Life & Work

Upgrade your home decor with Swedish antiques

antique

A crystal chandelier at Unique Swedish along Ngong Road, Nairobi. PHOTO | DIANA NGILA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Although each piece bears a different design and purpose, items on display at this antique shop have one thing in common: they all come from Sweden.

At the shop’s showroom, Scandinavian-style furniture takes centre stage. On entry, you are immediately welcomed by a series of kitchenware dotting the antique dining tables arranged in the open space.

Further inside are a number of gold-plated chandeliers bearing decorative crystal pieces. A chandelier always adds elegance to a room. Almost every item on display catches my attention.

Shipped in as second hand items from Sweden, one would be forgiven for blindly disregarding the furniture and interior decor as out of taste and lacking a sense of elegance. But the pieces on display are unique and give a hint of classic elegance capable of bringing timeless beauty into any room.

Furniture, kitchenware and interior decor pieces displayed bear antique features that make the functional pieces stunning and desirable. Even more impressive is that in the showroom, there is a Swedish Mora Clock, with a 1758 date inscribed on it.

Mora clocks, otherwise known as grandfather clocks, were popular in the 17th and 18th centuries but phased off in the 19th century after cheaper productions hit the market. Any original piece of the Mora clock from the 1800’s retails for anything between £1200 (Sh173,000) and £5000 (Sh722,000).

Besides serving its basic purpose, if placed at the corner of the living room or at the entrance of any home, a grandfather clock can turn any room from bland to classy.

Sweden

Though broken - but repairable - the piece will not leave the showroom for less that Sh110,000, says Gerald Okello, co-founder of Unique Swedish, the shop on Ngong Road opposite Prestige Plaza. Okello, who lived in Sweden for 12 years before returning home, fell in love with Scandinavian-style furniture and interior decorations.

Antiques intrigued him most and he began buying and accumulating unique furniture and décor items he came across while still abroad.

Years later, he jetted back into the country with a mission to find a market for what he says are tasteful pieces from Sweden.
Three years down the line, he says he has learnt valuable lessons from his buyers whom he describes as individuals in love with tasteful pieces.

Second-hand

What began as a shop for interior decorations has grown to include furniture.

“You will never find the kind of items we sell in any supermarket or store in Kenya. The pieces we sell may be second-hand but are all well-maintained and will serve their intended purpose without fail,” says Okello.

Furniture cost between Sh40,000 and Sh80,000, while house décor items like the crystal chandeliers retail at Sh22,000. Kitchenware, for instance a dinner set, costs Sh3,000.

The wide range of furniture includes dining tables, sofa beds, bedroom sitting area set and armchairs. Additionally, there are dressing mirrors, flower vases, candle holders and two paintings on display – one of which one dates back to 1946 and the other to 1958.

George Owino, Okello’s partner, lives in Sweden and is in charge of collecting and shipping the products. The stock is replenished every three months. Arguably, the only shop in Kenya dealing in antiques from Sweden, Okello attributes the growth of his business to Kenyans who love owning items that stand out.

“Furniture are the fastest moving items and we believe that it is because they are of good quality and will last a long time,” he said.

“Giving value for money is a factor that cannot be underestimated in my business because a customer who is happy with our products and service will send referrals and will also most likely be a repeat customer.”

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