BORROW THE LANGUAGE OF SCANDINAVIAN COUNTRIES TO FIND COZINESS AND SERENITY.
SOMETIMES THE MEANING OF WORDS CAN BE LOST IN translation. The Danish hygge (pronounced hoo-gah) conveys a sense of happiness from small things like a candlelit reading nook or the contentment of enjoying a glass of wine with good friends. The Dutch word gezellig means coziness and comfort in ambiance—or even in a moment. An essential part of Swedish culture, fika is a coffee and cake break. And our new favorite word is the Norwegian friluftsliv, which is all about connecting with nature. Although there’s a certain je ne sais quoi to these words, we found four products and places across Colorado that evoke these whimsical Scandinavian terms.
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FRILUFTSLIV
Pronounced free-loofts-liv, friluftsliv is a concept that has evolved with Norwegian culture over the centuries. The term transcends its literal meaning—free, air, life—to define a state of mind. It’s all about being in harmony with the natural world. Named after Norwegian Roald Amundsen, the first explorer to reach the South Pole, the brand Amundsen draws inspiration from this mindset with a line of clothing that delivers a sense of freedom in the outdoors. The new 5incher Field shorts are designed to be virtually indestructible, built with stretch corduroy and waxed cotton canvas panels at the front and back. 2250 Pearl St., Boulder, 720.222.5057, amundsensports.com
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HYGGE
Alexandra Gove discovered the beauty of slowing down when she moved to the Netherlands with her partner, Koen van Renswoude, in 2014. They bought a 1971 Opel Blitz camper van, painted it blue and traveled around Europe selling poffertjes (Dutch minipancakes) and Turkish textiles. At Hygge Life, her shop near Vail, Gove curates a collection of European home decor. The overstuffed sheepskin Tired Man chair ($9,695) was designed in 1935 by Danish architect Flemming Lassen. Its organic curves and generous armrests invite moments of tranquility. 41149 US-6, Eagle-Vail, 970.331.5745, hyggelife.com
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FIKA
A jolt of caffeine can jump-start your day, but in Sweden, the idea is to slow down, connect and contemplate. Savor the moment. Denver’s Blue Sparrow Coffee, with outposts in the Highland and RiNo neighborhoods, is the perfect gathering spot for fika. The coffeehouse takes a curated approach, constantly rotating in new roasters, each one carefully vetted for sustainability, quality and community. Try a CBD nitro cold brew or an Upstart kombucha on tap. Half the magic of fika is the “cake” component. Here you can enjoy goods from local purveyors like handcut Genova’s Biscotti and croissants from Black Box Bakery. 3070 Blake St., Unit 180, Denver, 720.615.1516, bluesparrowcoffee.com
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GEZELLIG
Create a cozy atmosphere at home with this rugged American-made buffalo hide rug from Overland Sheepskin. The hide has a long fur pile that will take the chill off bare feet while serving as a showpiece that promises to anchor any space. With natural variations in texture and tone, this rug will add a rustic layer to your nest. 100 W. Colorado Ave., Telluride, 970.728.9700, overland.com
The Dutch word gezellig means coziness and comfort.
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