When friends and family gather at David Weiss and Martina Arfwidson's home by the hudson, Swedish tradition meets casual American style.

Martina, co-owner of Face Stockholm, and David, restaurant chef, hold their son, Theo.

Traditional Swedish interiors combat the gloom by mining the scarce light and emphasizing reflective surfaces designed to transmit light from room to room. In keeping with the spare aesthetic, the carved-wood furniture of Arfwidson's native country rests on mostly bare floors.

Weiss, a restaurant owner and chef, prepares crayfish in the kitchen.

A pale palette ensures bright interiors all year. The Gustavian-style chairs are vintage. The family's German shepherd, Okie, presides in the dining area.

Massive floor-to-ceiling mirrors in the living room illuminate the space and help bring the outdoors inside.

A Swedish daybed is upholstered in green velvet, revealing Arfwidson's love of watery colors.

Abstract art on the second-story landing complements the pared-down look.

Swedish antiques abound, including a large bench that holds bedding and table linens underneath the seat and an oversize white mirror reflecting a collection of well-worn gardening hats.

Family and friends gather for an alfresco meal under the wisteria on the back porch, overlooking the Hudson River. Even outdoors, white predominates, on the table and the deck.