330 Homes Spring 2021

s p a c e l i f t | f r e s h d e s i g n | o p e n a i r

by KELLY PETRYSZYN and photos by RYANNE LOCKER

HAPPY PLACE Consider Scandinavian design for a simple, joyful home.

W e’re all at home, so make it a space where you are comfy and content. That’s why the Danish hygge lifestyle is recir culating online. It’s all about softening your space to cultivate joy — surrounding yourself with family photos, snug gly blankets and candles. It may seem fresh, but this type of design from Nordic countries emerged in the U.S. back in the ‘50s. That was around the time Gillian Andrew’s grandparents started Bath interior design firm Garth Andrew Co., so the genre became their focus. The interior designer says it’s likely coming back because people are looking for new ways to simplify their life — and that’s why you might consider adopt ing the style in your home. “If you’re tired of the all the fluff and busyness of a different genre, then Scandinavian design/mid century modern design is a very clean, functional way to go,” Andrew says, adding that Scandinavian and midcentury modern designs overlap but also have differences. spending more time

Because of Scandinavian’s simplicity, it can easily be mixed with other interior design styles, she says. Garth Andrew Co. recently did a redesign of a local home with traditional ele ments and incorporated Scandinavian design in the kitchen, powder room, playroom, laundry room and upstairs hall. Andrew offers a few tips on work ing Scandinavian design into your home to make it a cozy, joyful place.

tiles that look like wood,” Andrew says. “You don’t really see a lot of window treat ments. You might have a little blind, but you wouldn’t have a lot of

SIMPLIFY: Less is more, so say buh-bye to wall-to-wall carpet and poufy drapes. “One of the aspects of Scandinavian design is bare floors. A lot of people are going with hardwood floors or luxury vinyl plank

fluffiness.” Organization is important for mindfulness too, so cut back on clutter by doing a charity run or nestling things in decorative baskets.

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