Incorporating Modern Scandinavian Design into Traditional Spaces
One comment we get occasionally from visitors to Ökenhem is this: "I love Scandinavian design but my house is (fill in the blank: Tuscan, boho, Arts & Crafts, farmhouse, mountain, Southwest, French, etc.) style and I'd have to redo my entire house." We understand where this might come from. Most of the time, Scandinavian design is photographed in a certain kind of space: a modern build, often all white, sparsely decorated. These kinds of rooms can be beautiful, but the idea that this is the only place modern pieces can live is a myth. Scandinavian goods can be a beautiful addition to just about any space.
What We Find in Scandinavia
We have visited some incredible Scandinavian showrooms, hotels, restaurants, museums & other public spaces over the years on our sourcing trips. The biggest takeaway from these trips is that modern has a home everywhere. There are beautiful spaces spanning many architectural styles and most of them find a way to incorporate a range of goods.
Picture an apartment building from the 1800s with elaborate plaster crown molding, herringbone floors, and Fritz Hansen Series 7 chairs around an heirloom dining table. Or maybe it's a farmhouse with low beamed ceilings and a Louis Poulsen PH5 Pendant hanging in a corner. Scandinavian design is keen on keeping history intact and layering in the modern. On the flip side, classic designs can also look great in modern new build spaces. Imagine a modern build with a picture window overlooking a desert landscape and the room featuring a couple of Fredericia Spanish Chairs.
Good Design Doesn't Need a Blank Canvas
A well-designed piece can change the feel of any style of home quickly and without any remodeling. A new light fixture with a modern edge can happen in an afternoon and instantly the space feels updated and fresh. A sculptural chair in a corner to replace one that you don't love or that has seen better days can make such an impact.
Some people are starting from scratch in a new build or total remodel. But more often, there are furniture pieces that will be kept, collections that will need a home, walls, floors, and counters staying the same. Good design can meet people there too.
Bring Us Your Space
If you have questions about how you can incorporate Scandinavian pieces you love in your own home, our interior design studio is happy to help you blend the styles into a space that is completely and uniquely yours.
So to the question, does your home need modern architecture or a blank slate to include modern goods? No, it doesn't. In fact, the mix might become your favorite part.
