Decorating With Swedish Country Antiques- Darlene Peterson Buchanan

Swedish Country Plates Sold Through Food52Swedish Country Plates Sold Through Food52. Visit Swedish Country.com For A Look At The Whole Rosemaling Collection

America is a land of many immigrants. As many as 1.4 million Swedes immigrated to America between 1840 and 1930. As the descendants of these immigrants and others seek to decorate their homes, it is not surprising that Swedes and non-Swedes alike are looking to Swedish country décor. It offers a colorful Carl Larsson look or the light and airy Gustavian look.

The Swedish people are lovers of color and light. They use all aspects of nature relating to light and its effect in a room. The color and light play off the walls, furnishings and accessories. This decorating style blends perfectly with the Gustavian look of old Sweden or the peasant look depicted by Carl Larsson. By placing a lovely old Swedish antique in a room bathed with light and having the traditional white and blue colors, you can capture the desired Swedish look.

Carl Larsson was a very famous painter in Sweden. He captured the daily life of old Sweden on canvas, and his home is now a museum. It bursts with color, design, shapes, art, creativity and representations of the simple life in Sweden at the turn of the century. This style is very popular and has created a high demand for Swedish antiques in this country.

Read more of this article by Darlene Peterson Buchanan at go-star.com

Les Indiennes Fabrics

Elle Decor April 11

Mary Mulcahy’s designs, first developed for her block-printed textiles, now grace the wall with the Les Indiennes collection by IVM Prints. The 12 hand-screened wallpapers include Rayure, left, and Veronique, both in indigo; additional colors are offered, Seen in Elle Decor April 2011

The company Les Indiennes is known for their beautiful hand-blocked textiles. Founder, Mary Mulcahy had a desire to find naturally dyed cotton, with large scale single colored motifs, but was unable to locate fabrics close to what she had in mind, so she created her own.   Her concept started to take form after running into a craftsman in southern India,  who knew exactly what she was after.  In fact, the craftsman was one of the very few artists who still practiced the ancient art of kalamkari, which was an extremely complex and rare method of printing on fabric.

The Kalamkari Process:

1.  Fabric Preparation- Cotton fabric is initially softened and bleached.  This process needs to be done before any printing takes place.  The process involves bales of organic cotton which are repeatedly rinsed and beaten against large rocks, then laid out on the grass to bleach in the sun.   These steps ensure that the fabric will feel soft and luxurious, and so that the color application remains bright and vibrant.

2. Block Printing- After the fabric has been softened and lightened, printing begins.  Craftsmen dip hand-carved wood blocks in dyes and presses them into the cotton.  The dyes are derived from plants, roots, earth, and rock.  One can only imagine the great care, and measurements taken to ensure the patterns are straight and line up with one another.  Today we take for granted large printing machinery, when at one time, much of this work was done by hand.  At Les Indiennes, the fabric is printed by hand, and hours go into each fabric panel.  After the patterns are applied, the printed fabric is air dried for at least two days.

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Monique Waqué’s 200 Year Old Farmhouse In Northern Germany

Swedish Dining Room ChairsPhotography by Andreas Von Einsiedel Picture Credit

Owner Monique Waqué discovered this 200 year old farmhouse located in northern Germany, and turned it into her dream home.  The house is decorated with Gustavian furniture in a Swedish country look.  You can get her style too with a few key furniture pieces.

There are a number of Swedish dealers on 1st dibs that sell authentic Swedish Gustavian chairs just like what  Monique Waqué has in her home. Buying antiques from Sweden allows you to get genuine pieces that have been loved for years.  As you can see Monique Waqué has Gustavian country chairs at her dining table in a pale yellow.

This home certainly has a country flare.  All the choices are rustic, painted with country Swedish colors.  An oval tray sits on the coffee table.  Consider turning to a hand painted tole tray in the color scheme that you are basing everything around.  My favorites are the floral tole trays which have an elegant feminine country appeal.  Collect a color and consider painting your walls to match the tole trays.  The floral hand-painting gives a very distinct country look.

Getting this look doesn’t have to cost you a fortune either.  There are a number of chairs that have this same look for less.

Check out this post for lovely Linen Sofas–  I have collected several pages of  lovely linen sofas available on amazon.  (Located under the Skona Mag Picture- It takes 2 minutes to load the widget)

Set of six, 18th Century style, Gustavian chairs.Set of six, 18th Century style, Gustavian chairs. Beautiful scraped patina. Strong construction. Perfect set for dining chairs –the GARTEN Antiques and Garden Elements

Village Grigio Side Chair Crate And Barrel

Verona Dining Chair in Antique White Set of 2 $381

The Chestnut Hudson Dining Chair $199

5-Piece Shaker Dining Set, Black $299 Why not sell the table and keep the chairs?

Tapered Leg Table One that Could Be White Washed $270

Small Tapered Leg Table- Could be One in Front Of The Sofa Or an End Table $99

Perfect Bench For A Hallway or Dining Table, or Even As Patio Furniture $106

Lovely Tapered Leg Console Table $121.

Low Bowl Urn with Handles $29 Celery Green

Set of six painted Gustavian Style dining chairs

Set of six painted Gustavian Style dining chairs

Petricia Thompson Antiquites d’ Europe

Gustavian Dining Chairs

A Set of Six Matched Gustavian Dining Chairs –Cote Jardin Antiques

 

A Set of 8 Antique Swedish Gustavian Style Dining Chairs

A Set of 8 Antique Swedish Gustavian Style Dining Chairs www.georgialacey.co.uk

Gustavian Dining Chairs in the with a so called “humleqvist” carving.Gustavian Dining Chairs in the with a so called “humleqvist” carving.-lizalaserow.wordpress.com

Swedish ChairsA large set of 12 painted antique Swedish dining chairs of great design, retaining the original paint and horse hair, having been recently reupholstered by us in hessian.

This elegant set of twelve antique dining chairs, will work well in most settings. brownrigg-interiors.co.uk

A Set of Fourteen Swedish Gustavian Dining Chairs circa 1780

A Set of Fourteen Swedish Gustavian Dining ChairsA Set of Fourteen Swedish Gustavian Dining Chairs Talisman

Gustavian Chair with Pancake CushionGustavian Chair with Pancake Cushion –Seen Here

Pair Of Wooden Gustavian Chairs Ca 1800

Pair Of Wooden Gustavian Chairs Ca 1800Pair Of Wooden Gustavian Chairs Ca 1800 – Galerie Half

Set Of Four Gustavian ChairsSet Of Four Gustavian Chairs A Tyner Antiques

Set of 3 Gustavian Side Chairs

Set of 3 Gustavian Side Chairs –Laserow Antiques

Monique WaquéMonique Waqué’s Bedroom

Hooker Melange Sofia Writing Desk sold by Hooker Furniture is an antique reproduction of the classic Louis XVI desk. This terrific desk features beautiful rounded hardware and pretty ribbon motif trim and the classic Louis XVI fluted leg. Can you believe a desk like this is only $627?

Amy Morris’s Rustic Country Entry Way Featured In Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles Magazine

Interior designer Amy Morris’s home Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles

Interior designer Amy Morris’s home Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles

Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles featured Interior designer Amy Morris’s home which was filled with lovely distressed Swedish antiques, and an eclectic mix of furnishings making her home comfortable and inviting to her family and friends.

Here are some of my favorite highlights of the home:

One of the home’s powder rooms features a pair of arched iron windowpane mirrors which were placed together to look like one solid mirror. The mirror and the painted wall paneling give the room a primitive feel.  The vanity topped with limestone gave this room a polished appearance.  The rustic elements paired with the rich stone pushed this room into absolute luxury.

Several antiques really shine in this home.  The master bedroom which features serene Swedish blue and gray-white tones. A 19th-century Gustavian settee sits at the end of the bed and is from A. Tyner Antiques. The basement is just as beautiful as the rest of the house, outfitted with a distressed wood pedestal market table, with Louis XIII reproduction chairs. In the back entry hall, the floor is patterned with brick and wood to create a focal point. Matching weathered chests really steal the spotlight in this room.  The distressed paint finishes feature colors of blue and cream make a Swedish statement in this room.

ORIENTAL FURNITURE sells a lovely white cabinet for $569

Furniture Woodworks sells a terrific cabinet that is currently unavailable, although it may become available in the future.  They sell it unfinished. 

Others to Consider:

Short-Back Split-Seat Storage Bench by LINON HOME DECOR $82.00

Acadian Collection Entryway Bench by CCT GLOBAL SOURCING INC $179.00

Somerton Wooden Storage Bench in Golden Brown by Wildon Home $165.00

BENCH COASTER 501008 by Coaster  $289.00

This shoe cabinet has all the Swedish looks for your entry way.  This cabinet is crafted of durable hardwood and hardwood veneer.  Home
Decorators Collection sells this cabinet for $199.  This cabinet isn’t as big as a regular chest making it perfect for hallways or entry ways.

The Jaclyn Entryway Storage Bench From Home Decorators Collection features Swedish looks combined with functionality. The seat features storage compartments that easily lift to tuck away everything from winter apparel to the dog’s leash. The bench is crafted out of wood construction and is sold in a walnut finish. Measurements are 30.75″Hx50″W.

Paint this bench, or strip it and lime white wash it for a look comparable to Amy Morris’s bench.

Check out the Painted Porches Country Painted Bench in Pastel Blue Green

Check out my advice when it comes to White washing raw wood furniture.

Get Amy Morris’s Look For Your Own Home:

Uttermost sells a rustic primitive looking mirror called the Ameil Metal Arch Mirror.  This mirror is hand forged and made in a metal frame. The overall dimensions: are 82″ H x 42.25″ W x 114″ D.  They sell this mirror for $653

Intelligent Design sells a very attractive arch mirror for $240.  This mirror has terrific details, and certainly doesn’t look cheap!

If you like the look of the Louis XIII primitive style chairs, consider the Bailey Street Lassiter Chair which is finished in a bone suede complete with brass nail heads and a rich honey walnut tone.  They are priced at $699.

A Louis XVI bench appears in one of the bedrooms.  Acme sells a single Louis XVI bench for only $80 dollars, which could be painted, distressed and upholstered for the particular room that needs a stool.

The Hampton Vanity Stool would be spectacular against a wall.  Buy two of these stools and make a feature wall shine with these delicate looking stools.  The half circle really falls into the Swedish period look.  The best thing about these stools is the price point.  They are only $60 dollars, which gives some room for re-upholstery and a new paint finish.

Hooker sells a Radcliffe Bench that looks like a Louis XVI bench.  The bench is upholstered with Taupe Zebra Fabric and sells for $675.

Foreside Iron Bird on Pedestal is made of cast iron, this bird statue measures 7-inch high. $6.43

Since everything in Sweden is made from wood, why not go with a wood painted bird?  Gift Warehouse sells a set of three Folk Art painted birds.  If you don’t like the color scheme, simply follow the painted pattern and re-paint them in the colors of your choice.  The set costs only $11 dollars

Creative Coop sells a set of  Iron Bird Statues in a creamy ivory painted finish for $16.00

Universal Lighting and Decor sells a very attractive birdcage.  Often times I see some of these decor pieces come and go on Amazon, and this one is STILL available.  It is made of iron, and actually quite big.  The cage is 21 1/4″ high, and 12 1/4″ wide.  They sell this cage for around $50 dollars.  Get it while it is still available.  Pair it up with a rounded plant stand for a decorative piece of furniture painted in the same color, or leave it in its rustic state for a piece of decor on a dresser or cabinet.

Space Positive sells a set of two Decorative Antique Nesting Wire Bird Cages with a curved style for $172

Two’s Company sells a very attractive Antiqued Birdcage Display Shelf which can either hang or be used as a stand.  They have it priced at $254.

If you are looking for a pretty vase to hold some long stemmed orchids in, consider this cast iron Bird feeder which has a very attractive stem and base, and could be easily painted or left in its rustic state.  The feeder sells for $19 dollars and is such a versatile piece.  Consider it in the bathroom to hold soaps, or as a vase for faux flowers.  The price is right, and the style is lovely.