Home tour | A calm, cosy apartment in the Czech Republic

Today I’m taking you to the Czech Republic for a look around the beautiful home of interior-design blogger and Instagrammer Lucie Vacková.

Lucie’s apartment first caught my eye because of its wonderfully calm and cosy feel. I love the way she mixes clean, minimalist lines with lots of snuggly textures and a soothing, nature-inspired colour palette of soft beiges and browns. The result is a perfect example of how neutral decor needn’t be cold or uninviting, and it’s the kind of look I’m always hoping to achieve in my own home. She also has a stunning Ragdoll cat, who’s very good at posing for photos!

Over to Lucie to tell us more…

Hi Lucie! Please can you tell us a bit about yourself and what you do?

“Until recently I was an English teacher at a grammar school and now I’m working as a marketing specialist for an architecture office in Prague. Styling and photography are just hobbies of mine, which sometimes overlap with the business sphere.”

Where’s home, and how long have you lived there?

“Home is Usti nad Labem, an industrial town in north-west Bohemia in the Czech Republic where I’ve lived all my life. It’s had a rather complicated history. It was bombed in the Second World War and then the Communist regime left a noticable trace with its ugly architecture. As a result it isn’t the prettiest place in the world, but I choose to love it! It has a beautiful location and some remarkable buildings. I grew up and still live in the oldest quarter, which wasn’t affected by the troubled history so much. It’s actually very convenient, with my parents living within a two-minute walk, plus a cosy café, a Chinese restaurant and all the things you need nearby.”

How would you describe your interiors style?

“I would say it bears features of Scandinavian design and some aspects of Bohemian style, mixed with minimalist lines.”

Like the rest of Lucie’s home, the dining and office areas combine soft browns and beiges with black and white furniture and lots of natural textures. 

Where do you find inspiration for the interiors?

“I find inspiration everywhere – in the homes of other people, when travelling, and from Instagram, Pinterest, books, the TV…!”

What’s your favourite part of your home and why?

“Definitely my living room, where I spend most of my time (if you rule out sleeping in my bedroom!). I tend to furnish it with the best pieces – probably because I want to have them around me as much as possible.”

And your favourite piece of furniture?

“At the moment I’m loving my sofa, which I’ve just restyled with new covers. But my all-time favourites are my chairs and armchairs. I’m obsessed with well-designed seating!”

Lucie has recently given her sofa a makeover with textured brown covers from Bemz, chosen to bring out the beautiful tones in the artwork hanging above it. New Works’ ‘Kizu’ marble table lamp and sculptural accessories by Cooee Design, Lyngby Porcelain and Kristina Dam Studio add the perfect finishing touches to the space. 

Where do you like to source items for your home – any favourite brands or shops?

“I love to choose accessories from local e-shops such as Laladesign.cz and Designville.cz, as well as from Scandinavian brands – my current favourites are Kristina Dam Studio, Hübsch and lampemesteren.dk.”

Do you have any future plans for your home?

“I’m looking for a stunning pendant light for my bedroom. Also, I have a dream – the ‘Knitting Chair’ by Menu… I hope to get my hands on it one day!”

The bedroom is a relaxed and restful space, with dark grey linen bedding from H&M Home. The ‘IVAR’ wall cabinets are from IKEA, but Lucie has personalised them with pale beige-grey paint and brass handles.  

Finally, what’s your top interior-design tip?

“I love to keep things airy by choosing light furniture, preferably with legs. And there’s nothing better than raw, solid wood. I also like to combine lots of different textures – marble, stone, velvet, linen – while keeping the overall colour scheme very muted.”

Thanks Lucie!

See more of Lucie’s beautiful home on her Instagram feed and blog. 

All photography by Lucie Vacková