Each room in Eleish van Breems Antiques in Woodbury houses a distinct era of Swedish design. From humble peasant furniture, called allmoge, displayed in an ochre-painted room, to the formal, more polished Gustavian design of the 18th century, the best known and most beloved period for Swedish furniture, each vignette brings a history lesson from the two young women owners, Edie van Breems and Rhonda Eleish. "I love the folk furniture," said Eleish, cradling a rustic, patched wood bowl dating from 1820 in her hands. "That's the heart and soul of the country. You know that each bowl was used since wood was a valued commodity."
In Sweden, a country known for its cold, bleak winters, "wood was considered life," explained Eleish. "Families would have one bowl, one spoon and people ate from the communal bowl."
Educating people on Swedish culture and design has become a mission for the two women, friends since their days at Greens Farms Academy.
Eleish, cool and blonde, dressed in black, and van Breems, a polar opposite with high energy, her dark hair cut in a short bob with thick bangs and wearing shorts on this hot summer day, said they always knew that one day they'd be working together. Captivated by their shared Swedish heritage, which they said they never really talked
"Swedish design was well known in England. When we opened, no one [here] knew what Gustavian style was. Now we're educating people," said van Breems, a Fairfield resident and the mother of two.
"We're really historians," said Eleish, who lives in Bridgewater and is the mother of 1-year-old Kari.
But the shop isn't the only way they're educating people. In April, a book they co-wrote titled, "Swedish Interiors" (Gibbs Smith, $39.95), and which Eleish's husband, L. Langdon 'Buffer" Ergmann, and his business partner at Endo Graphics in Danbury, Jon Monson, photographed, was published.
Since then, they've been touring and lecturing across the country on Swedish design. The book, they said, is a comprehensive resource, something that was missing in the marketplace. Taking two years to write it, they traveled on weekends to interview and photograph designers, dealers and private homeowners on how they incorporated Swedish style into their own homes. "It was a lot of fun," said Eleish, the interior designer of the team, of their experience. "Montana was pretty neat. We stayed at the house that was shot [for the book]. The owner had bought pieces from us and it was like revisiting old friends.
"[The book] is really photo-driven, but meaty," said Eleish. "We're trying to show why Swedish design is so incredible."
When you think of Swedish style, images of light-filled spaces with no rugs on the floors or curtains on the windows come to mind. The familiar Gustavian period was named after King Gustav III, who ruled Sweden from 1771 to 1792, and lasted about 30 to 40 years after his death, said van Breems. The colors of this period are creams, whites, blues and grays, hues that reflect the fleeting sunlight of Sweden.
"It's known for a return to neoclassicism, fluted, straighter legs, simplicity of line, lots of crystals, guilt and lighter colors," explained van Breems. While the shop reflects more of this time period, the book has several homes that embrace the more vibrant colors of Swedish style, using the strong, clear reds, blues and yellows influenced by the paintings and storybook-style home of Swedish artist Carl Larsson and his wife, Karin.
Standing in the bright glow of vibrant color in the Marimekko room, where red -striped bathrobes and hot pink, pop-art style floral umbrellas are for sale, Eleish said that although Marimekko is Finnish, not Swedish, it proves that Scandinavian design mixes perfectly with many styles. "Scandinavian goes so well with modern furniture and antique pieces," said Eleish.
In the shop's kitchen section, classic examples of Swedish culinary copper hangs on the walls and are displayed on counters. Swedish copper is another item that is not as well known as its French or English counterparts, the women said. "Everything's very large, so dramatic," said Eleish about her pieces, picturing a Swedish farm wife whipping up a rabbit stew or some hearty oatmeal in one of the huge pots.
Prices for these antiques are on the high end. Chairs, for example, can range from $200 to $2,000 to $12,000, they said.
They also offer a line of reproduction furniture, which is built by a full-time cabinetmaker on the premises.
In the shop's front hall, with its pickled wood floors and dazzling crystal chandelier, stands a tall, curvy case clock, the very essence of Swedish design. "Clocks in Sweden are very important. Clockworks were made simply by local ironsmiths and were affordable for most houses," said Eleish, continuing the history lesson.
In an adjoining room, the same type of clock sports a lovely painted tortoise-shell finish. Swedish craftsmen have a long tradition of using faux finishes because, as a poor country in the 18th and 19th centuries, they couldn't afford using expensive materials like marble or exotic woods, said van Breems.
"Faux finishes are unexpected. People like to see the artisan's hand. It's comforting and it's beautiful," she said, and adds a touch of whimsy. Eleish van Breems Antiques is located at 487 Main St., South. Call 263-7030. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays, noon to 5 p.m. The Web site is www.evbantiques.com.
The owners also have a booth at the Hamptons Antique Galleries, 735 Canal St., Stamford. Call 325-4019.
If you go to Woodbury
There are 36 antique dealers in town, according to the Woodbury Antiques Dealers Association. Most of the antique shops are located on a six-mile stretch of Route 6.
For more information, visit www.antiqueswoodbury.com.
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