What made me crave comfort & serenity?

2016 did. It wasn't a great year & most of us agree on that. There are many reasons - and I won't get into that here. 2016 was the kind of year that made me want to curl up besides the fireplace with a giant merino wool blanket.

An affair to remember

I don't know what propelled me into a (life-long) love affair with Scandinavia (mostly Copenhagen) and Scandinavian design in general. Long before I had a chance to visit last July I imagined impossibly long afternoons sitting in a cafe along the Nyhvan, the colorful waterfront area from the 17th century. I pictured quaint architecture, Tivoli gardens lit up at night, midday rides down the canals, bicycle friendly streets and the kind of locals who aren't faking the sunny warm smiles on their faces. I'm happy to say I was not disappointed.

It turned out to be even better in real life.

Fast forward to October where we "casually" started looking for a new home.

We were practically bursting at the seams

for space when we put the offer in late 2016 and moved in over the holidays. I knew I wanted to decorate the house using a "midcentury modern / Scandinavian" look. But most of all I wanted the entire house to have a hygge feeling.

What is Hygge?

Hygge (pronounced HOO-ga) is a danish concept with no actual translation in English but it embodies the idea of "creating a comfortable, cozy environment". Hygge can mean many thing - such as cosiness, charm, happiness, contentness, security, familiarity, comfort, reassurance, kinship, and simpleness.

Hygge is about being present enough to recognize and acknowledge an act, moment or feeling when the ordinary feels extraordinary.

Hygge moment: my yorkie Ringo enjoying his new home