A short note about the Nordic countries

2/11/2011

Nate and I just finished watching the (European) film versions of Steig Larsson's Millenium Triology. Will write about them next week in the Reviews blog.

In the meantime, I'm thinking about Scandinavian design. With the exception of a little IKEA and some mid-century modern here and there, I don't tend to bring Scandinavian style into my interiors. It often feels cold to me. Too spare. I like things cluttered and homey. Warm.

Then again, maybe Scandinavian style IS warm. I'm certainly warming to it. Especially after watching those movies.

Here's an image from a Swedish linen shop that feels warm to me, even though it's dominated by white/black and grey. (It's the yellow, I think. You know how I love yellow.)

Creative commons image of a linen shop by Vilseskogen from Flickr

What do you think? Is this shot representative of contemporary Nordic style?
Am I wrong to think that Scandinavian interiors can feel pretty cold?

4 Comments

Christy Nichols link

2/11/2011 05:41:10 am

That still looks cold to me. Too many corners and grey. And those Millenium trilogy - only read the first book and watched the first movie . . creepy.

Jen Selk link

2/11/2011 10:21:16 pm

So interesting, Christy! I thought it looked hard, as you said, but not cold. It's funny, now that you said it, I see what you mean.

The Millenium stuff IS creepy, I agree. But I thought it was interesting, politically and from a feminist perspective.

Ron Yeung

2/13/2011 11:18:20 am

The cotton rope they use on the shelving reminds of the rope used to hold up tire swings as a kid :) I think that, and the pillows make it feel warm to me.

Contemporary Scandinavian interiors always seem to have simple lines underneath everything, but there's always other "stuff" creating warmth.

Is it the texture of the materials and surfaces that are used too? For me, it's less about the colours being warm and more about how the way certain materials feel, or how I imagine them to feel even if I don't come in contact with them.

I traveled a lot for work in that area, and what always struck me is how many ways that you can use wood.

Arlanda airport uses wood everywhere, making what would otherwise be a very stark building seem warm and inviting, especially when looking out of the windows in the winter. One hotel I stayed in had a bathroom door of burnished wood which matched the wall it was on, making it nearly invisible.

Jen Selk link

2/16/2011 05:49:26 am

Hey Ron! Thanks for commenting. This is such an articulate note.

I agree about textures being really important. And that wood is key for creating warmth. I would love to travel as you have, to see some of it in real life. I've been to many places in Western Europe, but nowhere Nordic. Maybe some day. :)

A short note about the Nordic countries

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