a passion for dance and antiques

When he’s not dancing the part of Diesel in Bernstein’s West Side Story at the Gothenburg Opera, Magnus Lundgren is living out his other passion, buying and selling antique furniture…late Baroque, Rococo and Gustavian gems from 1750 – 1810 fill his lofty Malmo home…soft neutrals heighten the beauty and texture of aged wood and old painted surfaces…soothing, peaceful, beautiful…

“Just the idea that everything is completely done by hand, 100 percent natural materials makes them beautiful” ~ Magnus Lundgren

photos and resources from Skona Hem

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medieval meets modern

a magical stone castle located in southern italy…a taste of medieval meets modern…what a innovative juxtaposition of old and new…I can’t get over the timeless beauty of the arched stone ceilings paired with the minimalist modern furnishings…please enjoy this remarkable home…

photos from skona hem

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swedish inspired kitchen

Dallas interior designer Lisa Luby Ryan is the creative mastermind behind this incredible kitchen transformation…she specializes in blending Swedish, French, and Italian antiques & found objects with modern conveniences to satisfy today’s busy lifestyle…her sophisticated monochromatic palette effortlessly echos the ethereal beauty of Swedish antiques yet in a fresh and modern way…notice the changes she has made to achieve this lighter than air kitchen…

The ceiling beams have been bleached to soften their impact and blend better with the antique island and natural beauty of the new stone floor…the counter top and back splash are now a lovely gray and white veined marble playing off the gray tones in the floor and the new wall color…in the dining area she chose a round table echoing the beautiful aged patina of the kitchen island and four sculptural skirted wing chairs upholstered in a natural linen similar to the wall color…lastly, I love the feminine touch of the crystal chandelier…some sparkle for a chic and romantic touch…wow, now that’s a makeover!

p.s. – Do you love the white dishes on the island shelves and on the wall? A European nod to open shelving without changing the existing cabinetry…brilliant!

above and below, photos from Lisa Luby Ryan ~ Lido Isle, Newport Beach, CA

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swedish settee

for me, there is something undeniably romantic about antique Swedish furniture, especially painted pieces with an aged patina…the pale ice blue of the first piece is quintessentially Swedish and one of my favorite hues for its versatility and timeless beauty…for today’s post I chose three remarkable Swedish settees for their exquisite form and detail…so lovely

above and below, photos from Tara Shaw, 1st dibs ~ 19th century Swedish Gustavian carved and painted wood bench with 2 bolsters

below, photos from Tara Shaw, 1st dibs ~ Late 18th to early 19th century Swedish Gustavian bench with detailed bow and neo classical carving

below, photos from Regalo Antiques, 1st dibs ~ Early 19th century Swedish Gustavian Canope circa 1800

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new england farmhouse meets swedish country

Yesterday I posted about the idyllic home of Martina Arfwidson and David Weiss…the Elle Decor spread was from March 2005 and since then they have moved to a larger home more suited to their growing family…less formal and more rustic, this home is more New England farmhouse meets Swedish country…still light filled and fabulous, there are pieces you will recognize from their previous home ~ her mom’s metal chairs are now situated around the kitchen table and the four post bed in the master bedroom is now dressed with a bit more color, pattern and texture…there is a fantastic video on you tube featuring their current home, click here for the link…it is part of Pottery Barn’s series “Where I Live” and highlights the home’s gorgeous views of the Hudson River and the barn on the property…definitely worth checking out! Enjoy!

above and below, photos from skona hem

below, photos from Martha Stewart

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sunday tradition ~ part fourteen

It’s May 1st and a gorgeous spring day in the Northeast! Absolutely perfect weather…light cool breeze, sunshine and every shade of green imaginable…so in digging through my archives this morning, I searched for a home that felt like today…crisp and refreshing…easy and relaxed…light filled and inviting…for me, this home has it all!

Shad Island, a Georgian Revival mansion, overlooks the picturesque Hudson River…homeowners Martina Arfwidson and David Weiss lovingly rescued and restored this diamond in the rough…from dark and stuffy to light and airy, the couple succeeded in creating their dream home…a romantic oasis! Enjoy!

below, this dining room is one of my all time favorites for its simplicity and feminine beauty…Arfwidson is the co-owner of Face Stockholm, a Swedish cosmetics company she runs with her mom…the table was once used at the Madison Avenue shop and the metal chairs are from her mom’s Stockholm apartment

photos from Elle Decor

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