The sleek lines, subtle colours and bright, humorous prints associated with the design houses of Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland have many passionate fans across the world. Mid-century Scandinavian furniture also is very much in vogue, and quality antique pieces can command eye-watering prices (if you’re paying them, the boutiques below will happily oblige). But smaller and contemporary pieces combining beauty and cutting-edge practical design nous are also plentifully available in Paris, particularly at our favourite independent Scandinavian design boutiques listed below. Just don't mention IKEA.
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The building is in fact a former public treasury (‘trésorerie’), and luckily this furniture and homeware store is also full of riches. The large space is bathed in light with a strong Scandinavian feel (there’s also an excellent Swedish café, Smörgås, attached), and is stuffed with everything from wooden spoons to lamps, from stoneware plates to linen and coffee tables. There’s a heavy emphasis on traditional craftsmanship and local, ecological production methods and materials...
For a shot of gorgeous 1950s Scandi style, look no further than Allt, which stocks genuine vintage pieces. Allt boats two showrooms, filled with unique chairs, tables, rugs, lamps and shelves. The pieces hosted there for as long as it takes fans of teak, tapered legs, colourful carpets and quirky candlesticks to snap them up which isn't very long at all. The Swedish owner Charlotte Tassin hunts pieces out back home and sends them to Paris-based Didier Maréchal...
Maison Nordik was set up in 2013 by a couple with Danish heritage, who brought a vanload of furniture over from Denmark to sell online and shifted the whole lot in about five minutes. Their enterprise has kept pace with the fever for Scandinavian design that has been sweeping through France in recent years, and they’ve now graduated to two large floors in the heart of the 18th arrondissement. Set up as a concept store, the space hosts mostly vintage Danish furniture, which is unearthed piece by piece and restored...
Cool, calm Scandinavian design doesn’t have to be colourless. The proof is here at Finnova, with its abundance of iconic prints from Finnish brand Marimekko: all huge floral shapes and eye-catching blocks of bright colour. Also in stock are lots of lovely things to ornament your home once it’s got a splash of Scandi bling: glasses, crockery, candles and more. As you might expect from Scandinavian design, comfort and functionality come as standard at Finnova. You’ll find stylish glassware by Finnish brand Iittala, geometric throws...
Guillaume Deroy founded the Nordik Market boutique in 2011, having fallen in love with Scandinavian design on his many travels. An impressive stag’s head trophy sets the tone at the entrance (yours for €285), while inside you’ll find furniture (mostly authentic wooden mid-century tables, chairs, storage, sofas) and a large range of lighting and decorations (vases, cushions, candles, mirrors). Some items have been refashioned by local artisans, like a teak writing desk...
These trendy temples of carefully curated designs are all the rage in Paris.
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