First came love, then came hygge. At least, that’s how it happened for Alexandra Gove, who became acquainted with the Danish word for cozy contentment after moving to Amsterdam in 2012 with then-boyfriend, Koen van Renswoude, and taking a trip to Copenhagen a year later. Their time abroad led to their marriage, a blog called Hygge Life, a retail shop in Avon (the Colorado town they now call home) of the same name, and, as of this past September, the coffee table book Dwell Gather Be ($35).

A tablescape found in the pages of Dwell Gather Be sets the scene for an intimate hygge dinner at the Rose in Edwards. Photo by Élan Photographie Studio.

Penned by Gove, the book brims with photos of inviting minimalist decor, but also serves as a reminder that hygge is as much about people as it is about plush sheepskin throws. “Home is a place for ourselves,” Gove says, “but it’s also a space to connect with friends.” To help readers do just that, she offers accessible tips for hosting an intimate dinner party and setting an inviting table—hint: pillows pad wooden chairs, candlelight creates a soothing ambience, and flowers add life. “It’s about considering those details to facilitate joy,” says Gove, who makes it sound easy—and proves in these pages that sometimes the greatest pleasures really are so simple.

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