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.

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

Apartment Prague (part 1)

living room

bedroom

kitchen

original lighting

This gorgeous and spacious apartment in central Prague is waiting to be designed, furnished and decorated. And VOLFIdesign will be part of this! My head is full of ideas, my pinterest is getting fuller and fuller and my fingers are itching as I can't wait to start. I haven't see the apartment yet (only on photos) so really can't imagine the size so I hope all the measurements are right and everything will fit and work according to plans (really doubt it but there always is a hope :) )

I absolutely LOVE the original copper lighting, it is going to stay, only will be moved from room to room.

Stay tuned as I'll be adding more photos, plans and designs over the time.  

an exhibition to see

left photo Justyna Fedec [via], right photo [via]

both photos Justyna Fedec [via]

top photo Justyna Fedec [via], bottom photo Tomazs Walków [via]

left photo [via], right photo Tomasz Walków [via]

If you're heading to Wrocław in Poland within the next month make sure you see Wojna i Pokój (War and Peace) exhibition. It's full of Czechoslovakian and Polish design from the 50s and 60s. 

The exhibition runs until 15th January 2014 at 2 galleries- the BWA Design gallery and BWA glass and ceramics gallery. BWA on facebook & website.

Shame I can't make it, it would be great to see the toys I used to play with (I used to have a blue elephant from Libuse Niklova), furniture we had or the wrapping paper which was used over and over :)

Our living room

First transformation of our living room. We said goodbye to yellow walls and painted it fresh white & light gray. Can't wait to say goodbye to beige carpet and hello to wooden floor! But that's waiting for warmer days.