Book Review: "Classic Swedish Interiors"

As my regular readers probably know, I'm a big fan of Swedish interiors. That's why I was super excited by the opportunity to review the new book, "Classic Swedish Interiors," by Lars Sjoberg. The poetic photos are by Ingalill Snitt.

I'm going to quote Amazon as they describe the book better than me -

"Lars Sjöberg has made it his life's work to understand and preserve the Swedish manor houses of the 17th and 18th centuries. Here, exquisitely photographed by Ingalill Snitt, are the eight houses (and one church) that he has acquired over more than 40 years. The book focuses on Sjöberg's first, most complex project: the manor of Regnaholm. Unoccupied for about 40 years when Sjöberg arrived in 1966, it allowed him to experiment with interior decoration and refurnishing, copying old furniture, reweaving, and reprinting old fabric patterns.

His other projects include Ekensberg, a three-story Italianate villa near Lake Mälaren, built in 1788-90, and Salaholm in Västergötland with a garden laid out in the first half of the 17th century. Odenslunda, a small manor from the 1770s with a panelled exterior and a säteritak or manor-house roof, is his family home, while Sörby, a scaled-down early 17th-century manor house, was reproduced in its entirety for an exhibition in Stockholm. Full of insight and inspiration, this is a deeply personal summary of everything Lars Sjöberg has learned in his years of working and living with classic Swedish interiors." - via Amazon.com

Here are some of my favorite photos from the book -


One day I will have an antique Swedish grandfather clock!

And the winner of the "Big-Ass Book of Home Decor" is...

Cathie! Congrats Cathie - who's favorite place she's been to is Hawaii. Check out Cathie's blog full of great design, illustration, and food finds; as well as NYC lifestyle inspiration -Cathie U. Always Fresh

From my library: Speed Decorating by Jill Vegas

I really like the tips in "Speed Decorating: A Pro Stager's Tips And Trade Secrets For A Fabulous Home In A Week Or Less," and the pictures are mighty cute too!



Two lovely entryways - check out the wood "bottles" to the right of the red secretary.

Five Musts For A Great-Looking Entry

1. Clutter-free surfaces. Get rid of boxes, shoes, anything that doesn't belong in the space.

2. Brilliant light. Replace any burned-out or too-dim bulbs. Clean and polish light fixtures.

3. A nice-looking floor. Vacuum and mop the floor. Replace the doormat if it's dingy. If the floor's condition is really bad, buy some floor polish and buff out scratches, or buy some carpet tiles (FLOR brand is an example) and make a runner to hide them.

4. Clean walls. Get rid of scuff marks (a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is great for this), or touch up the paint in spots to hide them. If the walls are in really bad shape, repaint.


I really like how the side of this settee is just a bare wood.

What a dreamy reading nook!

A sweet little writing area in the bedroom


I love this bathroom! "A bathroom adorned with unique accessories and artwork feels comfy. Here, botanical prints, a fern in a simple vase, and a vintage map makes this room memorable."

Anyway, I'm sure you can see why Speed Decorating is a fav. new addition to my humble library!
All photography by Michael Grimm<