My 'Snug'

Being at home nourishes and grounds me.  My home is my retreat, quiet, peaceful and reassuring.  It expresses who I am and reflects my taste.  It’s collected and curated with all that is meaningful to me, telling my story and evolving with it.  I want my home to clearly be lived in and extremely comfortable.  Perfectly imperfect, nothing is too precious.  I want it to feel warm, inviting and unassuming to my family and friends.  

I wanted a Country House, of indefinite European origin, featuring a natural stone (ivy-covered) facade, a sloping slate roof, multiple chimney pots, and deep windowsills with outside shutters.  All this in a bucolic setting.  I knew the interior had to contain stone and wide-plank wood floors, stone fireplaces, book shelves and chandeliers in numerous rooms, rustic ceiling beams, plaster walls, wainscoting, wallpaper and hand-painted tile.  

I then layered it with colorful rugs, original art, comfy spots to perch in every room, antiques and polished wooden pieces.  Accessories like family photos, books and plants were essential, along with all the things I love and collect:  Chinese blue & white ceramics and French confit jars; Chinese birdcages and Japanese iron teapots; and elements of nature like pinecones and shells.  Add the requisite dogs going in and out, and I had the layered and timeless, relaxed but elevated feeling I was after. 

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My decorating choices are generally French and Japanese, but my house style is more English.  English Manor Houses are generally more modest in size than English Country Houses.  Both are characterized by traditional architecture, often symmetrical in design, a cozy atmosphere and timeless charm.  They blend seamlessly with their natural surroundings, creating a sense of harmony and tranquility, and are understated symbols of their rural heritage.  Traditional English country or manor houses often have rooms dedicated to specific uses.  I incorporated my version of these rooms into my home.  

Conservatory / my Sun Porch -- Traditionally attached to the back of the house, I placed mine as a 'wet' entry on the front of my house for unexpected character and Oregon practicality.  It's been indispensable for package delivery since I have no overhangs.  If I grew orange trees within it, it could also be called an Orangerie.

Scullery / my Pantry -- Adjacent to the kitchen and historically used for cooking preparation, clean up and kitchen storage, the scullery was commonly classified as an 'overflow kitchen.'  Mine is exactly that, for storing dishes and serving pieces.  I refuse to use the term butler's pantry--I don't have a butler!  

Library / my Office -- A traditional library is a quiet space filled with books, often featuring wood paneling and a reading nook.  Unfortunately, the current need for visible technology ruins that aesthetic.  My office does have a bookcase and a library table in an attempt to soften up this highly functional space where I spend a lot of my time. 

Morning Room / my Sun Room -- This is characterized as a bright space filled with plants, ideal for relaxation and enjoying garden views.  My sun room is my morning room and afternoon room.  It might be my favorite room and is used often for sitting with friends with coffee or wine.  It has three walls of windows, and although exposed, you feel enveloped and insulated from the outside, whatever the season. 

Boot Room / my Breezeway -- These are transition rooms for indoor-outdoor living, generally a back entrance into the main house where outdoor clothing and accessories are shed.  My breezeway is a wide gallery with a bench for putting on boots, a rack for coats and hats and a sink for bringing flowers and foliage indoors.  It's also a containment room for muddy dogs before they're allowed to enter the house.

 

Snug -- The term originated from the Scottish word 'snuggeries,' which referred to small, secluded rooms or hiding places.  Over time, the concept was adopted and popularized in English pubs.  Now it describes a strictly English countryside room, the 'cocoon' of the home.  The name gives you a good idea of what this room is supposed to do, provide an intimate, 'snug' space designed to allow your mind to wander, for naps, for reading, listening to music, sipping tea or a hot toddy, or for chats with close friends.  Keeping a snug small and simple is what separates it from a drawing or living room.  It needs only a fireplace, a deep sofa or overstuffed chairs and lamp lighting. 

A snug should be a haven of tranquility, sheltering those within from the distractions of the outside world.  It holds personal items and mementos, warmth not just from a fire, but from memories and meaning.  A snug is the epitome of comfort and togetherness provided in a cozy and charming space.

While I don't have a designated snug as a room in my home, this definition is the exact definition of what I wish my entire home to be:  The essence of comfort, nurturing and sentimentality.

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