Swedish slagbord tables and simple Swedish style

Image from here

I can't believe how quickly the time has passed since loading our shipment in July!  We should be receiving it this week some time and I am very excited, particularly when I start to remember what we have coming. 

One of my very favourite pieces is an original c.1800 Swedish slagbord table that we were lucky enough to find, similar to the example above.  It was only yesterday that I was going through my latest Veranda issue and there was one featured in a beautiful American home.  These tables are oh so stylish as they are usually quite simplistic and straight in design.  As such, they can often be contrasted with more detailed or elaborate dining chairs. 

Here is our table.  I have since done a little research on these tables as I was unfamiliar with the term slagbord.  It literally translates to gateleg table and therefore refers to the folding construction.  The more desirable slagbords have a lime washed finish like ours, or those with some remnants of original paint.  You can also find reproduction versions, but why would you want a reproduction when you can have a piece with so much more charm and history?  Reproductions have a place I guess, just not in our store (or my home, for that matter!). 

Here is our table folded.  You can see why I was excited with it, not only is it gorgeous it fitted into the shipment easier because it folds up!  But this also makes it a more practical piece in the home, it can be folded away when not in use if space is tight. 

The hinges underneath the table show its age and character.

 

 

Image from here

Here is another Swedish slagbord table used more in a casual setting.  I love the chairs, by the way. 

For all my local customers and for any one else who may be considering visiting the store, we will be closed this coming Wednesday 5th September for around 10 days.  I will let you know when we reopen with all our exciting new goodies.  I am rubbing my hands together with anticipation, but that could also be from the cold! 

Have a wonderful week, and I will post sneak peak images as we are sorting...

 

gustavian chairs...mismatched beauty

Image from here

I have made no secret that I love Gustavian furniture, how beautiful are these chairs?  Each is different but they look great all together.  I would love to be bold enough to have a mismatched set of such chairs in my dining room...

I apologise for a short post, I have quite a bit on the go at the moment, you will find out why late next week! 

find Vogue living & Zoe Hoare Hamptons style in our store!

Zoe Hoare, Australian expat and daughter of renowned London antique dealer Appley Hoare now lives in this gorgeous cottage in the Hamptons. She found this pair of 1950s bikes at a local antiques fair in the Hamptons, just one example of her keen eye for unique treasures!

She displays her antiques with flair. These are French milliner's heads, similar to ones that I showed in a previous post, on an antique dresser.

She has an amazing arched window mirror in her dining room. The chandelier is wonderful, too. What a light and airy space, the peaked ceiling painted white is stunning.

This is a rare French iron arched window mirror that we have in the store at the moment. It is currently in the garden room as I can imagine it on a courtyard wall. But it would look equally as good in a dining room as Zoe has shown.

Zoe outside with her potting bench. Note the French flower jug and watering cans, and the flower bucket...

...all available in our store!

And her Gustavian settee?

Again, available in our store! The only difference is our settee is an 18th century version, Zoe's is a reproduction available from her partner, Chris Mead's store, English Country Antiques. To visit his store, click here. Well, in actual fact, our settee is still in storage. We bought it on our buying trip earlier in the year but we have not had room for it in our store as yet. It is soon to take prime position, however!

Barnacles and simple cushions are very relaxed Hamptons style, I think.

We only have two barnacle clumps left in store, they make great decorator items.

We will be adding checked linen cushions to our range shortly, in addition to our grainsack striped pillows (above). We have acquired some lovely antique French linen of a similar design to Zoe's cushions. Watch this space!

And the decoy duck on Zoe's shelf above the Gustavian settee?

A very similar model is currently in our garden room. These decoy ducks ooze with character and charm. Do you like Zoe Hoare's relaxed style? We certainly do. (For the full article on Zoe Hoare's Hamptons cottage, see Vogue Living Australia, Nov/Dec pages 142 - 151).

coming soon! Swedish cupboard c.1820

I will elaborate further on this post tomorrow as there is no time now and I am just so excited about this piece I needed to share the photo. It is a Swedish baroque cupboard with the most amazing fretwork design to the top. And I adore the soft grey colour. It is one of my favourite finds on our overseas buying trip (although there are a few favourites I have to admit...). Inside it is painted a cream colour and has versatile shelves perfect for displaying white china...

Image from Blossoming Visions

Image from Cote de Texas Or it could be used to display found objects such as coral...

Image from Parterre

In fact, I am pretty sure it would look great filled with absolutely anything!

all my favourite things in Jeanne d'Arc Living

I was jumping with joy like a child when these two Jeanne d'Arc Living magazines arrived all the way from The Netherlands, sent by the wonderful Ria of It's Me (thanks Ria! I love them!). But the gorgeously styled covers were only the beginning. Inside were the most beautiful European homes, all looking lived in and comfortable...and filled with my favourite things.

Slip-covered arm chairs with heavy linen cushions. Just the relaxed look our store is going for at the moment. Nice pale floors as well, very Gustavian.

I love French iron day beds and this one is no exception. Again, nice comfy looking linen covered cushions.

This dining room looks functional but still relaxed, particularly with the mismatched chairs. The glazed top dresser fills the wall really well and is perfect to display glass and china. As much as I am a fan of open shelving, glass doors keep things dust free which ultimately means more time to play and display!

I adore this chequered painted floor! Especially with the grey and white as opposed to the more commonly used black and white. It has a really soft look.

Brrr! Sometimes it is easy to forget that it is snowing on the other side of the world. I would definitely be underneath that fur, not sitting on top of it! I couldn't help but notice how similar the iron garden or bistro table is to the one we have in store at the moment. Ours is quite free from snow, however.

Another of my favourite styles of day beds...a Swedish painted daybed. I love the French basket chandelier as well. So many lovely muted colours in this room with natural light coming onto the table.

This is probably the image that struck me the most with the quote written on the wall (not to mention the table and chairs...). "RISK more than others think is safe, CARE more than others think is wise, DREAM more than others think is practical, EXPECT more than others think is possible" (Claude Bissell). I could definitely take a little of this advice.

The magazine uses vintage and often unexpected objects in its styling. And they would have pages of vintage items with prices and where to find them. Very useful for those living in Europe. I could dream a little.

And last of all, a very comfortable leather chair and footstool. The perfect spot to enjoy inspiring magazines such as Jeane d'Arc Living.

amazing white Swedish schoolhouse interior

When I saw these lovely Swedish painted chairs in the latest Home Beautiful magazine (February) I was sold. Well, the magazine was, actually. The home featured (pages 84 to 93) belongs to an Orrefors glass designer in southern Sweden. I adore Swedish interiors, particularly the use of worn painted furniture such as the above mix of chairs to the Gustavian couch below. Most of this interior is white, with splashes of blue. The Gustavian couch is wonderful and is a highlight in the loungeroom. We will be on the hunt for one or two of these on our next buying trip (wish us luck!). The owner made the cushions herself including hand-printing the fabric. I am not sure if I love the carpet, but it is bold, I guess. However I think an all-white interior like this is bold in itself.

What a roomy bathroom! The floor is stencilled concrete. At first glance it appears to be tiles.

The bedroom is also very roomy! It looks to be a calming place to rest the weary head each night. Overall, this home is light and airy and looks to be a delight to live in! What does everyone else think?

veranda magazine featuring Swedish-inspired interiors

I received my very first Veranda magazine in the mail early in the week. And boy was I excited. I have read a few of these magazines in the past and enjoyed each one immensely. I was left with no other choice but to subscribe. I was instantly thrilled with the cover (above). How stylish. The blanc de chine (French for Chinese white) foo dogs and ginger jars, the obelisks and that green wall!

Page 72

This home is in the Aspen mountains and is Swedish inspired. The interior is very white with Gustavian furniture throughout. I could even live with all that snow if I lived in such a beautiful home!

Page 106

I adore this table setting, the highlight for me is the Delft and Chinese blue and white export vases and jars. The table is Swedish.

Page 105

The antique chairs and settee in this image are Gustavian. I love the soft colours of Gustavian furniture. And the French iron bistro table works a treat.

Page 93

This chinoiserie wallpaper is quite whimsical, but peaceful enough for a bedroom. It is made by de Gournay, specialists in hand painted wallpaper.

Page 92

A very Hollywood bathroom!

Page 109

And lastly, a room that is ready for Christmas (already?). The owner chose a "not-so-perfect" Fraser fir. It looks pretty perfect to me, anyone else?