Swedish Style - A Shopping Guide, part 1

The popular Swedish magazine Skona Hem, is frequently referenced by bloggers in the US and every once in awhile there is an article that seems to strike many of us as worthy of mentioning.  Recently an article featured a wonderful English family that turned back the clock on an historic Swedish home build in the 19th century.  Parts of this home have been featured in ada & darcy and Decorati (written by Susan Serra from The Kitchen Designer) but I thought that I wouldn’t be shy and would go ahead and give you another view and perspective of this pretty little place.

Over the next few days I will share some images of this home as well as suggestions on how you can achieve a similar look with items in the Avolli inventory. We will start with the exterior and the dining room. 

The exterior is classic Swedish board and batten wood siding freshly painted in the original crisp white color the house had at its inception.  The main floor is original to the house and the second floor was added in the early 1900’s. The tile roof, in warm shades of red and ‘dirty’, provides a contrast against the perfection of the white exterior.  The pebble driveway and minimal landscaping along the front of the house, and expansive perennial gardens on each side, speaks to the English/Swedish influences of the owners.

Once inside, the white tongue & groove walls and scrubbed pine floors provide a beautiful setting for the family’s lovely collection of antiques and decorative arts. 

The dining room contains two beautiful Gustavian chairs upholstered in a lovely cabbage rose fabric.  The luscious drapes were purchased at a sale and come from the Hotel Savoy in London.  The pretty little rag rugs were acquired through a Christmas sale.

If you are interested in chairs, rag rugs or accessories similar to those seen in these pictures, I have collected a small sample of items that can be found at Avolli.

Clockwise from the left: Rag Rugs & Art, Shield Back Chairs,
Bronze & Ruby Glass Chandelier, French Arm Chairs, antique books,
 iron urns, Swedish Bergeres with down cushions.

Please join us back here in a few days when we will be sharing a few more rooms of this charming antique Swedish home.

Article information and images from Skona Hem 

Pretty!

A little something pretty to take you into the weekend!

Work is busy

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Life is busy

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So little time to blog

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Sending thoughts and good wishes to all my dear friends

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Have a glorious weekend!

Image Source: Thibault Fabrics

A Flower for Friday

I wanted to share this image of the beautiful Phalaenopsis orchid that is sitting at my desk.  This is what I get to look at all day while I work.  Lucky me. 

This bloom was years in the making.  As my sleepy little orchid rested, I impatiently waited for the rewards of a flower stalk to peek out from the green folds of the plant.  Several weeks ago I was stunned and thrilled to see that my orchid had finally decided it was time to show off its great potential.

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While my little orchid may not be a show stopper (but still immensely appreciated) I thought I would send you into the weekend by sharing a few images of beautifully photographed phalaenopsis orchids.

Enjoy!

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Glossary - Festoons

The term festoon is used both in the ornamentation of furniture, decorative arts and in describing a certain window treatment design element. Considered Renaissance or Neoclassical, festoons have been a part of interior design for hundreds of years.

A festoon in decorative arts and furniture ornamentation is made of wood, gesso, or metal and is usually a string or garland of leaves or flowers, suspended in a loop or curved between two points. Can you see the festoons in these images?

In window treatment design, a festoon if often called a swag and is a suspended loop of fabric.

1. image link – http://www.winmarkcom.com/images/figIFfinalsketch.jpg

2 & 3 image link – http://jackiebluehome.blogspot.com/

I would like to thank Jackie Von Tobel for generously sharing the second two images with us. Jackie is a talented interior and fabric designer, and is also an expert on window treatment & bedroom ensemble design and fabrication. She has written several books on these subjects which you can purchase here. To learn more about Jackie Von Tobel visit her blog at Jackie Blue Home.

Bernese Mountain Dog Love

While having absolutely nothing to do with antique furniture or beautiful design, I couldn’t help but want to share these antique or antique inspired images of beautiful Bernese Mountain dogs.

As some of you know, I am passionate about my beloved companion Gustav (aks Gus) and wrote in a previous post about how a white interior and a big black dog just don’t mix.

Well today Gus and I are taking a road trip to beautiful North Conway, NH where we will be attending, as spectators, the Regional Bernese Mountain Dog Specialty. This event will bring gorgeous, smart and highly trained members of this special breed together for a weekend of shows, competitions and wonderful camaraderie.

It will be a fun way to spend a gorgeous autumn day with my good friend Gus.

Image 1: Euro Berners Image 2: Antique Dog Art Image 3: Collectors Prints

Enjoy The Weekend

A pretty little image to take you into the holiday weekend.

May your days be bright, your time spent in the beauty of the outdoors, and you heart filled by the love of those around you.

Image via Skona Hem

A Fundraising Success!

A couple of weeks ago I posted about a fundraiser that I had learned about from Barbara over at My Dog Eared Pages.

The name of the fundraiser was New Pages and while its purpose was to raise funds to rebuild the library, it also celebrated art, the strong spirit of Maine people, and the ability to endure through tough times.

A year ago on July 24th the Swan’s Island Library was destroyed by fire but the singed remains of the books were turned into beautiful pieces of art made by community members and visitors.

The little pieces of art that were created from the ashes were auctioned off in August. Barbara contacted me recently to tell me that the auction was a huge success and raised $30,000 for the fund to rebuild the library.

Thank you to all those that participated to this incredibly worthwhile cause.

All images courtesy of My Dog Eared Pages.

A 'Sommarhus' Just For You!

Before the summer is officially over I wanted to continue with the theme of the ‘sommarhus’ that was started a couple of weeks ago and share another intriguing home with you.

This home is for sale and is offered for a cool 13.500.000 SEK, which is around $1,850.000 USD. It was built for the merchant Carl Bengtsson in 1883 and possesses the highly recognizable ‘gingerbread’ details on the outside and a classically designed interior with beautiful bones and wonderful contemporary updates.

The house sits on a generous property with breathtaking views of the water.

Leisurely strolls across the lawn or afternoon tea upon on one of the lovely porches add to the sublime summer experience.

The grand salon with its original kakelugn, or Swedish tile stove, and original frescoed ceiling, has a bright, airy, updated feel.

To maintain a cozy atmosphere in such a large room, small conversation or task areas were created. Using both original and reproduction furnishings, there are comfortable spaces for relaxing in front of the fire, tea by the window, and letter writing in the back of the room.

Going through the large double doors in the back of the grand salon takes us to an enclosed veranda. The pretty antique Swedish bench and pedestal table are perfect for this space. The proportions are ideal, the paint color reflects the sun, even in the winter, and the simple sheer drapes provide just the right amount of privacy and light diffusion.

The sisal carpet is perfect for this space and the potted palms and orchids continue with the Swedish traditions of bringing the outdoors inside.

The dining room is classic and spacious yet with simple furnishings, a lovely kakelung, and unadorned windows. These components allow the light and airy feel to continue.

The foyer represents the beauty of design that is well balanced with antique and contemporary pieces. This foyer, with its bleached, wide plank pine floors supports traditional pieces such as a Persian rug, gilt trumeau and frescoed ceiling. But the Louis Ghost chairs add a touch of whimsy and a contemporary touch that tell all who visit this home that the residents have a healthy respect for the past and the present.

The new kitchen is simply designed and adorned, supporting the reputation of clean, uncluttered Scandinavian interiors.

The white bedrooms are simply decorated yet offer a welcoming environment for its residents and their guests.

The final room is what appears to be a wine cellar but may be more appropriately called a ‘man cave’. This space in the basements offers perfect humidity for wine fermentation and storage as well as the perfect place to get away for a bit of piece and quiet.

To learn more about this beautiful property please visit Skeppsholmen