Östermalm Shops

Owned and operated by Scotsman Andrew Duncanson since 1998, this showroom-slash-gallery collects and sells rare, impossible-to-find 20th-century Scandinavian furniture by the likes of Finn Juhl, Arne Jacobsen, and Alvar Aalto. Aside from their Stockholm space, Modernity often sources and supplies pieces to MoMA and LACMA, as well as being a constant feature on the international art circuit. One of the few places in the world where iconic pieces by the aforementioned Scandinavian design heavyweights are actually available for sale, you'll also find antique textiles, ceramics, and light fixtures.

A slew of interesting, young Swedish designers have opened up shop in the past few years, but Anna Holtblad is actually part of an older (and much smaller) generation of designers–her brand has been around for more than twenty-five years, and she's thought of locally as a pioneer in her field. Inside her shop (designed and decorated by her husband, architect and designer Thomas Sandell), you'll find cozy knits, drapey tops, and perfect-fitting wide-legged pants.

Founded by Paul and Carina Jackson back in 1981, Jacksons specializes in vintage Scandinavian design, sourcing everything from lighting to furniture to rugs. Paul and Carina often curate exhibitions to showcase their pieces, so a visit to the showroom inevitably results in a lesson in the history of design (and with a list of new designers to learn about). There's a satellite location in Berlin, too.

If you go to one furniture store in Stockholm, make it Nordiska Gelleriet, where the tags read like a who's-who of contemporary Scandinavian design–with a healthy dose of modernist influences from abroad, like Charles and Ray Eames and Le Corbusier. Carl-Magnus Heigard, who laid the foundation for the company's aesthetic (and its rise to prominence in the '50s and '60s), pioneered the concept of curating furniture galleries like art exhibitions, which the company still practices in its carefully considered merchandising.

With two full floors of new and vintage furniture, textiles, and lighting—plus, a rich, color-heavy aesthetic—Oscar and Clothilde is a trusted go-to for local interior designers. But unlike many of the other furniture galleries in the area, they also have a smattering of accessories, pillows, and gift-able items, meaning it's entirely possible to pick up something you could take home in your suitcase.

Swedish furniture design in the 18th and 19th centuries was dominated by a painted-wood style, and pieces with original paint are increasingly difficult to find. Svenska Rum has one of the best selections we've encountered (plus plenty of antique accessories, like chandeliers and small wooden figures)–the dealer, Leif Jansson, has been in the business for more than 30 years.

Svenskt Tenn is possibly the most famous design store in Sweden and it is easy to understand why. Designer Estrid Ericson initially needed a space to sell her pewter wares, but over time her interest turned to interiors. Ericson teamed up with Jewish-Austrian architect and furniture designer Josef Frank (who had fled to Sweden to avoid the Nazis), and their interior collaborations became renowned after the world expos of the late 1930s. Today the store’s inventory is in the thousands—bolts of beautifully patterned fabrics, Scandinavian furniture, cushions, throws, curtains, and pretty much everything else you could imagine for your home. There is much here that is both portable and giftable, and they also sell other brands like Fornasetti.