Homes of Simple Pleasures (110)Take a trip to Sweden to tour a charming 19th century wooden cottage that exudes the warmth and charm of Sweden's Gustavian Era. The interior of the Millang family's home serves as the inspiration for their work running a company that reproduces Gustavian designs.
We'll then visit the seaside village of Hyéres to drop in with the celebrated interior designer Frédéric Méchiche. Once a rustic 18th century fisherman's house, Méchiche's home in the south of France creates an interesting juxtaposition between the rustic and refined—with elegant muslin-covered French antiques contrasting original stone walls and peeling paint.
The last stop is the Long Island cottage of Tricia Foley. Because the house is so small, Foley opted to decorate it in white. The popular design authority believes her favorite color has the power to make any interior feel open and airy.
Gustavian Home Facts:
- The Millangs' summer house was built in 1864 by a prosperous Swedish businessman
- The house is decorated in the Gustavian style, made popular by King Gustav III of Sweden.
- King Gustav III fell in love with the Neo-Classical style while visiting Versailles in France.
- Light is an important consideration in Swedish home design—dusk occurs at 3 p.m. during winters in Stockholm.
- The house was also decorated in the style of Carl Larsson (1853-1919), a Swedish illustrator who captured scenes of everyday Swedish life.
Contact Information:
Joe Nye, Interior Designer
Hollyhock
817 Hilldale Avenue
West Hollywood, CA 90069
310-777-0100
Ann Millang, Designer
Swedish Blonde
Avancée, Odinsvagen 37 A
S-130 54 Dalaro, Sweden
800-274-9096
46-8-501-502-26
Méchiche House Facts:
- The village of Hyéres is an hour west of St. Tropez on the Mediterranean.
- The Directoire period in France was from 1799-1804.
- In his Paris apartment, Frédéric Méchiche displays works of art by Miró and DuBuffet.
- Méchiche's drapery treatment was inspired by an antique painting.
Contact Information:
Frédéric Méchiche, Interior Designer
Gallerie Frédéric Méchiche
4 rue de Thorigny
75003 Paris, France
011-33-1-42-78-78-28
Long Island Cottage Facts:
- Tricia Foley is a popular author, stylist and magazine editor.
- Foley's five handy brothers all helped to fix up the house.
- Foley's favorite color is white. Her book White Christmas: Decorating and Entertaining for the Holiday Season is about decorating for Christmas using only the color white.
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