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PAIGE ORLOFF Photographs bJ, LISA HUBBARD Stlltw b1 KARIN LID B EC I( - BRENT
December/Januory 2o1o
COUNTRYLI]/INC. COM
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Hand-carved dining chairs-reproductions sold at van Breems's shop, Eleish van Breems-pairwith a farm table purchased from a local antiques dealer. The early-I9th-century pine case clock hails from Sweden. Opposite, left:Van BreemsjoinssonsLars cookie-baki ng . O pposite, il ght A garland of pioer,, and wheat drapes across the banister, just above a 2oo-year-old dowry chest from Lapland.
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ow fitting that Edie van Breems blows out her birthday candles on December 13, celebrated as Saint Lucia's Day in Sweden. The holiday, which honors a fourth-century saint who fed the hungry, kicks off the
Christmas season in that country. And van Breems, a dealer in Scandinavian antiques whose great-
grandfather emigrated from Sweden to the United States, marks the day by bringing in a freshly cut pine tree-the first sign that Christmas has come to her
Fairfield, Connecticut, home. 'When van Breems initially laid eyes on the 176o Colonial, 12 years ago, the place had been devastated by a fire. In fact, the owners assurned it was a tear-down and marketed the three acres
ofsurrounding land as the real selling point. But van Breerns saw past the ruin to recognize the similarity between "this American house and a Swedish cottage. Both are all about the hearth and the heartbeat of the home," she says. "I felt a deep connection and wanted to bring the house back."
Van Breems accomplished her mission by referencing historical photographs passed dow-n from the horne's previous occupants. "I really tried to work with what was salvageable," she notes, "and fortunately that included some fantastic fireplaces and chestnut flooring." Besides restoring the original portion ofthe five-bedroom struc-
ture, van Breems expanded the
living and entertaining
spaces, add-
ing such rough-hewn elements as pickled oak floors and reclaimed ceiling beams from a local dairy barn. Even the purposely unfinished
December/Januar) 2O10 . couNTRYLrvINc.coM . 123
plaster walls-some left a natural gray, others tinted with yellow
ochre-give off a weathered, historic feel. That mix of old and new a rich backdrop for what van Breems calls her "high country provides
casual" style. "It's about
bringing
together fine pieces-crystal
chandeliers, gilded
mirrors-
with more rustic elements," she explains. "In Sweden, most people's homes are a cornbination
of heirlooms theyve inherited or collected and conternporary things. It's easy to live with Scandinavian antiques-they're sturdy and designed for everyday use." hn Breems co-owns a home furnishings
shop, Eieish van Breems, that carries Swedish antiques as well as modern-day pieces from the likes of Finland's Marirnekko and Danish manufacturer Fritz Hansen. She often travels to her ancestors' native land on scouting missionsand, inevitably, sorne ofher finds never make their way to the store; instead, they take pride of place in van Breems's home. One ofher favorite scavenged treasures is a late-r8th-century pine dowry chest, made in Lapland and now displayed in her foyer. Van Breems bought it many years ago from a Swedish farmer. "It was the dead ofwinter, and he had the trunk buried under all these blankets in his barn," she recalls. "I knew right away I had to have it. The chest reminded me of stories from my grandparents. And to rne, itjust speals of Christmas."
No wonder, then, that she uses the piece to store her favorite holiday ornaments. Each Saint Lucia's Day, those glass orbs and straw sprays join simple white
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lights on the van Breems's living room tree. Elsewhere in the house, a pine garland dotted with bursts o{wheat drapes over a banister, braided straw hearts adorn carved candlesticks, and a handmade wheat star perches atop that cherished dowry chest. "Wheat is a very traditional part of the Swedish holiday aesthetic," van Breems explains, "as thanks for the annual harvest." And incorporating the grain into her home's Christmas decor is just one of the manyways van Breems keeps her sons-Lars, r3, and Martin, roconnected to their family heritage.
n Christmas Eve, each boy takes part in his favorite Swedish ritual: Lars prepares what is known as the offering for the animals, crafting wooden stars, rolled in a mix of peanut butter and seeds, to hang outside for the wild birds. Meanwhile, Martin helps his mother concoct customary treats, including a marzipan pig and ginger cookies called pepparkakor. Van Breems has her rituals too. "I used to sprinkle mica glitter around the house andwalkthrough it with big boots to leave footprints,"
126 - couNTRyI-rvtNc.coM . December/Januar)
2o1o
"I made it so real that my kids truly believed they saw the evidence of Santa Claus." she recalls.
More than anything else, van Breems appreciates the need to hold tradition close to the heart, but she's not afraid of shaking things up. At the end of the evening on December 2{, Lars and Martin leave a glass ofgood scotch for Santa
Claus before tucking into bed. "It used to be eggnog," van Breerns says
A
with a grin, "but I like scotch."
contributor to thesisterproject. com,
Paige Orlofflixes uithher fami! on a
farm in i{ew York's HudsonVallg.
E'[
C' *i
.% .-.
**dffi#r *e. 's&
:J::t::'
1
K€ffi&gK
ffiffi
Ks*tusK
il.
@
.*ffi
..
Written b1
-n{
*T# - ffi*Elr
PAIGE ORLOFF Photographs bJ, LISA HUBBARD Stlltw b1 KARIN LID B EC I( - BRENT
December/Januory 2o1o
COUNTRYLI]/INC. COM
121
$* f n-
c
s*. a-
fiS ,_!!8ffi
,iL'..s:.& ,&d
tF: # - *.t
il
b
t
d
i*[
I
Hand-carved dining chairs-reproductions sold at van Breems's shop, Eleish van Breems-pairwith a farm table purchased from a local antiques dealer. The early-I9th-century pine case clock hails from Sweden. Opposite, left:Van BreemsjoinssonsLars cookie-baki ng . O pposite, il ght A garland of pioer,, and wheat drapes across the banister, just above a 2oo-year-old dowry chest from Lapland.
L'* m .S rec $i J
i',J c{.rg' u
;,i,i.u
f Pas sI
gm
a
f
*
r'ify
fu
c f a* s:e,rc "'tJg,{s
.,{ec?crr;**x:e *-oarse *m,# r; "$e.se rdfs.fe **,{i.r:i*'s,
ow fitting that Edie van Breems blows out her birthday candles on December 13, celebrated as Saint Lucia's Day in Sweden. The holiday, which honors a fourth-century saint who fed the hungry, kicks off the
Christmas season in that country. And van Breems, a dealer in Scandinavian antiques whose great-
grandfather emigrated from Sweden to the United States, marks the day by bringing in a freshly cut pine tree-the first sign that Christmas has come to her
Fairfield, Connecticut, home. 'When van Breems initially laid eyes on the 176o Colonial, 12 years ago, the place had been devastated by a fire. In fact, the owners assurned it was a tear-down and marketed the three acres
ofsurrounding land as the real selling point. But van Breerns saw past the ruin to recognize the similarity between "this American house and a Swedish cottage. Both are all about the hearth and the heartbeat of the home," she says. "I felt a deep connection and wanted to bring the house back."
Van Breems accomplished her mission by referencing historical photographs passed dow-n from the horne's previous occupants. "I really tried to work with what was salvageable," she notes, "and fortunately that included some fantastic fireplaces and chestnut flooring." Besides restoring the original portion ofthe five-bedroom struc-
ture, van Breems expanded the
living and entertaining
spaces, add-
ing such rough-hewn elements as pickled oak floors and reclaimed ceiling beams from a local dairy barn. Even the purposely unfinished
December/Januar) 2O10 . couNTRYLrvINc.coM . 123
plaster walls-some left a natural gray, others tinted with yellow
ochre-give off a weathered, historic feel. That mix of old and new a rich backdrop for what van Breems calls her "high country provides
casual" style. "It's about
bringing
together fine pieces-crystal
chandeliers, gilded
mirrors-
with more rustic elements," she explains. "In Sweden, most people's homes are a cornbination
of heirlooms theyve inherited or collected and conternporary things. It's easy to live with Scandinavian antiques-they're sturdy and designed for everyday use." hn Breems co-owns a home furnishings
shop, Eieish van Breems, that carries Swedish antiques as well as modern-day pieces from the likes of Finland's Marirnekko and Danish manufacturer Fritz Hansen. She often travels to her ancestors' native land on scouting missionsand, inevitably, sorne ofher finds never make their way to the store; instead, they take pride of place in van Breems's home. One ofher favorite scavenged treasures is a late-r8th-century pine dowry chest, made in Lapland and now displayed in her foyer. Van Breems bought it many years ago from a Swedish farmer. "It was the dead ofwinter, and he had the trunk buried under all these blankets in his barn," she recalls. "I knew right away I had to have it. The chest reminded me of stories from my grandparents. And to rne, itjust speals of Christmas."
No wonder, then, that she uses the piece to store her favorite holiday ornaments. Each Saint Lucia's Day, those glass orbs and straw sprays join simple white
125
'
,i;t i$mcri,rrp" :
rt:r:sr rm**#fe s fu*mecs
{-si"fr {?
c*mt&dnsfd*n e,tf"&cerf**rHs
Steal
this idia! Hotidaygreeting cardstakeonthe appearanceofart
lF
whenstrungup
6,*.i
insidean
€
"_*-t'.,.
t:;lt
lights on the van Breems's living room tree. Elsewhere in the house, a pine garland dotted with bursts o{wheat drapes over a banister, braided straw hearts adorn carved candlesticks, and a handmade wheat star perches atop that cherished dowry chest. "Wheat is a very traditional part of the Swedish holiday aesthetic," van Breems explains, "as thanks for the annual harvest." And incorporating the grain into her home's Christmas decor is just one of the manyways van Breems keeps her sons-Lars, r3, and Martin, roconnected to their family heritage.
n Christmas Eve, each boy takes part in his favorite Swedish ritual: Lars prepares what is known as the offering for the animals, crafting wooden stars, rolled in a mix of peanut butter and seeds, to hang outside for the wild birds. Meanwhile, Martin helps his mother concoct customary treats, including a marzipan pig and ginger cookies called pepparkakor. Van Breems has her rituals too. "I used to sprinkle mica glitter around the house andwalkthrough it with big boots to leave footprints,"
126 - couNTRyI-rvtNc.coM . December/Januar)
2o1o
"I made it so real that my kids truly believed they saw the evidence of Santa Claus." she recalls.
More than anything else, van Breems appreciates the need to hold tradition close to the heart, but she's not afraid of shaking things up. At the end of the evening on December 2{, Lars and Martin leave a glass ofgood scotch for Santa
Claus before tucking into bed. "It used to be eggnog," van Breerns says
A
with a grin, "but I like scotch."
contributor to thesisterproject. com,
Paige Orlofflixes uithher fami! on a
farm in i{ew York's HudsonVallg.
E'[
C' *i
.% .-.
**dffi#r *e. 's&
