And it's all done....

.... well, almost :) Pictures in the bedroom and living room need to be hang as well as one of the curtain rails which collapsed minute before my departure. 

This apartment was a hard work but it was a great experience and I've learned loads. Me and my friend Klara were a fantastic team players and I must thank her for this opportunity and for her patience with me when I was like a stubborn child (when choosing the right shade of linen fabric, trying to find the right rug,  spending hours and hours in antique shops and buying nothing at the end...).

Thank you Klara x

This apartment is now available for rent so if you would like to see it in real head over here :)

Read more about this apartment in part 1, part 2 and the G-plan story.

before and after

kitchen

kitchen before and after

bedroom

badly stained ceiling in the bathroom

bedside tables

new handles and what a difference

g-plan

side table

Some of the before and after images. The most difficult part was kitchen and the badly stained bathroom. The most enjoyable was the G-plan :)

Where to bargain shop in Prague- Markets

During my stay in Prague we visited many antique shops, thrift shops, flea markets, bazars, second hand shops and collectors markets. Here is a list of a few worth visiting.

1. Flea market Kolbenka [website]

  - Open EVERY Saturday and Sunday from 7am till 2pm. 

  - Metro stop Kolbenova, the market is opposite the metro entrance. 

  - entrance fee is 20CZK or if you go by car you pay 50 CZK/ per car and up to 5 people

This market is massive and you can find almost everything - from car parts, clothes, food to collectables, antique, retro, vintage. Prices wary- some stalls are cheap as chips, some are 10x more expensive (for example I bought about 500 old matches stamps for 100CZK (£2.50, USD5) and other seller wanted 100CZK for just 10 stamps).  

The market is an open space and the ground is untreated. When it's wet and rainy you will get very muddy, when it's dry, your shoes will be dusty (I learned the hard way, hence the obvious mention :) ). Also watch your belongings as there are many pickpockets. 

This seller is regular in Kolbenka as well in Bustehrad. He has AMAZING vintage stuff but he is SO overpriced!

2. Collectors market Buštěhrad [website]

  - Runs the whole year, every other Friday (see their web for dates) from 6am till noon (get there           early!!! Some sellers start to pack up at 10!)

  - 20min drive out of Prague but it's well worth it! Nearby is Lidice memorial. There is also a bus from Zlicin

  - Entrance fee is 70 CZK/pp

Buštěhrad market was firstly opened in 1979 and it's running since. This is a proper collectors market, it's a bit more pricey than Kolbenka but most of the dealers know what they are talking about and you still can find great deals and bargains. 

Bargain from Bustehrad at 900CZK

3. Flea Market in Central Prague [website]
  - Runs from March till September, check their facebook page for dates and places
  - 9am-4pm
  - entrance free

This market runs at 2 places- every last Saturday is on Tylovo namesti (nearest metro I.P.Pavlova) and the remaining Saturdays on (A)void boat on Vltava river (nearest tram Výtoň).
Here you will find the usual brick&barck, collectables, vintage clothes and accesorries and handmade products.

Next time antique and specialists shops

**all photos by Klara

A Story About an Ordinary G-Plan Sideboard

One thing I knew I wanted in the Prague apartment was a sideboard. A beautiful, wooden, retro sideboard. I even knew what it should look like - teak, thin legs, some shelves, some drawers and a bar cabinet. But one thing you can't find in Czech is a sideboard. A sideboard which is long, wooden and isn't too high (we couldn't find anything slightly similar). We placed adverts in newspapers, on social media, visited many antique shops, dealers, car boot sales, flea markets but no luck. 

In the end, we purchased something from Ikea - it was grey and yes, long and no too high. It was ok and did the job but it wasn't right. When I returned to the UK, my sideboard hunting continued and then one day I found a sideboard which matched my imagination EXACTLY.  A large, teak G-Plan with double doors, 4 drawers and a bar cabinet and at a bargain price.

Restoring started as soon as I got it home (it had a bad water mark right in the middle of the top) and after some sanding, oiling and waxing it was as good as new.  I was **thrilled** with the result. And as usual, with every beautiful piece of furniture, I fell in love with it and wanted to keep it. 

So I had my dream sideboard, and now it was time to transport it to Prague. For the first time I used SpeedeGo Logistics which does regular CZ-->UK-->CZ trips. And to be honest, the communication with them was excellent, they were very friendly and helpful, it didn't cost an arm and a leg, and they didn't run away when they saw the wrapped beast :). *

Long story short, found it on Friday, restored on Saturday, it was collected on Monday and on Wednesday it arrived in Prague. I have seen  photos only but I must say it looks GREAT! This big piece of furniture needs a big open space and the apartment is just perfect. 

I'm ever so happy how it looks in the apartment and can't wait to see it for real :) 

retro TV :D

* This is not a paid commercial- it is my honest opinion

** Last 2 photos by my lovely friend Klara, first 3 by lovely me :)

Apartment in Prague (part 2)

[[Read the part 1 here]]
The task is to create an elegant, comfortable and timeless space with a hint of a Czech retro. When finished, this apartment is going to be rented to tourists & need to comfortably accommodate 2-6 people (including kids and possibly wheelchair users). There are only 2 big rooms so to fit 6 people in and keep it elegant and airy is quite a challenge. 

There are also 2 other rooms but they are not suitable for sleep in as one is walking through hall without any windows and the other one is very narrow room next to the kitchen which we call "maid's room". Ideal would be to the knock the wall down and make the kitchen bigger but unfortunately renovation is not on the list.
There is no electric, no kitchen, the bathroom needs to have the old paint removed and to be newly decorated (as it's been flooded by neighbours above) but apart of this I'm still very excited :)

photos 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6