麻豆社

Have we reached peak Scandi furniture?

Laurence Llewelyn Bowen thinks so.

In a witty and acerbic polemic, Laurence laments the blonde and bland Scandinavian design that has dislodged pattern, antiquity and a tradition of elaborate decoration from British homes.

Laurence visits the Stockholm Furniture and Lighting Fair and issues a challenge to some of the stars of Nordic furniture to give an account of their worldview and design philosophy.

Sara Kristofferson, author of Design by Ikea, explains how the company, now celebrating its 30th year in the UK, encouraged the British to chuck out their chintz in favour of a cleaner, modernist aesthetic inspired by mid-century Scandinavia.

But could brown furniture finally be making a comeback? At Lots Road, auctioneer Nick Carter has noticed a slowing down in sales of Scandi style in favour of an increased interest in 18th and 19th century antiques.

And upstairs in Laurence鈥檚 16th century Cotswolds home, we make a shocking discovery regarding his daughter Hermione鈥檚 taste in interior decoration.

Producer Paul Smith

A Just Radio production for 麻豆社 Radio 4, first broadcast in May 2017.