Lundby in Italia

If people don't go to the theater, bring the theater to them! That's the premise of Italian actress Nicole Sartirani's business, Teatro a Domicilio.

Taking inspiration from everyday life, Nicole writes scripts and plays characters in scenes she acts out in people's homes using games and improvisation. Events can include a meal, drinks, and even musical performances.

So what do these theatrical parties have to do with Lundby? Visit Nicole's website and you'll see! Be sure to look at the images on each page. Here's a clue as to what you might find:

Nicole asked me for permission to use some of the photos from my blog on her new website. She liked the style and colors, and thought they'd help create the right atmosphere for her site. I was happy to oblige. Just another example of Lundby's worldwide appeal!

I wish Nicole buona fortuna, felicità, and prosperità in her creative endeavors. Thank you for liking Lundby.

Check it out

Have you ever noticed how common red and white checks are in Lundby furniture? As far as I can tell, this pattern appears on pieces shown in Lundby catalogs from 1977 to 2003.


1977 catalog: Doll's shirt, tabletop, chair cushions, sofa, curtains

My collection: Bedspreads, doll's shirt, floor lamp

My collection: Tablecloth, chair cushions

My collection: Ironing board cloth, Lisa ceiling lamp, corner sofa & armchair, curtains

My collection: Ceiling lamp, homemade rug

My collection: 1985 bedroom set

These are just some examples. Can you think of more?

Curious about the significance of all these checks, I set off to find more information. My search led me into the fascinating world of pattern theory and the "Universal Pattern" website.

In an article on the site, art historian Mikael Traung from Stockholm says that in the 18th century, the Swedish nobility used cotton fabric with a check pattern to cover their fine furniture and protect it from dust and sunglight while they were away at their summer homes. This pattern was called "Medevi square" after a 17th century spa frequented by King Gustav III.

According to Traung, cotton was inexpensive and easy to weave, especially into a checked pattern. This fabric came to be used as upholstery because it was cheaper and more durable than other materials like silk, and people just liked how it looked. Eventually it became a key feature of Gustavian style, a Swedish version of rococo characterized by fewer details and an emphasis on refined elegance and a lighter, "blonde" touch.

So it sounds like there is a very long tradition of red and white checks in Sweden, as reflected in (many!) Lundby pieces over the years.

In with the old, in with the new

I don't have any modern Lundby dollhouses (yet!), but I've been unable to resist some of the modern furniture. I especially love the stainless steel kitchen with island, which has found a home in the Lundby garage extension of my Lisa dollhouse:

I've also acquired a pink sectional sofa (the corduroy floral cushions are to die for!) that I'm not sure where to place yet. My original idea was to add it to my pink loft bedroom, but as you'll see it's a bit of a tight squeeze (and does it really make sense to have lounge furniture in the bedroom?!):

The IKEA-look garden table and chairs are also bigger than I expected. They take up almost all the room on my 90s Gothenburg balcony:

The fourth chair wouldn't fit on the balcony, so I added it to my blue bedroom:

One vintage/modern room that I'm happy with is a little space I partitioned off in one of my extensions. I like how the plain wood staircase coordinates with the modern wood bookcase. And I think the vintage curtains and rug look pretty good with the modern red chairs:

Maybe it's okay to decorate with a hodge podge of old and new. After all, that's what my real house looks like (with more of an emphasis on the old and decrepit)!

SURVEY :: Your favorite era

What is your favorite Lundby era? Please take a moment to think it over and answer the survey in the right-hand column.

Here are your choices:

Earliest Lundby and 1960s – photo from 1966 catalog

1970s – photo from 1977 catalog

1980s – photo from 1985 catalog

1990s – photo from 1993 catalog

Modern Lundby – photo from 2006 catalog

Or maybe you find it too hard to choose? You can also answer that you love them all!

I have a hard time choosing but find myself most drawn to 1970s Lundby, as that's what I had as a kid.

What makes your favorite era so special to you? Feel free to leave a comment below!



Black toilet paper

Here's a Lundby mystery that has bugged me for a while: Why the black toilet paper roll in some 1980s and 90s bathroom sets? Both sets I'm thinking of have light yellow fixtures with black shower hoses and toilet seats.

Black toilet paper in seagull bathroom set:

Black toilet paper in yellow stripe bathroom set:

I don't know about you, but I have yet to see black toilet paper in real life, so this Lundby quirk doesn't quite ring true. Maybe I'm too much of a purist, but white and pink toilet paper make much more sense to me!

White toilet paper in red tile bathroom set--that's more like it!

Extra pink toilet paper rolls on shelf of pink bathroom bidet (repapered)--also more true to life: