At Swedish Fine Living we only handpick furniture and decorative objects we want in our own homes. The objects vary and can be very old or they can be a brand new design.

When visiting Sweden you will be hard pressed to find a home without at least one exquisite antique and a contemporary piece of artwork. That is how Swedes like to decorate - by mixing several hundred year old pieces with modern elements. And it works with Swedish antiques since they are often much toned down in form, design, and color compared to some antiques from other parts of the world - without compromising the craftsmanship and quality.

Swedes have always been somewhat humble about their lifestyle and heritage. No unnecessary bragging here. Simple is better. Simply Swedish.

The Gustavian era (1770-1792) is, according to many collectors and designers, viewed as the Style Extraordinaire. No other Swedish antique style has been studied in such depth. The Gustavian style is a simplified version of Louis XVI. The furniture is less ornate but still elegant. The proportions are beautiful and the lines simple which lend them to being mixed with other antique styles as well as contemporary settings.

No wonder Swedish antiques are so sought after. They are timeless. Forever fashionable.

The antique pieces we offer are anywhere from 100 to 250 years old. They are old and will have nicks, scratches, and dings consistent with age. But that is why we like them in the first place! There is something about that patina. Like most antiques it is very rare to find pieces that have not been restored or retouched over the years. At Swedish Fine Living we will, to the best of our ability and knowledge, point out the condition of the pieces we offer.

A short description of objects you are likely to find at Swedish Fine Living (but they do fly out through the door quickly): The furniture was made by farmers and simple local furniture makers during the Swedish Baroque (1660-1720) and Rococo (1750-1775) eras into the 1800's. The colors were often warm and earthy and the decorative painting incorporated organic materials such as egg based paint and plant stains. Very often were dates and initials inscribed into the furniture with a short line about the family motto or beliefs. The Gustavian period dates back to the flamboyant king Gustav III who reigned in Sweden from 1772 to 1792 when he was assassinated. The Gustavian popularity persisted even after the king's death to about 1810 and is often referred to as "Late Gustavian".

The hallmarks of Gustavian style are above all, clean lines and symmetry. Gustavian furniture makers such as Georg Haupt, Jonas Hultsten, and Gottlieb Iwerson provided the Swedish Royal family and other dignitaries, mostly based in the capital Stockholm, with very high-end objects. Only the best materials were used and the rich inlays with garlands and medallions and other classical motifs were superior. Today pieces from these masters fetch enormous prices at high-end international auctions.

The style that perhaps has won the largest international audience is the ever popular "Gustavian Provincial". These are informal, painted pieces. They were mostly made in the country side, outside of Stockholm. The color pallet is soft and delicate with different shades of pearl gray, muted blues, and occasionally soft yellow. The light colors were chosen deliberately to bring brightness to a room by reflecting what little light there was, which was much needed during the long periods of dark and cold in Sweden.

On most painted furniture back then only the visible parts got a serious coat of paint. No need to splurge on paint where the eye could not see it (inside cabinets, back sides etc.), the practical Swede seemed to have been thinking!

As in most countries, new trends and styles always start in the capital city. When prosperous middle-class people in Stockholm in the early 1800's adopted the fresh "Karl-Johan style", the rest of Sweden was terribly out of vogue and still demanded Gustavian Provincial furniture which is why you today will find lot of this furniture made from early to the latter half of the 19th century - often referred to as "Gustavian Style". We think it should be renamed to "Gustavian Continium". These pieces are not copies and are equally attractive to those from the true Gustavian and the Late Gustavian periods. The Empire style started in France and saw popularity throughout Europe in the early 1800 hundreds. Once again the Swedish masters adopted the fashionable look but adjusted it to Swedish standards. The Swedish empire furniture ended up with simpler lines and less ornamentation. The Swedish motto was that the furniture should suit many different classes of people. They were not only made for the rich people so they should be both decorative and practical.

The Swedish style of Karl-Johan goes hand in hand with the king Karl XIV Johan's reign during the empire era. During his time (1810-1830) furniture making really hit high ground in Sweden, the same time cities began to really grow. Characteristics of this style are striped motifs, gilded gold embellishments, and claw feet. The materials of choice were birch, elm, and cherry wood.

In the 1830's the furniture style got a more middle class mark and is referred to as late empire or Biedermeier (after the German style). Light woods such as birch were often used in conjunction with mahogany. Sweden is a trend setter when it comes to fashion, form, and design. With only nine million people it is amazing to see how a steady stream of new designs come out - may it be furniture, lamps, glass, household items - to be picked up by a design hungry nation. The design characteristics have continued in the foot steps of the old Swedish classic style - simple, simple, elegant, and functional. Sweden is a fascinating country to follow not only for its rich history but also for its progressive thinking. Even so - Swedes don't get rid of the old. They mix it with the new. In the interior design world that makes for very personal and interesting rooms. So unboring.