It’s said so much that it can sometimes lose importance but what an amazing difference a coat of paint can do. My office was yellow. Not a charming, sweet yellow or a cosy Tuscan yellow but some kind of “I can’t be anything but cranky” yellow. And with this room receiving so much sun, the yellow became unbareably bright and always made me feel hot.

Step in paint.

Wanting a colour that would blend in well with the rest of the house as well as be cooler but still have warmth, I went looking for the perfect pale blue. Pensive Sky from Behr was really close as was both Tradewind and birdbath from Sherwin-Williams. Howeer, they weren’t quite right.

Practicing Feng Shui (minus crystals and Asian decor) meant my office was located in the “Helpful People/Travel” section (how appropriate!) and the best colour for this area was gray. However, I worried that gray would be too drab, boring and cold and stayed away until, insert squeals, I found the perfect blue with gray in the name - Light French Gray by Behr!

I confess to being nervous about painting the room despite hating the colour that was there; I’ve painted rooms where the colour has gone horrible wrong (a bad Peptobismal pink and a red that would scare everyone). But it’s true what they say about paint - if you don’t like it, just paint over it. It’s the cheapest way to transform a room.

And with just two coats, that’s exactly what happened.

The room instantly felt cooler, bigger, cosier and a little more… well.. French. A perfect blend of relaxed and sophistication.

Adding white curtains, a white desk and white shelving to the room will help keep it fresh yet simple. Working in a pale blue couch, some silver frames with my artwork and some kind of rug to tie it all in will make it mine. Not too shabby I must say for my first office space.

It’s was really good to spend a month in the space without doing anything - not even buying a pencil holder. Understanding what I wanted, how I would work and what would impact me the most in terms of change has made not only the room come together but truly my office. Though I’ve taken inspiration from Alicia’s lovely blue to the gray walls in this magazine, combing all the elements has created a space that reflects who I am as a person and as a business. And that’s truly Hygge!

Now, the trick is to not go on and paint the whole house. Despite the fact the bedroom is calling out to me…

I have been in my office three weeks now and during this time it has remained in a sorry state; it’s the last of the rooms to be done and boxes from other rooms have somehow found their way in here. I’m working off and old rickety table with temporary shades that keep the room dark and not very inviting. But, there’s a reason why I’ve taken time with one of the more important rooms in the home; I wanted to sit in it for awhile to get an understanding of what I want the room to be like, how the light flows, what things I need for projects and so forth. And after awhile of working round the clock and surfing for furniture, I’m slowly but surely coming to an understanding of what to do.

Obviously the office is a place to work so with writing supplies, books, photo supplies, printing, mailing and so forth, I am in need of lots of storage. However, having lots of storage in view can sometimes overwhelm me and can often get too cluttered (and not in that cool arty way I often admire). Also, since clients and friends will be coming into this room I need to have a place for everything as not to scare them off because of projects all over the floor. For my storange needs I’m using the Elfa Shelving system in my closet (and in every other closet in my home - I love this product!) so that much of the storage can be tucked away and, with my sometimes messy ways, I won’t have to worry about seeing it. But I do have to have things out of the closet such as my printer and some books so the West Elm 3 X 2 bookcase in white is the perfect size to fit between my doorways and to house my very large printer on top and books, magazines and what not below. I love that it’s on wheels; it gives it an airy feeling and I want light and airy in this room.

Although generally not a fan of Ikea (reminds me too much of my twenties and most things only lasted a few years until they went binned), one of their combination tables (where you select the legs and table top) caught my eye for several reasons. The glass top has space underneath for storing papers, pictures and projects without having them all over the top. The legs hold baskets, books and storage as well which makes for a great clutter free workspace (in theory, anyway!). Multipurpose for around $150. And, if at some point I decide I need something large or different, I can easily transform these pieces into something else without having to worry about all the money I spent.

Seating is important for not just me (I adore my Herman Miller Chair) but for clients, friends and those times when I need to curl up and read a book or magazine for inspiration (tough life, I know). Opposite the desk area and against a wall, I’m thinking of putting a little sofa or setee. I’ve found a very comfy loveseat; orginally $1200 that is currently $250. It’s slipcovered in a pale blue so I don’t have to be afraid of keeping it clean or putting my feet up on it. The size is perfect but I worry about it being perhaps a little too large or a little too family room. I have also fallen in love with a French Setee from the late 1800’s that just made its way to one of my favourite antique shoppes. However, at $1800 I question the value of it although I think it’s perfect. Perhaps I’ll figure out a way to make that purchase logical…

Curtains are where things get a bit tricky; needing something for privacy but wanting to let in some light, I’m looking at white curtains but not necessarily sheers. I also have ten foot ceilings so finding curtains of at least 108″ is tricky enough and keeping the cost down (as I’d need four panels) seems to be even trickier. Crisp white against the pale blue colour I’m thinking of would work wonderful and compliment the furniture. The ones pictured to the left are from Ikea and I used to use them in a bedroom but I think might work well in here. Until the Ikea opens up next month I’ll keep looking just in case something else pops up as I’m not entirely convinced.

The current colour is a pretty yellow which, in the bedroom, is really appealing. Not so much in this room because it already receives so much light that the brightness seems to keep me from feeling like working. I work best in cosy, slightly cold temperatures which is perhaps why I often work at night. So the first thing to change will be the wall colour. Inspired by Alicia’s beautiful blue (Behr’s Pensive Sky), I’m leaning in that direction although I might go with Sherwin Williams Harmony® Interior Latex Paint in Tradewind (as seen in the November Cottage Living Inspiration House) or Birdbath. The Harmony line is an eco-friendly, low-VOC paint which is perfect since this is a room I’ll be spending a lot of time in, air quality makes a difference. I am, however, also draw to grey walls like those found in Parisian flats but the blue might be a bit more cosy. We’ll see on that.

My office is important to me; it’s the first one I’ve ever had and I want it to reflect who I am and what I do. I want it to feel creative but professional; tidy but playful. Clean but cosy. I want it to be.. what’s the word… Hygge!

I’m sure it sounded insane but insane times calls for insane measures.

I had a long talk, outloud, with my house this morning. Yes, my house.

Long ago I had met a woman who had bought a very shabby home and wanted to restore it but the home kept giving her so many problems that she grew frustrated with the house instead of growing attached. Despite the notion of fixing it up, she quickly tired of all the unexpected fixing taking place. She wanted to abondon the home.

When talking to a neighbour she learned that there had been numerous owners of the house; all of them leaving quickly and complaining about the “could be pretty but too much of a hassle home.” And then the owner realised that the house was just acting out like a child; giving problems for attention. What did the owner do?

She talked to her house.

She explained that she would not abandon her house, that she wanted to make it beautiful inside and out. That she wanted to support that house and have the house support her. She wanted to make it a home but found that she needed the house to help her by not acting up all the time so that there would be less frustration and more love.

And wouldn’t you know it, the house stopped acting up and the owner has lived happily in the most charming, easy home for the last 20 years.

Upon moving in, I knew there would be a few things to fix (I have to update the electricity and remove an old asbestos insulated pipe in my office, landscape and insulate the addition in the back) but I wasn’t prepared for the amount of things that have gone wrong since literally day one (there was no cable in the house, there were no telephone feeds to the house, the plumbing backed up, and some other things I can’t think of because I’m too tired to think from all the fixing).

It seems that literally nothing has gone right since moving in and as soon as I fix one problem, another arises. It has been both an emotional and financial drain that I wasn’t prepared for. I just thought it’d be all lovely with tea freely flowing and curtains going up! Ah, to be naive again…

But I thought this morning, the house really is quite amazing; the perfect size, beautiful details, quirks that I adore and its solid. But it had been left alone for so long that I think its nervous and acting out. And so, I had a talk with it this morning, too.

Oh, I know a talk cannot do the job of a Roto Rooter but a Roto Rooter can’t help me make peace with my home. And that’s what I need at the moment - to look at the picture beyond the plumbers, contractors and electricians and see just how the home is so very good indeed.

Excerpted from The House In Good Taste by Elsie de Wolfe, published 1913.

Growing up in a Danish Household made me rebel against all things Danish; the dogs, the pastry, teak furniture. I couldn’t stomach the food, I didn’t want to hear the history and I cringed everytime my mum would mention how Danish something was we were doing. Oh please, I’d think, let us talk french. Please give me a chateau, a croissant, a poodle!

It wasn’t until I went back a few years ago and saw Denmark as an adult that I fell in-love with it all over again. But my home and lifestyle remained French. It was France that held my heart and called me back often. I thought it was joie de vivre that lead my life until I found a store via Emira that had the description of what Danes call hygge:

And this is how I live. I am no Martha Stewart or domestic goddess at all but home is so very important to me. I adore the ritual of tea brewing and spend money on fine tea and pretty cups. I love having guests so I can set up a small area and stuff the fridge for food for entertaining. There is a simple cosiness to my place because the style reflects me and only has what I love. I buy only the best I can afford or I do not buy it at all; no junk, no knick knacks, no decorating for the hell of it. I haven’t had a microwave for a few years because I enjoy the simple process of warming up foods in the stove. I don’t wish for a huge home just to be impressive and I don’t buy dinette sets on sale because the store has a name. I’d rather spend my weekends puttering at home than running useless errands about town just to get out. Despite my love of technology and all things modern, I’m a traditional, simple girl who wants a home that says just that.

Searching through American home listings I’ve seen countless photos of generic homes; oversized plain sofas facing the huge television, stuff all over the place, generic floor plans and decor, lack of home pride, unused yards. The homes often seem to be places that people just crash and watch TV instead of a place where they live. Modern conveniences are often touted in the sales pitch but very seldom is the word “cosy” “well thought out.” Danish values for homes often include the words “Cosy, Unpretentious, Design, Talented, Oasis.” In America, it seems like the words “Square Footage” and Appliances” wins.

Trying to explain to a realtor what I’m looking for has been hard because it’s a lifestyle, a feeling, a type of living that, at least in the area I’m looking at, isn’t to be found. I don’t want to buy a home that looks good on the outside but is cold inside, or in a subdivision where there’s 100 other generic houses around without a cafe nearby or a sense of being. I don’t want a place just to rest my head but a place to rest and be.

This is not an issue of money; the common complaint I get from Americans when I talk about this is that most people do the best they can and most people don’t have a lot of money to do it with. I didn’t grow up with a lot of money but I always grew up with a home that was made beautiful in simple and often free ways. It’s about being conscious of what is in your home and your purpose in it. It’s about being connected instead of running away or looking for answers from a bed in a bag. It’s not about snottiness whatsoever which is what I sometimes am accused of when I write about home. As the description of hygge said, it’s about embracing the home no matter where you are, what you have and how many zeros are in your bank account. It’s about making your life reflect you inside and out - not what you’re trying to be, think you should be or what the decor books say is the right number of photos to have on the wall. It’s about taking simple pleasure in the every day - however you define that.

A home is a reflection of oneself whether you choose it or not. I want to choose, I want to be in-love with my home, I want to incorporate hygge. So after reading the description of how I grew up and how I’ve been, and looking at all the American Home Photos I realise I really am a Danish girl and that the french name I’d chosen for my home wasn’t quite right. But somehow, Hygge House just is.

(As a note, I should just like to add that this is not about minimalist living though that is how I live. My mother had a home full of so many things but it was all things she loved and had meaning. My familys homes in Denmark are the same but they are often crowded with artwork that sit on the floor and lean against the wall and studies filled with books. As long as the home is a place that reflects you, is where you want to be, isn’t full of crud you bought just because and isn’t dirty or dishevelled, that is hygge, too.)

PS: I’ll be launching a new site/blog/ in July called Hygge House which will talk about home, life, being in the way described above. It’ll offer ideas, things to get, people, places and all that good stuff because there seems to me to be in interest in Hygge in America. And if it’s not here, then create it, right? So stayed tuned.