Work & Business
When We Die, Bury Us In Huset, LA’s Scandinavian One-Stop-Shop
LOS ANGELES – When we found ourselves visiting L.A. for a week, a stroll down the legendary (and expensive) Abbot Kinney Boulevard was a must.
By the end of our trip, we’d been back three times. The stores, the food, the posh-ness of the mile-long strip filled with fancy crop tops and tiny, $200 men’s bathing suits – it was addictive. Each time, we were on the hunt for famous people, but alas, the only glimpse of fame was a brush with D-list “The Bachelor” star Arie Luyendyk Jr. and his controversial fiancé Lauren Burnham.
One of the highlights on our walk down Abbot Kinney was stumbling upon Huset, the L.A.-based Scandinavian décor shop. As a writer for a Swedish-American digital magazine, we’ve covered the shop before, but we didn’t remember where it was located, and we hadn’t seen it in person. Walking by and seeing the familiar sign was a pleasant surprise.
Of course, Huset lived up to our expectations. The shop, located at 1316 ½ Abbot Kinney Blvd. (of course, its 1316 and a half) gives off the classic, Scandinavian minimalist feel – clean with pops of color and natural wood. All the curated items come with a label that lets the buyer know where the item originates from.
When you walk in on the right, clear, help-yourself containers of Swedish candy greeted us. Staff at Huset encouraged us to sample the candies, which we understood completely after spotting the infamous salty licorice.
“Don’t fill up a bag of the black sugary stuff unless you know what you are getting into,” they seemed to say.
There’s a section for kids, brimming with unique toys and whimsical clothing from Mini Rodini. The kind of baby gear that tempts a childless 25-year-old writer.
The wall décor was beautiful, the tea accessories spoke to us… even the dish towels begged us to take a photo. We obliged.
If you are ever in the Los Angeles area, be sure to add a stroll down Abbot Kinney to your list, and spend a good chunk of time perusing the Scandinavian offerings of Huset. If California is not in your immediate travel plans, Huset has an online shop, and while it’s not as good as the real thing, it’s a pretty good alternative.
Happy shopping!
