A Design Lover’s Guide to Stockholm

Iconic design firm Svenskt Tenn still favors the cheery, bold prints of original designer Josef Frank. Enter the Strandvägen shop, and you'll be greeted by armchairs, bags, and table linens done up in his signature bright florals, butterflies and elephants. Factor in the covetable glass and chinaware, and you'll have more than your budget (or luggage) can likely afford.

Whether you’re browsing the boutiques of trendy Södermalm or upscale Östermalm, make sure to check out DesignTorget, a mini-chain that sells limited-edition collections from emerging homegrown talents. Take your pick among slick kitchen accessories, serving trays, whimsical gadgets and cool, streamlined toys for kids.

Asplund epitomizes Scandinavian minimalism, all clean lines and blonde woods. The company makes its own high-end furniture and rugs and sells a curated selection of international house decor brands. We love the Push Solo metal bowls, which you can form with your own hands.

Illustrator Julia Nielson opened Hipp! among the vintage shops and cafés of SoFo, a slice of Södermalm that draws a local hipster crowd. Her products have a folksy charm (prints, tea towels, and keychains with woodland creatures, for example) and her jewelry is made from birch wood sourced in Öland, an island off Sweden's southeast coast.

Mid-twentieth century designer Carl Malmsten championed traditional, sustainable craftsmanship and his grandson Jerk stays true to his mission. Under his watch, the company continues to create beautiful wood furnishings and curvilinear samsa sofas based on classic '50s and '60s designs. You'll find it all for sale at this eponymous showroom ⎯ conveniently located next door to Svenskt Tenn ⎯ along with products by modern-day Swedish notables.

Husband-and-wife team Paul and Carina Jackson have spent more than 30 years combing the market for choice mid-century finds like a gleaming Hans J. Wegner rosewood sidebar or a Bruno Mathson webbed leather chair. The resulting treasure trove called Jackson's is full of vintage furniture and glass and ceramic collectibles from across Scandinavia.

Part greenhouse, part accessories boutique, Garbo Interiors fully embraces the shabby-chic aesthetic (think exposed pipes, unfinished floors and flowers in full bloom). Browse for packable items (candlesticks, linen pillowcases, an exclusive line of cashmere sweatshirts and scarves) amid retro furniture, including Gustavian reproductions.

Fans of Alvar Aalto and Arne Jacobsen make a beeline for Modernity, but you don't need to be a design aficionado to appreciate the mid-century modern and antique furnishings here. The shop also carries a great collection of jewelry, textiles, lighting and ceramics. Just be ready to pay up ⎯ price points are high.

The jewel-toned paper goods at Bookbinders Design are delightful enough to inspire even diehard technophiles to pick up a journal, stationery set or photo album. There's even an in-house embossing machine that you can use to personalize any canvas-bound product. May we suggest: "From Stockholm With Love"?