Scandinavian Interior Design for Canadians
For a few years now, Scandinavian design has been all the rage in Canada. From interior & product design to its famous Hygge / coziness rituals, Scandinavian design has grown into a full-blown movement that shows no signs of fading away.
When it comes to interior design, Canadians are eager to blend elements of Scandinavian design into their Canadian interiors, but where do they turn for assistance?
Luckily for us, Swedish interior designer Christina Richardson has agreed to guide us in the best ways & practices to incorporating Scandinavian interior design into our Canadian homes.
Photo Credit : Salina Kassam
Interior Design Toronto: Christina, can you give us a brief description of Scandinavian design with a focus on interior design?
Christina Richardson: The three main parts that characterize the Scandinavian design are the light combined with warmth ( it’s cold outside …) and functionality.
The light is important for Scandinavians as the natural light is limited during fall, winter, and even spring.
The warmth of the interior comes more from texture, like sheep’s fur, natural linen and light woods, rather than colour.
Lastly, the functionality stems from the fact that the Scandinavian countries had very limited resources during the 1800s. Poverty and crop failure forced many Scandinavians to emigrate to the US and Canada. The ones that were left had to make the most out of everything so the furniture making became functional and not overly elaborate. FYI, the poorest region in Sweden was Småland, the home of IKEA.
Interior Design Toronto : Can you highlight any similarities & differences between Scandinavian interior design & interior design in Canada?
Christina Richardson : What I have seen so far I would say they are almost opposites. Canadians seem to use more dark woods, elaborate design, warmer colours and maybe less texture. Even though there is a contemporary strain here in Canada, with lighter interiors, it is still very much elaborate and it has a cooler colour scheme than the typical Scandinavian design.
Interior Design Toronto: I have a feeling that Scandinavian design isn’t as monolithic as it’s portrayed in the media. Can you identify any major design differences between the five Nordic countries of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden?
Christina Richardson: I would say Norway has a more rustic, cabin-like design with the use of darker woods compared to the rest of Scandinavia. Their “Hygge style” is maybe the style that Canadians feel is most accessible for them.
Finland is without a doubt the most extreme of the Scandinavian styles with very strict lines combined with colourful boldly patterned fabrics like the Marimekko fabrics. The tulip chair made by, Eero Saarinen is a typical example of the Finish design.
Denmark is, without a doubt, the masters of Scandinavian design with famous designers like Arne Jacobsen and Hans Wegner. Hans Wegner designed the wishbone chair that is extremely popular here in Canada and the united states since it blends easily with many types of interiors from boho to contemporary.
Sweden har more of a raw, farmhouse style type of design. Natural materials like slate, burnt steel, wood and fur combined with more straight cut lines and raw edges. At the same time it all gets balanced with white, or whitewashed, walls and floors made of cement, wood or stone. It never gets boring, Swedes like to surprise with juxtaposition. One example of typical Swedish design is Mats Theselius’ Easy chair made out of steel and cowhide and…the most typical of them all…IKEA.
Interior Design Toronto : Do you have any favorite Scandinavian interior designers that you have learned from over the years?
Christina Richardson : I love Jonas Bohlin and Mats Theselius designs since they have a sense of humor and rawness about them. I learned early from a father to one of my friends, who built this amazing house, he told me “ You need to go all the way with designing your home, don’t settle for half way” It has followed me and I tell my clients the same thing.
Interior Design Toronto : What do Canadians have completely wrong about Scandinavian design?
Christina Richardson : Many people think it is mid century. Some of it is, but most of it is not.
Interior Design Toronto : Can you give us some more detail about Scandinavian interior design & it’s themes in the following categories:
Christina Richardson :
Flooring - Natural pine planks, birch, concrete or natural slate (uneven slate for texture). White or light grey painted wood floors are common.
Lighting - Warm lighting (since it’s cold outside) but still effective. White shades to make the most of the light. Plenty of light sources in every room. And…Scandinavians don’t cover their windows with tonnes of draperies. If anything, it is a sheer flax simple curtain in white or natural.
Furniture - Smaller scale furniture (since they had to make the most out of everything) Lighter woods, simple lines (so not Baroque or “Italian”), cotton or linen fabrics. Leather and fur is very common.
Home decor & accessories - Scandinavians can go a little more bold with their artwork and that’s where you most often see colour in a Scandinavian style home. Otherwise accessories are things that have a purpose like hang your guitar on the wall or books that you can read. There’s almost no unuseful accessories in Scandinavian design.
Colours - Not a whole lot. Whites are widely used and instead of “ A pop of colour” there are pops of texture, patterns or pops of surprises. If colours are used they are usually from natural pigments such as copper or ochre. Pastells are not common at all.
Patterns - Patterns can be bold and sometimes even colourful but they are used in a very intentional way to create that one spot of juxtaposition or an element of surprise. The mixing of colours and patterns like you see in Canada is not commonly used
Textures - Lot’s of textures to bring warmth to the whites.
Nature - Nature is brought indoors. Yes, big windows are very much used, but again, intentionally so that you make sure that you have a view and not look straight towards your neighbours wall or right out on the street. If you live in a more crowded space, windows are placed for maximum light and privacy.
Eco-friendliness - Scandinavian design is all about eco friendliness and not using more than you need. Also, use what you have around you.
Custom pieces vs Store bought - When you need to maximize a space, custom made is absolutely used but first…see if you can find it at IKEA ☺
Antiques - Antiques, yes, but only as long as they serve a function or as art pieces.
Paint & wallpaper - Wallpaper can be used and then they are treated like artwork, very colourful and eye catching, but again…very sparsely and intentional. Josef Frank is one of Sweden’s most loved designer when it comes to textiles and wallpaper.
Space planning - Functionality and flow of light are the lead words. Very much like Feng Shui.
Form & function...furniture having multiple uses (ex. Coffee table w storage) - Since Scandinavians live smaller than we do in North America, dual functionality is very common. Beds with storage underneath, extendable tables, furniture that grows with your children (Like the Trip Trap chair) all of that is very Scandinavian.
Minimalism - clean lines - I would not call Scandinavian style minimalism since Scandinavian style is warmer and more functional. An example is the open kitchen shelves that is widely used in Scandinavian design but it is not used for accessories. It is used for cups, plates and utensiles you use every day. Why open a cabinet door if you don’t have to?
That is nothing like minimalism. Minimalism to me does not work…it’s a nice thought but I bet their homes does not really work in everyday life.
Coziness (hygge) - Hygge is more of the Norwegian strain of Scandinavian design that uses darker woods, warmer colours and it is not at all minimalist even though the design usually is very simple and clean.
Interior Design Toronto : What about your interior design business here in Toronto. What services do you provide?
Christina Richardson : Christina Richardson Interiors is a full service Design company and we work together with the best contractors, Architects and landscape architects to give our clients a hassle free and beautiful experience.
Interior Design Toronto : Can you give us an example of your work here in Toronto?
Christina Richardson : Our last project was “The Scandinavian Farmhouse in Toronto”. It is a light filled house designed for privacy and access to the outdoors at the same time. The house has incredible sight lines and there is a red thread of design going through the entire house so that you get a total zen experience every time you walk through the front door.
Interior Design Toronto: Can you share any info on current and/or upcoming projects in Canada? In Toronto?
Christina Richardson: Right now I am working on a project in Etobicoke where we are transforming a 50’s bungalow into a relaxing retreat with Scandinavian influences, sauna included. It is going to be a fantastic home.
Interior Design Toronto: If a Canadian homeowner wanted to bring aspects of Scandinavian interior design into their home and you weren’t available to help, how would you recommend they proceed?
Christina Richardson: Don’t be afraid to paint your walls white, there are so many beautiful whites, and every Canadian needs more light.
Get a white couch. Most people stray away from white couches but the fabrics nowadays are fantastic. You can drench them in red wine and then just wash it right off. If you don’t dare white…go natural linen.
Match your new couch with a designer chair like the Shell Chair, Womb chair, or a butterfly chair.
Declutter your home with storage solutions from IKEA. Hang hooks in the entryway for handbags, tennis rackets, and whatever you use on a daily. Hooks are not just for clothes.
Coordinate your china and kitchen utensils and throw out the ones that you don’t use or like. Exchange some of your upper cabinets with open shelves.
Interior Design Toronto: Can you describe your design process from the POV of a potential client?
Christina Richardson: Of course! It always differs a little from client to client, depending on the scope, but here’s the general process.
We always start, with what I call, a discovery call where we talk about your project, your lifestyle, and your wants and needs and I explain our process. The discovery call is always free of charge.
After that, we do an in-home consultation where we look at your home and you ask all the questions you want and I give you all the advice I know. We cover everything from layouts to colours, fabrics, kitchen, and baths. Anything you need for your home and your lifestyle. After the consultation, you will receive a summary of everything we have discussed.
The Design phase is where we really get to work. Mood boards, layouts, 3D renderings… we put together a design for your entire house, based on your likes and needs, and we tweak and change it until you are 100% happy (and excited to get started).
Then the construction phase starts. The General Contractor is responsible for your construction and will coordinate all the other trades such as electricians, painters, and drywallers.
The last phase is the implementation phase. This is where we deliver all the furniture, draperies, and artwork and we make your newly renovated house into a home.
About Christina Richardson Interiors
Christina is a Swedish interior designer who lives in Toronto, Canada. She has designed kitchens, bathrooms, mudrooms, homes and summer houses in Sweden, the United States and Toronto, for over 20 years.
Christina has always had a passion for architecture and interior design. Starting out as a construction engineer at the FFNS architectural company in Skellefteå, Sweden, she soon discovered that design and especially interior design was her true passion. In 2016 this passion got her a degree in interior design from the New York Institute of Art and Design.
Christina believes that any home and any space can be both functional and beautiful. No matter what style you like she can help you get the “fabulous” out of any space in your home.
Website : www.christinarichardsoninteriors.com
Email : Christina Richardson Interiors
Instagram : @christinarichardsoninteriors
Facebook : @christina.richardson.75286
Youtube : @ChristinaRichardson
Pinterest : @christinarichardsoninteriors
About Salina Kassam Photography
Photographer Salina Kassam is responsible for all these amazing pictures showcasing Christina Richardson’s Scandinavian Farmhouse design.
I create visual narratives that tell the back story of the buildings you design. I take a journalistic approach to constructing stories that illustrate how your visions come together in the context of the environment, the technical, the equipment, and through human engagement and commitment.
The images come together to iterate the process of transformation, and they hope to inspire a deeper appreciation and curiosity of the work that needs to happen to finally bring form and function together when the building is celebrated.
Website : www.salinakassam.com
Email : salina@salinakassam.com
Instagram : @salina_kassam_photography
Phone : +1 416 578 1136
About Douglas Robb - Interior Design Toronto
Douglas Robb is the founder, editor, blog writer, web guru & chief bottle washer at Interior Design Toronto.
As the husband of a ridiculously busy interior designer, Doug knows that shopping for interior design & home decor products in Toronto can be a giant pain with stores are scattered all over the GTA & the internet.
That’s why he built the Interior Design Toronto store directory…to organize the chaos. This blog was added soon after in response to store-owners requesting promotion of upcoming sales and new products.
Today, the blog has just under 4000 email subscribers, over 5000 Instagram followers & a quickly-growing Facebook Group. Doug is also available to chat at douglas@interiordesign.to
Update: In response to COVID-19, Doug is launching a new web property aimed at helping interior designers who run their own small businesses. While the Interior Designher website is being built, designers can access 2 exhaustive Guides on Marketing for Pinterest & Instagram here.
