17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The New York Times Review Written By Wendy Moonan, June 21, 2007
This review is from: Swedish Interiors (Hardcover)
FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES
By Wendy Moonan
Published: May 4, 2007 in The New York Times
Swedish Simplicity
"American interest in Swedish antiques is just exploding now," said Jill Dienst, who owns Dienst & Dotter in Sag Harbor, N.Y., a shop that specializes in Swedish antiques and accessories from the 17th through the 20th century. "What I'm selling are my best pieces, the highest quality Stockholm cabinetmakers, which to me means people are becoming more educated about the whole range of Swedish antiques."
If so, the publication of "Swedish Interiors" by Rhonda Eleish and Edie van Breems (Gibbs Smith, $39.95) seems timely.
The authors, both of Swedish heritage, own Eleish van Breems Antiques in Woodbury, Conn. Their coffee-table book features 14 stylistically different American houses to show that Swedish style extends beyond the familiar 18th-century Gustavian look to encompass Swedish Baroque, Rococo, Biedermeier and Modernist designs.
"There was a real need for a book like this," Ms. Dienst said. "We need to educate people how these antiques work in modern America. The book shows how Americans capture the Swedish spirit of light, simplicity, warmth and elegance in diverse ways."
There are few English-language books about Swedish antiques and interiors. The 2006 book `Classical Swedish Architecture and Interiors, 1650-1840' by Johan Cederlund (W. W. Norton), like `The Swedish House' by Lars Sjoberg and `The Swedish Room' by Mr. Sjoberg and his wife, Ursula is illustrated with only photographs of majestic palaces and stately manor houses in Sweden.
In their book Ms. Eleish and Ms. van Breems explore the American take on Swedish style: a 1795 Colonial house in Rhode Island, a log ranch in Montana, a 1923 bungalow in Los Angeles and a sleek modern apartment in Manhattan, among other examples. They even photographed interiors created by rival dealers: Lars Bolander of Palm Beach and, in Manhattan, Paul Sigenlaub of Evergreen Antiques and Lena Kaplan of White on White.
"We did the book because our clients have been asking us how to adopt Swedish style to their own homes," Ms. Eleish said. "The world has changed. We are trying to get back to simplicity. People are looking for interiors that are soothing and comfortable, not stressful."
Ms. van Breems began her career as a commercial photographer, while Ms. Eleish was with a retail clothing chain. They opened their shop in 1998 to sell 18th- and 19th-century Swedish furnishings, reproductions and Marimekko fabrics and accessories from Finland.
"We wanted to show how versatile Swedish design is (everyone thinks Swedish is white, white, white) and how eclectic it can be." Ms. Eleish said.
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gorgeous Book!, June 22, 2007
This review is from: Swedish Interiors (Hardcover)
Finally a book that shows us that Swedish interiors, and furniture do not always mean grey and white, but that Swedish can mean a variety of color, and light. The two authors Rhonda Eleish and Edie van Breems have searched America and have found charming homes that show us rich colors that can light up those dark days of winter, and show us Spring and Summer can come all year round. This is a beautiful book, that you can tell is well researched and written with care. The beautiful photos are wonderfully selected,and if you are interested in Swedish design, and colors this is the book to choose. You can tell the passion the authors have for this subject with the love and care they put into this book.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The design guide we have all been waiting for, June 26, 2007
This review is from: Swedish Interiors (Hardcover)
This is a monumental book for both the general public with an interest in the nuances associated with interior design and the seasoned interior design professional who is seeking a guide book to Swedish style. Not only are you rewarded with lush pictography throughout the book but the corresponding discourse is informative and inspiring on numerous levels. This book will take pride of place within my expansive collection and I am sure that I will be referring to it for years to come
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