With Swedish Arts & Crafts Precedent
The spirit of Swedish artists Carl and Karin Larsson comes through in a colorful, light-filled new kitchen.
The architectural historian and designer Bo Sullivan worked with the homeowners to create a kitchen that would meet all functional requirements, respect the 1894 house, and draw on the wife’s Swedish heritage. “Our kitchen should embrace the design, color, texture, patina, and craftsmanship [of] the hand-built places of the late-19th century,” she wrote in a project mission statement requested by Bo.
The result is an unpretentious room that is personally meaningful. The trestle table, an early-20th-century Danish piece, became the model for saw-cut balusters on the rear basement stair. “The table was long,” says Bo, “but we didn’t want to cut it—so we created the inset bookcase to the floor, giving them space to push in or pull out the table for guests.”
Swedish Farmhouse Inspired
As is often the case in period kitchens, countertops are mixed: butcher block near the stove, marble along the sink, and fir in the pantry. Similarly, the range hood is zinc while antique light fixtures have a burnished finish. The paint palette runs to the warm ochres, ivories, red oxides, and blue–greens found in traditional Swedish farmhouses.
1. Design for the HouseThese owners inherited a kitchen that had been remodeled in the 1980s; it did not fit the transitional, Victorian-era farmhouse built in 1894. Appropriate materials were used in the new design. |
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2. Curated DetailsMotifs from the antique trestle table are echoed in the custom wall shelf and design of the saw-cut staircase balusters. Shelves on brackets evoke those in the Larsson home, now a museum. |
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3. Antiques & TextureThe American Art Nouveau gas/electric chandelier is a rare antique; it was found on eBay and restored. Antique and reproduction fixtures hang from boxed ceilings clad in V-grooved boards. |
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Be Inspired…
A scalloped opal reflector shade adds whimsy to the McCoy, a utilitarian bare-bulb pendant with a twisted cord. Years ago, Bo Sullivan designed the fixture and shade while he was working for Rejuvenation. |
Shown is the Montrose range hood in zinc with brass details. This finish is called Washed—it closely matches a natural patina acquired over time, with white/silver/grey tones. Raw Urth artisans work in steel, zinc, copper, bronze, brass, and pewter. |
Chalet-style flat sawn balusters from Vintage Woodworks are available in multiple wood species and synthetic materials, spec’d for interior or exterior use. They offer five stock designs. See the website for helpful explanations and to order. |
The Kingston Heritage deck-mount bridge faucet with lever handles (KS127.ALBS), in brushed nickel, was selected for this kitchen. The period-friendly faucet has nine finish options, $380 to $470. |
— Written by Patricia Poore. Photographs by Blackstone Edge Studios.
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