15 Super Cozy Spaces That Home In On the Spirit of Hygge
Timber, texture, and often a woodburning fire make these interiors warm and inviting—they’re the kind of places we want to spend the holidays.
As the temperature drops and the prospect of spending days beneath a blanket becomes increasingly alluring, perhaps these spaces that scream—or, more appropriately, whisper—"cozy" will provide inspiration as you seek to create a warm, welcoming environment for visiting friends and family.
A Gloomy San Francisco Garage Is Retooled as a Charming English Cottage
Jessica and Stig Olson’s love of entertaining informed how they wanted to use the downstairs space of their new home in San Francisco. Working with Jack Hotho Architecture + Design and Innen Studio, the couple converted the garage into livable space. Since the project wrapped in 2021, they have used the new space for all sorts of gatherings with friends and neighbors—from children’s birthday parties, to movie nights, to casual dinners.
Photo by Bess Friday
Every building has a story to tell—and when we choose to extend or alter a structure, we are adding a new chapter to its tale. This was Studio Weave’s mindset as they set about adding a small timber extension to a stone cottage in Devon, on the southwest coast of England. Almost every interior surface is clad in Douglas Fir panelling, which evokes a sense of craft with its a golden color and rich grain. The exposed structure and integrated, open storage creates a pleasing visual rhythm of intersecting vertical and horizontal elements in the self-contained extension.
Photo by Jim Stephenson
When a couple saw architect Tim Cuppett’s home on an American Institute of Architects tour several years ago, they were struck by its familiar, cozy vibes: It was a place that embodied the Dutch concept of gezelligheid. So when it came time for the couple to build a warm and welcoming vacation property of their very own, they naturally turned to Tim Cuppett Architects to help them access those cozy vibes in the heart of Texas Hill Country.
Photo by Whit Preston
The custom zinc cabinets and quartzite countertops of Mark Berryman’s Tribeca apartment reflect the sun as it sets over Manhattan. Workstead designer Robert Highsmith kept the apartment’s original fir beams and painted its existing pipes Onyx by Benjamin Moore.
Photo: Matthew Williams
At the foot of the Western Carpathians in the Czech Republic sits an inviting, two-story holiday home that dates back to the 1800s. Known as Mezi Lukami—which is Czech for "between meadows"—the historic barn was restored by Czech designer Daniela Hradilová and her partner, Petr Hradil. With the help of experienced local carpenters and stonemasons, Hradilová relied on "ingredients" found on-site—such as natural stone and wood—to reconstruct the volume into an inviting space that encourages visitors to linger.
Photo by Romana Bennet
The acclaimed Bay Area architect Joseph Esherick, along with his wife, Rebecca, designed a house for their family in Marin County, California, only a few years after the couple had graduated from college at Penn. The home, with its cozy hemlock interiors, is still in great condition today.
After years of working at Oslo- and San Francisco–based Mork Ulnes Architects, Norwegian architect Erling Berg recently launched his own practice—and his first project is a cozy cabin with a minimalist Scandinavian aesthetic and a thoughtful eco-sensitive design. The cozy living area features a refurbished Børge Mogensen chair, a Recover sofa from Bolia, and a coffee table from Jotex.
Photo by Alejandro Villanueva
Nestled in a historic village in the Kent countryside, the two-bedroom home is cozy incarnate.
Courtesy of Aucoot
Located in the rapidly developing Swiss village of Andermatt, this 5,400-square-foot residence on the top floor of a new, five-story apartment building is a true reflection of interior architect and designer Pierre Yovanovitch’s unique approach to design. "I wanted to create an interesting, yet inviting, space without detracting from the stunning view of the surrounding alps," he explains. A spruce alcove frames a nook with wool-covered custom seating.
Photo by Jean-François Jaussaud
Finding inspiration in the work of Tadao Ando, Christopher and Vivi-Nguyen Robertson design the concrete house of their dreams. On one side of the house, a white central staircase leads to a split-level landing the Robertsons call "the reading room." "We needed a place to hang out and for the kids to read," explains Vivi. Awaiting the birth of the couple’s son, she relaxes in a built-in reading nook in the library.
Photo: Jack Thompson
The Woodhouse Lodge, which was recently renovated by New York–based interior designer Megan Pflug, is a "modern meets rural" lodge in Greenville, New York. Built in 1962 as a modern escape for city dwellers, the lodge is perfect for a weekend upstate. The 10-room hotel is a combination of midcentury modern with a classic, historic feel. Pflug describes her decorating style as mixing modern items with antiques to create a space that feels natural rather than overly decorated.
Courtesy of The Woodhouse Lodge
Best Practice Architecture transformed a former garage in the Oak Park neighborhood of Dallas into a bright casita filled with art by local makers. Inside, one can find vintage pieces sourced by homeowners Amanda Pounds and Adam Amparan.
Photo by Lisa Petrole
In Hampshire, PAD Studio replaced a rundown cottage with a new gable-roofed timber design that looks as if it’d been there all along. "The interior palette of natural materials was chosen to bounce light throughout the home," says the architect.
Photo by Jim Stephenson
A tight plan, all-timber interiors, and moody lighting give one young family of five a snug escape.
Photo by Simon Devitt
Using recycled materials and by-hand techniques, Thomas Bossel of Pax Architects traded out refinement for rough-hewn edges to create an idyllic escape for his young family. In the living area, the ceiling drops down significantly over the built-in bench to create a cozy nook. "Like the kitchen, it’s a space within a space," Thomas says. The wooden boards are flush with the window frame, allowing the sun to wash down the wall.
Photo by Thomas Bossel
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