In this installment of my multipart post on a beautiful
antique Swedish home, we will be looking at the dining area and the kitchen.
This room is decorated in classic Gustavian style as
supported by the white painted sideboard, crystal chandelier, white
painted dining table with an embellished apron, pewter candle sticks and antique
art.
Sideboards are pieces that clearly represent the classic Swedish style. Often people will tell me that
they want a Swedish look but either don’t have the space or the budget for several items. When I hear this I
immediately suggest one of three pieces for them to consider: a sideboard, a chandelier, or a clock.
The Swedish sideboard is often, but not always, taller than it is wide. It will have at least two doors
and two drawers - sometimes with diamond or reed carving decorations. A gallery back is also a common design
element, along with white, pale gray, green or cream paint.
Swedish crystal chandeliers usually support wax candles in
their candle branches, have a crystal basket design at the bottom
and cascading crystals at the top. Sometimes
a touch of cobalt blue is added which really emphasizes the Swedish origin.
Swedish chandeliers ‘in the style of’ the classic antique designs, but made in the latter part of the 19th century or the first part of the 20th century, were often adapted to support electric bulbs. Sometimes the candle branches were adapted for electricity but often the interior frames had three, four or five bulbs added which allowed for the ambiance of wax candles in the branches as well as the beauty and practicality of electric bulbs illuminating from within.
Pewter is a big part of antique Swedish interiors. Used every day, antique Swedish pewter is
both beautiful and practical.
The beautifully renovated kitchen was tastefully
designed with a nod to the historic past of the home but with modern conveniences
and design touches. The open shelves provide
easy access to cookbooks, frequently used items and the homeowner’s collection
of ironstone. The natural wood countertop
provides warmth to the all white space, while the pretty blue rag rug runner
compliments the cobalt blue in the chandelier and the lighter blue on the seat cushions.
Every Swedish home has several rag rugs. Made from scraps of fabric, old clothes,
linens, etc. these rugs have become iconic.
We consider them to be pieces of functional art as each is unique and
one of a kind. Providing warmth and
softness to the feet and beauty for the eye, Swedish rag rugs are sized and
priced for everyone and every budget.
Clockwise from the top: Crystal Snaps Glasses, Three Crowns Union Cachet Pot, Copper Teapot, Swedish Rag Rug, Demilune Dining Table, Swedish Rag Rug, Gustafberg Bowl, Antique Glass Decanter, Neoclassical Dining Chairs, Empire Style Crystal Chandelier
Please check back again as we will continue our tour of this beautiful Swedish home and demonstrate how you can achieve a similar look.
Images via: Skona Hem
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