COTE DE TEXAS: Lars Bolander’s Latest

Lars Bolander’s Latest

 

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The handsome Swedish interior designer and antiquarian Lars Bolander recently released Scandinavian Design, a beautiful reference book on northern European design – from antique times to modern. 

 

 

image Bolander’s book, Scandinavian Design, is available at Amazon, HERE.

 

 

 

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Like many, my first exposure to Bolander’s style was this cover story in Southern Accents.  The house featured gorgeous voluminous silk taffeta curtains which still, to this day, serve as a personal inspiration.  

 

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The Southern Accents cover story house:  the entry had champagne colored silk curtains. 

 

 

 

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The large living room, appropriately filled with enough furniture to make it cozy and inviting.

 

 

 

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The dining room – so lovely, light, and sophisticated. 

 

 

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To Die For:   the dining room featured this gorgeous Venetian mirror and painted French chest with light blue silk taffeta curtains.

 

 

 

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A hallway with the beautiful peach taffeta curtains and a glimpse into the bedroom.

 

 image The master bedroom’s four poster bed is placed in front of a half-canopy. 

 

 

image The loggia featured large Belgian styled slipcovered sofas and armchairs. 

 

 

 

 

image Besides having clients’ houses published, Bolander’s numerous private residences were often seen in magazines, giving the public a view into the world of Lars and his wife Nadine.   This house, located in southern Florida, is no longer owned by the Bolanders, but it remains a favorite of mine.   Filled with antiques and eye catching art work, it is as inspirational today as it was when  first seen. 

 

 image The opposite view of the living area. 

 

 image Leading outside from the living room. 

 

 

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A view from the Bolanders’ study into the bedroom – Swedish and French antiques mix easily.   It’s so interesting how the chairs serve as art here. 

 

 

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This vignette in Bolander’s house was photographed two different times – which do you prefer?  This …..

 

 

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or this?   I love these French sconces so much!  This is my favorite vignette.

 

Two years ago, I wrote an extensive blog story on Lars Bolander, detailing his life in design.   To read that story, please go HERE.   As a long devotee of Bolander, I was recently thrilled to read about his newly published book.  To be sure,  Scandinavian Design doesn’t disappoint.   It is a wonderful compilation of everything Scandinavian, both antique and modern, and will remain a useful reference book long into the future.   Each aspect of design is given its own section – each room, each element – and Bolander carefully and succinctly explains  its  history from then to now.    Nothing has been missed:   there are separate sections on the famous Swedish wood stoves and the Mora clocks.   There are sections on beds, lighting, chairs, and textiles, to name a few more.  And each room, such as the entry, the bedroom, the kitchen, is given its own chapter.  

 

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This antique blue Mora is featured in the clock section.

 

 

 

image      Most sections are filled with pictorial examples such as this.  Whoa!  What eye candy!

 

 

image In the chapter on kitchens, special attention is shown to the plate rack.

 

 

image More examples of Scandinavian plate racks through the decades.

 

If you are fan of Swedish design or Lars Bolander, I think you will truly enjoy this book,  I know I did.    To order a copy, go HERE.

And, be sure to visit Bolander’s extensive web site HERE.    To read the Cote de Texas blog story on Bolander, please go HERE.

37 comments :

  1. I've known about Lars Bolander forever and have always loved his style. Love his taste in antiques for which he and his wife are known for. I didn't know he had a new book out so thank you for letting us know.

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  3. Wonderful. Thanks for the introducing me to the fabulous
    designer. Great post, as usual.
    BarbaraG

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  4. Lars Bolander has signed his latest book, Scandinavian Design, 1st Edition to you at my giveaway! Enter by Wednesday! It is such a fabulous read and you will be getting inspiration for many years from the photos and this very smart and talented designer.

    He is signing books in New York City at his shop, Wednesday, September 29th from 6 - 8:30.

    Such a handsome man!

    www.empressoftheeye.blogspot.com

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  5. Okay, I am easily distracted. He is really handsome! Beautiful photos.

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  6. oh my gosh i have to stop buying books!!! saved a bunch of these images for inspiration... he is insane. LOVE LOVE LOVE.. off to read your full story
    xoxo,
    lauren

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  7. Joni!!! I know people just keep slobbering on you because you are consistent in what you post on your blog, but Lars Bolander is another great hit for you! I too became familiar with his work from Southern Accents, and he has been a great inspiration. You've gone and done it again, Joni! Thanks for the heads up on the book!

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  8. Beautiful! I love Mora Clocks. So interesting to see them grouped like this. It really show all of the different shapes.
    Thank you for introducing me to Lars Bolander.

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  9. Bolander is indeed a favorite of mine and I can see his book does not disappoint!!

    Good job Joni and by the way Wendy H says hello, she was in Kansas City for a few days and we got together!

    Karena
    Art by Karena

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  10. I absolutely love his work, especially the mix of French and Swedish design and those to die for curtains. Makes me want to do my whole house in lush curtains!

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  11. I could curl up with a good book in that loggia! beautiful post!

    Have a Great Week Joni!

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  12. I love his designs and will definitely order the book. I need to go back and revisit your earlier post now.

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  13. Oh - those curtains! Just love his style and definitely remember this article now that you remind me. I remember admiring the arm of the sofa in the large living room. Such varied examples of effortless chic - he really is a master. Yet another book that's on my list - where am i going to put them all?!

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  14. I won this book on Hampton Hostess! I can't wait to see the entire book.
    Hope you had a nice day.
    Teresa

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  15. Joni, love it...this fits so well with your recent Top 10 post on Antiques. I just made a quick run through the Paris flea, and it was no surprise to see that many of the timeless elements Lars has used are still highly desired in Paris. The same elements were seen 15+ years ago at the Flea; no will ever tire of them. I especially love Lars' use of portraiture.

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  16. Great design!
    Thanks for sharing.

    Tenax Technologies is a Belarussian software company delivering complex web solutions. We provide comprehensive Java development of complex internet systems.

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  17. I enjoy alot of his stuff, but sometimes it is too much for my taste, like the drapes and chairs almost covering the doors...and the scale is a bit off for me as well on the one vignette. But I love the antiques, the color, the art is great. Thanks for sharing, I am going to look at the other post too.

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  18. I'm in a state of sensory overload. Lars Bolander's aesthetic encompasses everything that I love--textiles, painted antique furniture, great art, lighting and a great mix of styles. Thanks for waking me up.

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  19. I have the book -- and am a bit disappointed it it ... Actually I was hoping for more photos of his OWN wonderful designs and residences .... it covers more of a history of Scandanavian design ... rather than his own works ....

    Your posting is far more of the type of a book that I was truly hoping for ....

    Jan at Rosemary Cottage

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  20. * Lots of "stuff"... buuuut, it's "PRETTY stuff" and Joni, he's NOT too bad on the EYES, either (such an elegantly relaxed look he has!)...

    XO,
    Linda in AZ *
    bellesmom1234@comcast.net

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  21. I adore Lars Bolander's work-so beautiful and casually elegant. I'm off to order yet another design book...

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  22. Can someone help me out here?

    In the vignette, what is the proper name for that piece of furniture, the candy striped one. I have been enthralled by it ever since seeing it the first time many years ago. Love seat?

    Thanks, Ann

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  23. Ann/Linenqueen: Although there are LOTS of more qualified folks (including lovely Joni) hereabouts -- I'll hazard a guess that the proper name is a "canape" (with the acute accent for the final e) for the small striped settee ...

    just a guess! :)

    Jan at Rosemary Cottage

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  24. for the difference between a canape and a settee, let's ask an expert - Buzz Kaplan. Buzz writes a blog http://buzzonantiques.blogspot.com/ about antiques. And teacats, I'm afraid I was correct - this is a settee, not a canape.

    Antique furniture SETTEES and CANAPÉS are both sofas. And yet there are subtle differences between the two. Admittedly, these days many people, and even some antiquarians, don’t understand the technical differences and just use the two words interchangeably. So if you want the easy way out, there you have it and hasta luego.

    But for antique geeks like myself, the “old school” differences between the two are important to know, especially if you want to become an expert antiquarian.

    The basic difference between a settee and a canapé is that a “settee” is smaller than a canapé. Settees are meant to sit two but no more than three people. Canapés sit at least three or more. Also, settees have simpler carved frames than canapés.


    So now we know that canapés are wider than settees. Another difference is that canapés typically have more elaborately carved frames and legs (that’s because canapés were introduced in the Regence/Louis XV periods which brought flair, delicacy and whimsy into the design picture). But not every canapé must have the curves of the Rococo to be a canapé. Canapés created during and after the Louis XVI period (around 1770), are neoclassical and therefore more linear in design (see the Louis XVI example below).

    Also important to note is that canapé frames and legs are more gilded and/or painted (“polychrome”) than are the settees, which are more frequently wood-stained.
    I’ve heard many antiquarians say that the “rule” is that canapès have open arms while the sides of settees are upholstered. But there are so many exceptions to this rule as to make it almost meaningless. Just look at the canapè immediately above. It has upholstered curving sides (called en gondole, pronounced “ahn gone DULL” and referring to seating with a barrel-form back) and yet it’s still a canapé because of its greater width.

    Although the technical differences between canapés and settees have become somewhat muddled over the years, I still think they’re good to know just in case you ever get into a slap-fest over them while “parlaying” in some quaint Left Bank bistro.

    This came from Access Decorati HERE - http://access.decorati.com/2009/05/06/antique-terminology-settee-and-canape/

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  25. Sorry.

    Should NOT have spoken.

    Will not be attempting such actions again.

    Jan

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  26. Thanks for the antiques lesson and for turning me on to another blog. I have LOVED Lars Bolander's work for years. I've been to his shop in NYC several times and have been disappointed because it's just not big enough....I wanted to see more! He has a great sense of style and I see similarities in his work and Gerrie Bremermanns....though GB definitely leans more French...I just wish Mr. Bolander would discover my pillows!

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  27. Thanks for the antiques lesson and for turning me on to another blog. I have LOVED Lars Bolander's work for years. I've been to his shop in NYC several times and have been disappointed because it's just not big enough....I wanted to see more! He has a great sense of style and I see similarities in his work and Gerrie Bremermanns....though GB definitely leans more French...I just wish Mr. Bolander would discover my pillows!

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  28. ordering up this lovely ... immediately. thanks for the wonderful post ... xx

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  29. I so love Scandinavian Design...it's so fresh and light...
    Thanks for sharing this wonderful eye candies and info.
    Thanks for explaining the diff between settees and canapes.

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  30. Lars Bolander's Florida residence is also a personal favorite of mine. I saw the pictures years ago and could not remember the designer. Thank you for posting this visual feast, Joni. I may be ordering the book soon :)

    AB in Houston

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  31. Timeless beauty! I love that you still have the 2001 Southern Accents...of course you do! Enjoyed your little mini lesson on SETTEES vs CANAPÉS. ;)

    Linsey

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  32. Thank's for this wonderful post.
    Lar's certainly has the art of putting it all together, Nice style. One room had such a Florida feel.
    yvonne

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  33. I recently discovered your blog via Megan and listening to you on Blog out Loud. I love your in depth posts and details about your subjects. I'm excited to go back and read your post on Lar's. I immediately knew his work when I saw the peach curtains in the hallway. I had that picture ripped out of a magazine years ago and used it about six or seven years ago in design school as one of my sketching projects which we had to learn to trace and shade. I loved that hallway how elegant it looked. Thanks for a great post and I look forward to going back and rereading your in depth overview on him.

    Ann

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  34. I love Lars Bolander and his latest book Scandinavian design will serve as an inspiration for my rocking chair cushions design, although I am not that great compare to the great Lars. Here is sometime about Lars. – He was under Gaby Schreiber, as "The Plastic Queen of England" because she made the first plastic cup for aircrafts. Soon, Lars worked for Gunter Sachs, designing furniture designs and properties. He is now working his own retail business and collaborated with his two sons for the Lar’s NY brand. It is quite expensive but it is really worth it, as I know that it will stick for quite some time.

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  35. An excellent post..nice designs.thanks for this blog.
    web designing company

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