Photo by Alison Vagnini
Photo by Rob Prechtl
Photo by Alison Vagnini
Photo by Alison Vagnini
Photo by Alison Vagnini
If you’ve been anywhere in the last couple of years, you’ll have noticed that hygge is everywhere. The Danish concept, pronounced “hoo-ga” and denoting a warm and cozy lifestyle, has actually been a key part of Danish culture since the early 1800s. Though at first glance hygge might seem like an interior design style, it’s really a whole way of living centered around creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with people you care about.
Photo by Alison Vagnini
Photo by Rob Prechtl
Photo by Alison Vagnini
Photo by Alison Vagnini
Photo by Alison Vagnini
“Hygge is owning things you truly love and choosing authenticity over practicality. It is about adding that extra sparkle to moments, big or small,” explains Alex Gove, co-owner of the Hygge Life store in Eagle-Vail. The Colorado native discovered hygge when she and her husband Koen, who met in Vail, moved to his hometown of Amsterdam.
The word hygge comes from a Norwegian word meaning “wellbeing,” but it doesn’t really have a direct translation in English; rather, it describes a way of life that pursues everyday happiness. Gove, who is also the author of the book Dwell, Gather, Be, describes hygge as “the euphoric feeling when you are completely content in the present moment, when you can’t help but smile and let out a happy sigh.”
“Life in the Netherlands was my first encounter with the northern European way of slowing down, being present and genuinely enjoying everyday moments,” she recalls, adding, “As you walk the narrow streets of Holland, the brown cafes are dimly lit, the decor is charming yet down to earth and the people are real. I was hooked.”
In 2013, Gove traveled to Copenhagen in search of Danish design and inspiration, which she discovered was a paradise for this cozy vibe she was falling in love with.
“It was as if I had found my life match. There were candles everywhere — in windows, cafes and on every table; nooks with comfy pillows, timeless chairs, plenty of good food and wine and happy people,” says Gove.
A few years and a van trip around Europe later, life brought the couple back to the mountains, which Gove felt was the perfect backdrop for hygge, which also involves spending time in nature. In 2019, the pair opened Hygge Life on Highway 6 where valley locals and guests can browse handcrafted dinnerware, soft throws and scented candles that help hygge their home, or chat with a friend in the cafe over a delicious cup of coffee.
Gove is keen to explain that hygge is not a style of interior design, but about creating special moments out of daily routines and rituals, whether that means lighting a candle before you curl up in your reading nook, buying fresh flowers at the market, posting handwritten invitations for your backyard summer party or breaking out the good wine when your friends are over for dinner.
So, go ahead — grab a cozy blanket, light a candle and enjoy these tips from Gove for how to hygge your mountain home.
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