About Hus & Hem
Who?
Back in 2009, Louise Little decided to take the plunge and open Hus & Hem.
With extensive buying and retail experience, opening my own shop seemed like the obvious next step. With much encouragement from friends, family, and suppliers—and rather a lot of Dutch courage—Hus & Hem was born, and a long-term ambition was achieved.
What?
Hus & Hem means "house and home" in Swedish, a fitting name for a shop that sells exactly that: lovely Scandinavian items to furnish, decorate, and brighten up your home. Occasionally, we can't resist the odd thing from another part of the world, though they often have a connection or share that Scandi look. Bright and light, with structural pillars of Danish candles and a mass of colourful products for sale, the shop is never gaudy or kitsch. Our products are always tasteful, stylish, and practical.
Why?
Tired of seeing the same predictable, mass-produced products on the high street, and a general lack of good customer service, I was motivated to open Hus & Hem. After several years of selling Scandinavian furniture, I extended my passion for their design to include the finishing touches that make a house into a home: soft blankets, colourful screen-printed fabrics, and pretty kitchenware—just a few of the things the Nordic countries are so well known for. I have a passion for shopping and a weakness for beautiful things, so opening Hus & Hem also gave me the perfect excuse to shop to my heart's content!
When?
Only eight weeks after deciding to start this venture, Hus & Hem opened on 1st May 2009. A shop was found in just twenty minutes (yes, really!), everything fell into place, everything fitted perfectly the first time, and luckily, everyone seemed to love Hus & Hem!
It quickly became clear that larger premises were required. Luckily, a brand-new contemporary shop was being built in the next alleyway... Bingo! In 2010, we launched our website, reaching out across the world to showcase the products we are proud to promote and sell.
Where?
Nestled within The Design Quarter, a charming alleyway in the picturesque market town of Ledbury, you’ll find Hus & Hem—a modern design shop full of Scandinavian style. Not wanting to be on the high street, this location is perfect for us, and our customers love discovering this "hidden gem."
How?
Products are sourced on thrice-yearly shopping trips to Denmark, Sweden and beyond. We are always on the lookout for new ideas and trends from small, independent makers often not seen outside of Scandinavia and Europe. While we have great fun on our trips, it is hard work—honestly! We often have aching limbs and sore feet. On one visit in January (thick snow, -13°C, and even the sea was frozen), we calculated that we walked about forty miles. We’d like to think it keeps us fit, but the consumption of Swedish vodka and prinsesstårta cake (sponge, cream & marzipan) seems to cancel out all that hard work.
Rather than buying whole ranges from suppliers, we cherry-pick only our favourite pieces. Our rule is that we only buy things that we love, not just like. Everything we stock has a place in our own homes—or would, if our customers didn’t get to them first! Many of our customers have become good friends, and there’s nothing nicer than meeting you in person, so if you'd like to see our full range, come and visit us in the shop.
