even better — upholstery is something you can easily do yourself, which saves you even more money!
Whatever you choose to do, know this: Updating is not the same as replacing. You can keep the same furniture for decades if you treat it well and give it a facelift now and then!
18th century Swedish painted Rococo chest of drawers. Mid 18th century.
Custom paint finish. A Tyner Antiques $9,750
Swedish Rococo Grey Painted Commode -19th Centuty Grey Painted Rococo Commode,Three Drawers Cote Jardin Antiques $8,900
Swedish Chest With Desk- Circa 1790 Swedish Two Door Chest with Drop Down Desk, Original Paint, Original Hardware A Tyner Antiques $4,870
Swedish Chest of Drawers, Dated 1737 Sweden. The chest features all original paint and hardware, three drawers, cabriole legs on squared feet. Provenance on top drawer dates piece to 1737. Susanne Hollis $13,200
White Painted Swedish Furniture
Swedish Gustavian Style Decorating From Eleish and Van Breems Featured on Color Outside The Lines Blog
Swedish Dining Table From The Right Bank Blog
A Swedish Stove Stands Next To Papier Mache Columns- Kay O’Toole Featured on Cote De Texas Blog
18th Century Swedish Giltwood Cartel Clock with Lyre,
Wheat Sheaves, and Classical Drapery. One of a kind clock
Beautiful Primitive Wall Plate Display From Belgian Pearls Blog
Swedish Decorating Gustavian Styles –
Book- The Swedish Room By Lars Sjöberg, Ursula Sjöberg, Ingalill Snitt
Featured on shabbyechic.blogspot.com
Book – Perfect Country Rooms Emma-Louise O’Reilly- Buy it on Amazon For $1
This beautifully illustrated book casts a fresh look at the new country style, which combines time-honored objects and traditional styles with a new versatility and natural look. This style of decorating is easily adapted to any house, rural or urban–it’s just a matter of focusing on comfort, conviviality, and a combination of traditional, personal, and at times eclectic objects. 175 full-color illustrations
Kennedy Home From Velvet and Linen’s Flicker Stream
Dawn Hill Antiques
A blue painted, Rococo Period Chest of Drawers with a faux marble
top and elegant curved drawer front. Later paint surface and drawer pulls..
Sweden, circa 1750.
- A pair of Rococo Style Armchairs in Blue paint with elegant carvings and details.
- Circa 1860, Sweden
- Lindome chair makers, Sweden. $17,000
- A Pair of Swedish, late 19th century, Arm Chairs. Painted white and upholstered
in a late 19th century blue and grey French toile. Carved details on the crown
and apron. Reeded armrests and legs. $4600 - A matched set of six Swedish Rococo dining chairs. A matched set of six Swedish Rococo period dining chairs circa 1770, in original paint with a nice patina Price $15K
- Swedish Chest of Drawers Circa 1820
- A, Mid 19th century, Trumeau Mirror 1850.
- Swedish Baroque chest of drawers, circa 1800,
- Original hardware, no repairs.
- Large horse, circa 1820, with wooden frame
Mora Clocks: Investing In Swedish Heritage
Mora clocks are breathtaking to look at, and have become tremendously popular over the last 10 years. Swedish tall clocks are commonly called “Mora clocks” however, it is known that only clocks and cases produced in the Mora municipality can accurately bear the name of Mora. The mora clock began in around the Mora municipality in Dalara provence in a small town called Ostnor during the late eighteenth century. According to Wikipedia, Mora clock faces are often marked with the inscription “A A S Mora”—the initials of Krång Anders Andersson (1727-1799) of Östnor, traditionally known as the first clockmaker in the district of Mora.
The clock works were crafted by farmers, the first being Krang Anders Anderson (1729-99) , who needed to find additional income during the winter months. The iron mines of nearby Sala made iron affordable for the farmers to work with, which allowed the clock industry to grow. It started with a few farmers who needed extra money, but by the end of the nineteenth century the clock making business in Sweden thrived. More than 50,000 clockwork motors were produced during this time.
Each family around the region would specialize in producing one or more of the parts required for these clocks. A finished clock would often be sold without a case, in which the buyer would then have to arrange for one to be made locally. As many as 1,000 clocks were being made each year. Clock cases evolved from a straight case in the eighteenth century to a curvier form in the nineteenth century. Within 80 years, the competition from inexpensive German and American clocks put an end to this cottage industry.
Jo from Swedish Interior Design, shares some ideas on what you should look for when you want to buy a Mora Clock.
Many people’s first time with a Mora comes from the movie ‘Somethings Gotta Give’ where there is a mora clock prominently displayed in the living room scene with Jack Nicholson. Original 1800s Mora clocks are very rare now so here’s a few pointers to help you find the right one.
They are most worked in pine but very occasionally built in oak and they measure height wise from 180-250cm and feature a great wealth of decorative carvings and original paint finishes.
Each Mora clock is a unique handmade object dreamed up by the imagination of its maker so every clock has a different the hood, clock face decoration, belly shape, plinth etc .
1800s Swedish Mora clocks generally come in a number of types –
Fryksdall: These clocks have a pinched waist, wider belly, curly scroll decoration on the waist and neck and extravagant hood carvings. They come in a variety of whites & greys and would be owned by wealthier individuals.
Bridal: The most unusual of mora clocks, often from Jamtland, these pieces have the finest levels of decorative carving. They exhibit the finest level of craftsmanship in the Mora clock world.
City: a catch all phrase to describe Mora clocks that have fine levels of decoration or beautiful painted finishes that set them apart from the simpler country clocks.
Country: the country clocks are usually plainer in appearance with less decoration. Often given as wedding presents, they would be a prized possession in poorer families. Normally they have simpler hood crowns and less use of glass. They may have no face glass at all or pendulum viewing port for example. Painted in earthier folk art colors in the Swedish Kurbits folk art tradition, they show with yellows, oranges, deep russets, browns and ochres.
There seem to be 3 schools of thought in terms of paint finishes.
Some people strip the clocks back to the bare wood and repaint but that doesn’t make sense to me. Every clock has lived a history and by over restoring, you strip away its special ‘aura, it becomes just a clock body made of old wood devoid of personality making it not much different from a repro one in reality.
Also many clocks have ‘scraped back’ paint. But this is just a paint effect really. Originally the paint would have been a rich chalk paint in perfect condition, and the scraped paint ‘effect’ is just that – an interior design effect similar to ‘shabby chic’ that you see on lots of restored Swedish furniture. It looks nice but its not real!
At Swedish Interior Design, we prefer to keep the paint whenever we can as it is and only repaint where the original coat is in poor condition or it has been repainted at some later time. When we do it is sensitively done to allow the mora clock to live and breathe so to speak.
Finally you need to think about whether you want to use the original clock mechanism or fit a battery powered electric one. This may seem a strange question but mora clocks have very ‘country’ parts, unlike the precision clock mechanisms of English clocks of the period.
So they can be difficult to set up and can be affected by a change in temperature causing the wood in the clock body to shift slightly or being jolted as you walk past. This affects the swing planes and can cause the clock to stop. Also the mechanisms are open to the air and its very easy to get dust caught in the cogs.
So that’s why most of our clients go for the battery option. It doesn’t need winding and it looks exactly the same as the original from the outside. Its easy to do and there’s no damage to the clock as the original mechanism is only kept in place by small screw and you can put the original mechanism back in place whenever you like (although it will need cleaning and setting up professionally if you do).
Further Reading:
- Martha Stewart Appearance, Mora Clocks, and a Winner! Cove Table
- “Mora Clocks and Tall Case Clocks”. Cupboards and Roses. Retrieved 2006-12-29.
- “Swedish Long Case Mora Clocks”. Ryder Antiques.
- http://www.antikuhr.de The Mora Story
- “Swedish painted furniture”. Julie Foster Decorative Antiques. Retrieved 2005-12-17.
Edgar Reeves Lighting and Antiques sells this terrific late 19th century tall long case clock in Swedish “Mora” style. The clock is elaborately painted with floral details from a period perspective. “Mora” clocks are a type of long case clock which were made in, and derived their name from, the town of Mora in Dalrana provence Sweden. Edgar Reeves has this clock priced at $3,200
Leif Antiques has for sale an early Gustavian clock by Johan Lindquist who was a royal clock maker to King Adolf Frederick 1750-1771. This clock was made towards the end of King Frederick’s reign and is a prime example of Lindquist’s work and the beginning of the Gustavian Period. This clock is in exceptional condition and is priced at $80,000
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