During the design phase, I worried that our modern house would feel cold and uninviting. I’m happy to report that my fears were misplaced. There are many ways to feel cozy, and not all of them are craftsman. I was reminded of this article I read last year [Nordic hygge] about the Danish word, hygge, which in a difficult-to-translate way refers to the cultural pursuit of taking pleasure from the presence of gentle soothing things.
Though Seattle’s climate is far milder than Denmark's, the long dark winter provides plenty of motivation for hygge, as I imagine early Nordic settlers to Seattle knew.
Since our tall modern house has no eaves and has plentiful south and west windows exposed to the wind, the rain makes an impressively loud pitter patter and water pours down the outside of the windows, blurring the view of the lights outside. I think the distant views and the water on the windows emphasizes the distinction between the cozy inside and the busy, hectic outside world. Having space for guests and a kitchen table, however small, is also deliciously hygge.
One of the luxuries of our kitchen is the multitude of drawers making this delightful tea setup possible, vastly increasing my enjoyment and frequency of drinking tea.
Oh and I’m pretty sure having heated floors and lots of natural light during the short winter days is hygge too.
No comments:
Post a Comment