When leaving my Mom’s home located in the neighborhood Östermalm in Stockholm, I took a slight detour on my way to the shopping heart of the Stockholm. Boy am I glad that I did! Trotting down “Sturegatan” I stopped in front of the window of the store Olby.  It has been there for 3 years without my knowledge! How on earth could I have missed this! The furniture is so beautiful and well made that they gave me goosebumps. I am now a HUGE fan of the entire furniture line. (Olby just got representation in NY).

The designer and owner Kerstin Olby certainly knows what she is doing. A former student at the prestigious Carl Malmsten school of design (now the Carl Malmsten Centre for Wood Technology & Design at Linköping University), all her furniture is well thought out and masterfully designed. Kerstin started the actual company in the 80′s and has won many prestigious industry awards. All pieces are hand made in Sweden with local, natural materials (there are many customer choices). Kerstin’s timeless quality pieces are represented at Swedish embassies and consulates worldwide as well as the residence of the Swedish prime minister.

This tall cabinet on wheels is now on my wish list. This one in a light gray shade – and I would start weeping for joy every time I passed it in my house!

To see the entire collection, click here.

I mentioned in one of my posts that I was going to hit the Gift Shop at the Royal Palace Stockholm basically as soon as I landed in Sweden. And I only had one purchase in mind. I should have known my readers better! I immediately got a couple of comments and a few e-mails with you guessing – and you guessing right about my mission.

Yes, it was the little crown charm I was after! It is modeled after the Royal Crown for Sweden made for the coronation of Erik XIV in 1561. The one I picked is made of 18K gold. They also offer one in silver as well as one in gold over silver.

I find these well made charms to be so adorable and I can’t wait to give them to my young daughters for their upcoming birthdays, with the hope that they will always think of Sweden and its wonderful history with great love and appreciation.

I realize that many of my readers are on vacation, but let’s have some fun amongst us who are yet to hit the beach!

I have been collecting Åsa Lindström’s handmade cups for years. (See previous article here). I think they are absolutely stunning with their unexpected enamel motifs (inspired by old books and magazines) and real gold rims. Åsa Lindström’s imagery has been described as “a nostalgic back-heel with a focus on the future and it achieves a balance between laughter and purity of style”. In Sweden many use them to drink tea or coffee from. I prefer to line them up and just enjoy the artistic side of them, or to put pencils or flowers in them for my office or next to my bed.

YOU now have a chance to win this lovely cup by Åsa Lindström, which I bought last weekat Blås & Knåda in Stockholm!  (With the delighful motif of a bunch of stylish rowers from the 40s!) All you need to do is to add a public comment (note: not under my contact tab) to any of my individual posts on Splendid Willow this week. Your comment and name will be put in the “comment hat” and a winner will be picked. The contest ends on Friday July 3rd @ midnight west cost time. The winner will be notified immediately. Good Luck/Lycka till!

I just got back from a few days in Sweden and got my much needed Stockholm fix! I find myself very fortunate to have, what I consider to be, the best of two worlds, the US and Sweden.

Stockholm is absolutely breathtaking (especially summer time) and I have to pinch myself every time I go back. Just how lucky am I! This is where I grew up. I know the streets & the neighborhoods. I know the people, the culture and the scenery. I know the stores and the must sees. I consider myself incredibly blessed to know the very authentic Stockholm.

I can’t think of any other capital city in the world that is so progressive and cutting edge (not to mention the cool design elements everywhere) and yet so loyal and respectful to its heritage and long history. Over the next few weeks I will share “my Stockholm” with all of you. Meanwhile, here are a few of my own photos of Stockholm from the classic side.

The happening neighborhood Södermalm on a summer evening.

Stockholm seen from the old street, Fjällgatan. The street is lined with well-preserved wooden buildings from the 1700s on one side and a magnificent view of Stockholm on the other side.

Fjällgatan.

The beautiful Old Town (Gamla Stan) dates back to the 13th century and consists of medieval alleyways, cobbled streets and archaic architecture.

Stortorget is the name of the scenic large square in the center of Gamla Stan (Old Town), which is surrounded by old merchants’ houses including the former Stockholm Stock Exchange building now turned into the Nobel Museum. The square was the site of the Stockholm Bloodbath, where Swedish noblemen were massacred by the Danish King Christian II in November, 1520. On the outer walls of the red old building are 82 white limestone plates – one for each severed head. Legend has it that between November 8th and November 9th you can see shadowy figures haunting around that area…

Tourists might miss this treat, but the legend says that the canon ball stuck on the side of this old building by Stortorget was fired by a brave Swede who tried to kill the Danish King Kristian II in 1520. 

The roof top of the Nobel Museum.

You can drink the water from this 18th-century German fountain.

Here is the beautiful sculpture Saint Goran and the Dragon (Sankt Göran och Draken). This sculpture is a bronze copy of the original which is made of wood and is placed in the Storkyrkan (The Big Church) in the Old Town. The original wood sculpture was made by the German Bernt Notkes who lived and worked in Stockholm between 1484 and 1496. The legend tells of a horrible dragon looking for human sacrifice in a small Swedish town. When the King’s daughter is to be thrown to the dragon, a brave knight saves the princess and the town. The ruler of Sweden at the time, saw himself as the knight who slayed the Danish dragon and saved Sweden.

St. Jacob’s church, arguably the most central church in Stockholm. This is were I got married in 2000!

The church took a long time to complete and  include a wide range of architectonic styles, going back to as far as the 16th century.

The inside of the church brings back wonderful and joyous memories. I remember our cool friend Calle playing a very jazzy Duke Ellington tune “In a sentimental mood” on the old pipe organ and our happy priest joining in with great creative dance moves!

The Swedish National Museum is the national art gallery of Sweden.  This is were we held our lovely and fun wedding reception!

A famous equestrian statue of King Karl den XIV Johan (1763-1844) at Slussen. Slussen is a great place to try a local version of fast food – fried Herring with mashed potatoes!

Typical apartments in the Old Town. You would be surprised to see how wonderfully modernized and hip many of them are on the inside.

Stockholm is 1/3 water, 1/3 parks and 1/3 wonderful architecture. This photo is overlooking the Swedish Royal Opera House which officially opened in 1782. The yellow house to the very left (Sagerska Palatset) is the official residence of the Swedish prime minister, Fredrik Reinfeldt and his family.

This is Stockholm to me. Old next to new. And new next to old. It is clear – even to me! -  where my personal design style stems from.

Dear readers. You will not hear from me for a week because I am on my way to my wonderful home city Stockholm to bring back my mother for a visit with my family for the summer. I can’t wait! I will get to spend quality time with my family and many wonderful friends back home and to check out all the latest within the design scene.  I will bring back lots of material and a few surprises – only for you! Enjoy your week!

P.S Do you see the Royal castle in the background? On my first day in Stockholm I will run into its nice gift shop with a specific purchase in mind for my two beautiful girls. I will share with you later!