Svenskt Tenn - Sweden’s finest interior design
in short…
a beautiful Stockholm interior design store from the 1920s
handcrafted furniture and textiles from local manufacturers
genuine Swedish design treasures - a significant part of the selection is made exclusively for Svenskt Tenn and therefore hard to find else where in the world
In a round of quick-fire questions, almost all of us would probably respond to „Swedish interior design shop?” with „Ikea!”.
The far more exciting answer, however, is „Svenskt Tenn”!
This gorgeous traditional establishment has been located on Strandvägen, Stockholm’s elegant boulevard right by the water, since 1927.
As we make our way through the rooms aligned one after the other, up and down the stairs, our design-loving hearts beat a little faster.
If, like us, you’re a fan of Josef Frank’s nature-inspired designs, you’ll be delighted.
And if you’re interested in the story of the remarkable founder, Estrid Ericson and Svenskt Tenn, you’ll find historical exhibits and small labels on objects throughout the store.
Born in Öregrund, Sweden, in 1894, Estrid was actually an art teacher before she opened her interior design shop.
„When I founded Svenskt Tenn, I was unrealistic and quite impractical. I only relied on the uncertain future of good taste.”, says the courageous founder of herself.
What a wonderful perspective on the times to come! After all, almost a hundred years later, we are still searching for beautiful things and good taste.
In 1933, she joined forces with Josef Frank, who had fled Vienna to escape the Nazis and had taken refuge in his wife’s homeland, Sweden.
The architect and designer firmly believed that rooms must, above all, be cosy and personal – a conviction we wholeheartedly share.
Josef designed furniture as well as patterns for fabrics and wallpapers, which Estrid showcased perfectly in the shop alongside her own designs.
To this day, they are available here by the metre and have also been made into cushions, tablecloths or napkins – ready to take home straight away.
His motifs, full of flowers and leaves, birds and butterflies, form imaginative ecosystems that we could gaze at for hours.
Every time we wander through Svenskt Tenn, we’re overcome by an urgent desire to redecorate our own home in this spirit.
The enchanting Tea Room, which tea-loving Estrid had fitted out right from the start, reminds us a little of our beloved restaurant Selma in Copenhagen.
After all, it is Josef Frank’s „Paradiset“ wallpaper there, too, that reliably transports us to the Swedish midsummer.
When a design from the 1940s still exudes its magic, it impresses us in a very special way.
Estrid Ericson ran Svenskt Tenn until 1975.
When we write today about our favourite businesses founded by women, she and her legacy are right at the top of our list.
The fact that she defied the world war, economic crises and the long-standing stereotypes about women is what makes her so inspiring, alongside her great talent.
Before her death in 1981, she took another visionary step - she sold her company to the Kjell and Märta Beijer Foundation.
The foundation invests Svenskt Tenn’s profits in research projects on sustainability, genetics, biomedicine and pharmacy.
„Our homes are never completed - during our entire lives, we continue to build upon them.”, Estrid once said.
We like that lovely thought and feel encouraged to bring new treasures from Stockholm into our own homes.
