Hygge has been described as a style in home décor, but it’s more than just a look. Pronounced ‘hue-guh’, hygge is essentially a sense of being. It encapsulates cosy, relaxed and contentment across all areas of life. Imagine the feeling of a lie-in or meal at home with your favourite humans or a warm fire after a hearty walk in the woods, and you get the sense of hygge. It’s all about happiness and wellbeing.
In terms of the aesthetic, consider timber, woollen cushions, candles, linen tablecloths, ceramic tiling, marble worktops. Natural, comfortable and beautiful materials will all contribute to the feel of hygge.
It’s undoubtedly stylish to be ‘more hygge’, and the Danish concept is a way of life in Scandinavia, but how can we achieve a true hygge style to promote happiness in the home? Well, of course, that starts in the kitchen!
Banishing Clutter in the Kitchen
Banishing clutter is another hygge concept and will create calm and order in an otherwise disorderly kitchen. A pantry could be the answer to that conundrum if you are considering handmade kitchens.
Our team designed and built a Bespoke Pantry in Bath, Somerset. The client had fond memories of their childhood home pantry and wanted to store homemade preserves, vegetables from the garden and other tasty treats. Very hygge! We created shelving spanning two-thirds of the main wall, cabinetry painted in a rich deep blue tone, and a bespoke oak ladder and rail for ease of use.
Relaxed Kitchen Entertaining
Hygge is also all about your favourite people, enjoying laughter over a deliciously prepared meal and a glass or two of your favourite tipples. Happiness is love, and a good kitchen/diner is a certain consideration when dreaming of handmade kitchens.
For our Kitchen in Bath project, the hygge concept was a consideration for the fifth-generation family home. Two rooms had been knocked through to create a wonderfully light and open space, perfect for entertaining and preparing meals. The original glazed brick chimney breast brought warm red-brown tones and inspired the use of walnut for the bar. The bar’s back was finished in an ‘antiqued glass’ with Carrara marble countertop and Miele wine fridge.
Cosy Kitchen Seating
Cushions and other soft furnishings are probably the easiest way to achieve a little hygge in your kitchen. But a bespoke, cosy seating area in handmade kitchens is the ultimate way to accomplish this way of living.
For our Georgian Manor House Kitchen project, we designed and built just that! The Scandinavian-style kitchen and breakfast room was part of the complete renovation of this impressive Grade I listed Georgian manor house near Bristol in South West England. Our client wanted a built-in seating area to add ultimate comfort, which, of course, was very hygge! The family then had a dedicated space to socialise over breakfast or with drinks in the evening.
There are so many aspects of hygge living that we can take and make our own, and handmade kitchens are the ideal place to start. After all, the kitchen is at the heart of any home.
