things I love – Gustavian Swedish Style

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As an interior designer, there are so many styles that I love.

I love Chinoiserie, Hollywood Regency, Californian, country casual, modern-traditional styles. But if someone asked me what my absolute favorite is, I’d have to say it’s Gustavian Swedish style designs.

I am sure as this blog progresses, I will be posting a lot about this, or weaving into other posts, elements of this style. One reason is that Gustavian Swedish is a style that stands on its own. However, it’s also a style that mixes so well with other styles, because the pieces are all painted.

The lines of the furniture are clean and stream-lined. I feel that painted furniture, no matter what the style has an inherent beauty that doesn’t call a lot of attention to itself. I love mixing it with wooden pieces so the room is not too “woody.”

Gustavian Swedish Style furnishings and rooms have a heavenly earthiness, if that makes any sense.

The complexity of Gustavian Swedish Style finishes is what makes them rich and satisfying. I love the pale creams, greys and blues, peeling paint, and the look of a “scrubbed” wall and floor. Here, please enjoy some of my favorite examples of Gustavian Swedish furnishings and rooms.

Most of these are authentic antiques. Some might not be. If you go with antique, be sure to buy from a reputable deal such as Loi Thai.

There is some Gustavian style furniture which is made from old parts, but is not an authentic antique. And then there are some very good new, reproductions. That’s fine as long as one is aware of what they are getting.

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This last image isn’t purely Swedish. It is Belgian. But just as there is over-lap with Italian, French and English, so there is with Swedish, French and other northern European countries.

Best wishes,