Swedish Style For Real

Have you ever opened the pages of a magazine, or newspaper and have someone from your past jump out at you? Downtown New York in the 1980's spawned a group of artists, dancers, writers, actors, musicians, filmmakers, photographers, restauranteurs, foodies, drag queens, and interesting personalities that to me then were just the wonderful friendly people I knew (and worked with), that hung out in bars, showed up at parties and gallery openings, and went to the downtown clubs.

The large Noguchi lantern caught my eye HERE - Love the plaster detail on the ceiling, the greige, the swan in the window sill. the drawing on the wall,  and the whole feeling of natural northern light at its best

At the time we already were famous in our minds, playing in bands, making little movies and photographs, hanging art in ratty lofts and storefronts, ditto for doing dance and performance pieces and poetry readings. We hung out all night drinking and talking. We had day jobs, but we lived for the night, even if we worked a night shift, it often ended early enough to still hit the clubs and the late night restaurants.

None of us were on a fast track with any plan for the future. We weren't "branding" ourselves. We didn't have web pages or blogs. We didn't have Facebook or Twitter. Our immediate concerns were how to pay the rent, and what to do with our love lives, and planning the creative projects we earned day job money to produce.

Where you'll find me every Sunday morning - HERE

Early Sunday mornings I'm ensconced in bed with coffee, CBS Sunday Morning, Alberto asleep next to me (ditto for Cholo and Kitty Kitty Bang), and my favorite part of Sundays, The New York Times. This week is extra special because the extra magazine dedicated to style is there, this one devoted to interior design.

A beautiful editorial called True North piques my interest. Very greige, very sophisticated and layered, very European. Under the title, the tag line says Stockholm artist. Ah, I think, a more modern Swedish interior. mixing in antiques and art just the way I like it. After flipping though and looking at the pictures, I hunker down to read the text, and BAM! the names Mats Gustafson and Ted Muehling jump out at me!

A collection of Scandinavian Modernist vases adorn the fireplace that has a stunning metallic finish - I love the collection of candlesticks on the table - they were designed by Ted Muehling - the simplicity of the blossom in the vase is perfect

OMG two names from my past from that glittering time in New York, though at the time it was more like glitter and glam rock for some of us. Mats was dating a friend of mine, so I saw the two of them pretty often. Ted Muehling was breaking out as an artist/jeweler via the legendary Soho shop called Artwear. All of the downtown girls loved his stuff, and I purchased a pair of his pine cone earrings then.

The foyer holds a simple 19th century bench with a painting done by Mats' great-uncle Birger Ljungquist - All the wood work and trim in the apartment was painted with oil base paint in order to bring out the detail

Mats made a drawing for me for my birthday in 1984, a portrait of me! At the time I loved it, and it was one of several portraits, or photographs I had of myself done by various artists. I was an artists model a decade earlier in art school, and it was not unusual to be gifted with something from an artist I posed for.

Another view of the foyer reveals more antique furniture juxtaposed with another fabulous Noguchi lantern - Many of the antiques are family pieces - Mats says "Rather than get new old things, I'd reuse these. There's more of a connection".

I have carried the Mats drawing with me all these years. It is in fact,  my favorite portrait. At one time when I could not afford it, I had it framed at a fancy Upper East frame shop, and that frame still holds the drawing today.

If anyone knows me they know I wear the Ted Muehling pine cone earrings everyday. They are my signature jewels so to speak. A couple of years ago I lost one, and I was upset. A very dear friend (thank you Jessica) noticed I wasn't wearing the earrings, and when I told her I lost one, she contacted Muehling in New York and had another one made to match the remaining one, and gave it to me for Christmas.

Mats uses this room off the living room as his studio - I would love to open those drawers and see all his beautiful work

The tiny pine cone earring is a signature piece for Ted, and no matter where I am in the world, someone always recognizes the earrings and the designer, and compliments them.

The view from the studio window and a collection of Swedish glass - I love the light - In fact, even though the apartment has been renovated and modernized, there is no built-in or recessed lighting -  Mats and Ted prefer the glow of lamps and candles (me too!)

Looking at the beautiful images of the Stockholm home of Mats and Ted, made 30 years melt away. I always feel so proud when I see the success of that unique 1980's arty group. It truly was (and still is) a remarkable gathering of glitterati.

The kitchen got a complete update, that combines the old and new beautifully - The table and chairs are antique, and the original windows were kept - I love the taxidermy black bird in the niche

The fantastic old apartment building Mats and Ted live in when they are in Sweden - Talk about Swedish style - It reminds  me of of the Dakota on the Upper West Side in Manhattan

One of my first blog posts was about Mats HERE.
Apparently the avatar I use caused some comments. Funny how that stuff used to matter.

A photo I took this morning in the New Orleans version of natural light - The drawing by Mats Gustafson sits on an antique Swedish demi-lune table, and Kitty Kitty Bang Bang sits on the back of the couch

Portrait of Valorie Hart The Visual Vamp by Mats Gustafson

Look closer - I taped one of my Ted Muehling earrings on it!

Ted Muehling silver pine cone earrings - I wear a pair like these everyday

I would love to get another pair - I LOVE these Ted Muehling earrings in black!

The best thing about the apartment of Mats Gustafson is that the Swedish style is genuine. First, it's in Sweden. Second the pieces are real family pieces, mixed in with the modern things Mats and Ted have acquired in their lifetime.  And third (though I appreciate it), it's not  Gustavian.

Swedish style has hit an unfortunate note of popularity here in the USA, producing too many manufactured rooms done by shopper/decorators using fake "antiques" (and calling them expensive reproductions does not elevate them much), stuck in the Gustavian era. It has taken something fresh and original and reduced it to the ranks of the overkilled Tuscan style of the 1990's. When will we learn that joyful restraint and authenticity (and I mean authenticity as being true to who you are) make for rooms that truly are beautiful and interesting.


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A Pair Of Stinky Tables

I recently was given a gift of a pair of 18th century Swedish Gustavian demilune tables! They are gorgeous! What a score!

Until I got a whiff of them. These tables are notorious for having been sold by the best antique dealer in town to a lady for $5,000 or so. The dealer had fumigated the tables with a chemical to get rid of wormwood, and all seemed well, until the tables were enclosed in the customer's house, letting off the most awful stinky stink. Of course the tables were returned.

The once stinky Swedish table in the home of the Visual Vamp
I spy an Anne Harwell painting!

They kicked around at a huge discount to a number of local decor mavens. A thick coat of white Kilz paint was applied. But still the stinky tables, as they have become affectionately known, were returned to the seller time after time.

The seller was moving and I always loved these tables, so he just gave them to me knowing I was fully aware of the issues.

The smell really was intense. Like chemical urine. It had seeped into the centuries old wood, and the prevailing humidity in New Orleans did not help matters. They even stunk up my back enclosed patio area outside, and they nearly gassed the poor seller when he drove them over to my house in his SUV, even with the windows open!

18th century Swedish demilune table with 1960's mod table layered under it
photo: Visual Vamp living room

I had nothing to lose so I did some Google research. The underside of the tables had been left unpainted, and unfinished. Basically bare wood. So I doused it with white vinegar and waited 24 hours. The tables didn't smell as bad, but they smelled like a giant pickle. Then a kind person emailed me a suggestion to use denatured alcohol. I doused the tables a couple of times, again with 24 hours in between treatments. This worked the best, but the stinky stink crept back, though much more faint. But even faint, trust me you do not want to smell this in your house!

My next trick was to spray them with a citrus orange oil room deodorizer. Again I waited 24 hours. This worked really well, as the oil soaked into the wood, and took over as the top note.
Then I painted the undersides of each table with three coats of white Kilz paint, and touched up the rest of the tables with more Kilz. I waited 24 hours. I sniffed them. They did not stink!

Glorious Swedish demilune tables at chez Visual Vamp!
I took this photo at 7 AM this morning

So I brought them in the house! Even though I am not an antiques maven, I seem to have alot of antique pieces in my vampy mix. I do love antiques, but I am not one for the strict period look of a room. So far so good. The tables are magnificent, and once in awhile I get a whiff of orange blossoms. I have sprayed them with Lysol, and this has helped tone down the orange scent too, and I think this stinky pair has at long last been tamed to be able to live indoors.



And for the fun of it, here is a mini round up look book of some antique Swedish demilune tables.

From Velvet and Linen HERE - Brooke is the Swedish expert for sure

via La Pouyette HERE
My pair of demilunes have brackets on the back so I can make one round table

From Inspiring Interiors HERE

via House Beautiful

via Karina Gentinetta HERE

Visual Vamp 18th century demilune tables

Do you guys have any stinky furniture stories and solutions to share?

A Swedish/French Style Chandelier You Can Afford!

Gustavian Swedish style derived from French elements has gone mainstream. Even if you don't go for the whole smorgasbord of Swedish furnishings, certain key pieces are used in rooms that have a mix of styles and era.

One of the most beloved items is the wood turned chandelier. By and large they hover in price around the $2000. (and up) price range. For most of us this is too pricey. Many regular folks can furnish a whole room for $2000.

Mariestad 12 Light Chandelier - HERE
30"H x 28"Diam. LC584 - $299.00

But now...drum roll...the good folks at Ballard Designs offer the first affordable Swedish style chandelier I have ever seen. Believe me I know because I have searched on behalf of clients and customers and friends who want one, but cannot afford the going rate. Even at wholesale cost you can pay around $800. - $1000.

Mariestad 6 Light Chandelier - HERE

25"H x 26"Diam. LC583 - $199.00

It looks great in the catalog, just the perfect color and proportion. If it looks too new to you, you could always do a little antique-ing with paint.

So at $199. for the six arm model, and $299. for the twelve arm model, you can own a great piece of style.

It would look great in any room in the house.
You can dress it up with little wooden drops from Aidan Gray.
Aidan Gray also has some wood turned chandeliers for around $800.

Fancy and expensive - but check out the wooden drops
Also study the finish on this chandelier
You can do this to the budget one
photo from Cote de Texas

They are currently sold out of the gray drops, but have the gold. If you want them right away, I would buy the gold and just paint them, or maybe gild the candle cups and see how the gold mixes and matches with the gray paint on the body of the chandelier.


Happy Weekend!!!!

Christmas At Edie's Swedish House Of Style

Even those who love Swedish design have told me it's fried, died, and laying on its side. Well she was more ladylike than that, and her identity would shock you. But I think I'll keep it to myself...

However when you see photos like these in the December 2009 issue of Country Living, you know you just have to love Swedish style interior design just a little longer.

Actually this home transcends the trend, and is just beautiful and stylish no matter what you label it.

The fact that it's furnished with some lovely Swedish antiques and reproductions is not really the issue. The issue is this: it's well designed and lovely.

All decked out for Christmas, this home in the Connecticut country side couldn't be more charming.

Winter light never looked so good, so cozy, so hot!

And here she is (drum roll), the lady of the house, Ms. Edie van Breems!

You can read her behind the scenes back story of the photo shoot (on her blog) that resulted in these luscious images HERE
And you can read the entire Country Living article HERE

Shop Keepers Homes 5

In this edition of Shop Keepers Homes, I give you Andrew and Shannon Newsom, proprietors of the online emporium Wistera. They also have a blog HERE.


These two have impeccable design pedigrees that come down family lines. Andrew's is Lisa Newsom, editor of Veranda; and Shannon's is Jane Moore, a Houston interior designer and antiques dealer. The couple also share a dedication to social change, evident in the catalog's devotion to a different nonprofit group in each issue.
They are experts at romancing the home.


Once upon a time this newly married couple looked for, but couldn’t find, beautiful antiques and decorative objects to furnish their first home—at least, not at a price they could afford.

So they got the idea of starting a catalog to offer such merchandise, which became a web site, and, in classic Internet start-up style from its earliest origins at a kitchen table, Wisteria.com was born.

Wisteria.com got started on this kitchen table

Wisteria.com marries high-touch sensibilities that distinguish its catalog to the high-tech sales medium of the web.

Andrew is president of the company, and co-founder Shannon, writes most of the catalog copy that also goes on the site. She brings a distinctive first-person voice to the company that offers a tip of the hat to the early Banana Republic and J. Peterman catalogs in its ability to not just sell, but romance a product.

Inventory is sourced from around the world. By finding small, local suppliers in Third World countries, the Newsoms have found a way to keep prices lower than for comparable goods produced elsewhere, while offering the unusual and unique in a spare, clean-looking and easy to navigate site.

“Pottery Barn sells great products, but given the measure of their business, they have to be standardized in what they sell,” Andrew says. “We are small enough that we can find and sell 200 to 400 units. A huge company couldn’t do that.”

The artful photography that characterizes the catalog loses nothing in its translation to the web site, and the web medium makes contributes of its own: incremental sales and a younger customer.

Market research had determined that Wisteria’s core customer contains a large group of those in their 50s. “That catalog buyer has both disposable income and time,” says Andrew. “My sense is our Internet audience has disposable income, is decorating their first home, but doesn’t have a lot of time. They get online at night after they put their kids to bed and they shop then, because it’s more convenient.”

Internet sales are increasing in dollar volume and as a percentage of overall sales.
“There’s an opportunity here to go deeper than our catalog in telling more about the products and the story of the brand,” says Andrew.

All images (except for the top three which are from the Wisteria catalog) are of the home of Shannon and Andrew Newsom, and are from the hot new design book Swedish Country Interiors by Rhonda Eleish and Edie Van Breems. The book is not only filled with beautiful images, but with very insightful writing on the subject. You'll really learn something when you read this book by two of the foremost experts on 18th and 19th century Swedish antiques. Buy it HERE or at your local book store.

Some of this post is excerpted from various web sources.