In Danish, hygge is an adjective, a noun and a verbā€”both a state of contentment and the opportunity to invite small moments of comfort and connection into your day. Rather than the common translation of ā€œcoziness,ā€ we view it as a larger appreciation of the people and places that make us feel at ease.

Through our passion for design and hospitality, we have found that well-crafted furniture and decor can help to cultivate this more attentive, intentional perspective. Forming deep friendships with makers who share this philosophy, we have curated a timeless selection of productsā€”many with fascinating stories behind themā€”that we hope will bring everyday enjoyment to you and those you welcome in your home.

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Our Story

Alexandra Gove and Koen van Renswoude first met in Vail in 2011. Despite their culturally different upbringings (in Colorado and the Netherlands), the pair quickly discovered a shared desire to pursue a happy, healthy, slow lifestyle. Their mountain town romance led to a move overseas, with Alexandra joining Koen as he returned to his hometown of Amsterdam to finish his studies.

In Europe, Alexandra fell deeper in loveā€”this time, with the regionā€™s thoughtful design and intentional, grounded lifestyle. Known as gezelligheid in Dutch or hygge in Danish, she became fascinated by the warm hospitality and cozy intimacy of Northern European homes, restaurants and shops. That discovery planted the seed for Hygge Life, though she didnā€™t yet know what it would become.

After Koenā€™s graduation from Hotelschool The Hague in 2014ā€”seeking one last adventure before ā€œreal lifeā€ beganā€”the pair purchased a 1971 Opel Blitz camper van, painted it with a Hygge Life logo and traveled throughout Europe selling a small selection of textiles and traditional poffertjes (Dutch pancakes). Along the way, they discovered their own talent for creating hygge environments and experiences. Realizing that well-designed spaces and thoughtful objects could help cultivate that feeling, the idea for a Hygge Life home goods store was born.

In 2017, the Hygge Life showroom opened in its original Vail Valley location. As hygge pioneers, Alexandra and Koen have become nationally recognized experts in this design and lifestyle movement, with features in The New York Times, Dwell, Colorado Public Radio and dozens of other publications. In 2019, Alexandra also published her own guide to meaningful livingā€”Dwell, Gather, Be: Design for Momentsā€” a book that captures the coupleā€™s daily practice of hygge and their thoughtful home design practices.

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