Help Me Source Scandinavian Design Magazines.

March 31, 2010 2:07 PM

I love Nordic home design. I'd like to subscribe to some Swedish home decorating magazines, but there is the language barrier on the magazine websites. Needless to say I cannot read any Scandinavian language, and the sites do not have an English option. I'm not even certain they'll do foreign subscriptions. I've yet to find a US magazine that has total Nordic design as its focus.

I'm aware of translation sites like Babelfish, but those aren't really convenient for website.

So... is there any way I can subscribe to these magazines, and/or is there any US publication (magazine, another periodical, or book) that focuses on Nordic design?

Here's an example of a site for a Swedish magazine: http://www.skonahem.com/

posted by miltoncat to home & garden (7 answers total)

When I open the magazine link you give as an example in Chrome, Google offers to automatically translate the page. So, I was able to read this part of their FAQ:

Can I get the magazine sent abroad?
Postage costs will be added as the item price. Please contact customer service to help you with ordering and price information. Foreign subscriptions must always be half or full-year orders.

How long is the delivery of the magazine if I live outside of Sweden?
Depending on which country you live in, this can vary and if you have chosen to get the magazine sent to A-or B-post. Prices vary according to the item postage fees.
posted by Houstonian at 2:21 PM on March 31, 2010

You might enjoy Wallaper I know I do.
Its certainly not specific on only Scandinavian design, but they do cover it.
posted by digividal at 2:50 PM on March 31, 2010

As Houstonian said: Sköna Hem should be possible to get abroad. It and Allt i hemmet is both owned by the same company so it should be possible to contact their customer service (hem&mode is what you are looking for)
Elle interiör only speaks about sending abroad for limited period of time but could be worth a try. The deal is the same, you have to pay for the delivery and should contact customer service.

I have only read Allt i Hemmet and Sköna Hem occasionally so I can't really speak for which is the best and covers the most of nordic design but I have enjoyed them both.
posted by furisto at 3:17 PM on March 31, 2010

You might also be interested in the Danish magazines Bo Bedre and Boligmagasinet, and/or the Norwegian magazines Design Interiør and Bonytt. It seems all of these magazines have subscription policies similar to what Houstonian posted regarding Sköna Hem.
posted by iviken at 3:17 PM on March 31, 2010

I love Nordic home design. I'd like to subscribe to some Swedish home decorating magazines, but there is the language barrier on the magazine websites.

I live in Sweden. It is my impression that what most people call "Nordic" design is most often Finnish (or to a lesser extent Danish) - but certainly not Swedish.
posted by three blind mice at 5:25 PM on March 31, 2010

Bloesem is written by a Dutch woman living in Kuala Lumpur, but I think it might still give you the sort of feel you're after.
posted by calico at 12:29 AM on April 1, 2010

(apologies: I've just seen that you're looking for printed material in particular and I've given you a website)
posted by calico at 12:30 AM on April 1, 2010