Visiting Rachel Smékalová

@racheldejapris

Qurated, but most importantly, she is the mother of the charming Siddhartha. When she's not with her son, she's likely searching for, painting, or sanding a unique piece of furniture. In her apartment in Nové Město, we find seemingly disparate combinations of accessories, furniture, and colors that harmoniously blend together. Rachel moved here pregnant, with her boyfriend Sahil, from a small apartment to a more spacious one, where there's room for baby clothes and for their dreams to come true.

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Plaid Colour Melange & upcoming Mum's Kingdom.

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE IDEA FOR QURATED?

Initially, I saw Qurated as a small project that I would gradually bring to life, but it has become something bigger that truly fulfills me. We collaborate with carpenters and glassmakers and strive not just to sell things, but to offer an entire approach to life. Sometimes I think I should slow down and just be a mom, but I guess this is what happens when you start doing something you love – it excites and consumes you. WHERE DO YOU DRAW INSPIRATION FROM? Exhibitions, concerts, travel, how life is in Australia, in London, by the sea…

Quiet Jungle & Flat White in Rachel's bedroom.

YOU HAVE A UNIQUE AESTHETIC THAT GOES AGAINST TRENDS...

I believe in the place where we live. More than aesthetics, I would say it's about feeling and flow. It's a life perspective that evolves and changes very organically. I love colors, contrasts, textures – that comes first. When you walk through a room, engage both your eyes and your hands. And notice if you feel something. The texture of veneer, wood, the softness or roughness of fabrics, the coldness of marble and chrome, how the floor creaks under your feet and what it evokes in you. How the light moves throughout the day – how it plays with the space. And then, how you live, what you need. What you don't need. Only then do I look for some visual balance so that I don't go crazy from all the sensations.

HOME IS WHERE?

Where I have Siddy and Sahil.

Tobias' Dream & Colour Melange.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE RITUAL?

I don't have many rituals, but every morning I have my favorite instant coffee with lots of milk. I can't do it any other way, it's my guilty pleasure.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE IN THE APARTMENT?

That's a tough question… I like the whole apartment as an entity that evolves and lives, so my favorite spot changes too.

A place for ideas and dreams.

YOUR LEJAAN FAVORITE IS?

pillows from the Comfort series like feathers, you sink into them and drift off to the sweetest sleep.

TRICK?

Constantly tidying up and having Mrs. Naďa.

WHAT DOES HOME SMELL LIKE?

Like my son's sweaty head, that's the best smell in the world.

HOW HAS YOUR LIFE CHANGED SINCE YOUR SON?

Many things are now higher up. Before, I had books, candles, vases on the floor. I thought I'd miss it, but somehow I've learned to live with it and accept it as it is.

A harmonious combination of shades and textures.

WHAT SHOULD EVERYONE HAVE AT HOME?

Something from Qurated… and Lejaan. FAVORITE HOME ACCESSORIES?

Vases, lights, candlesticks, marble.

DO YOU HAVE INTERIOR DESIGN PRINCIPLES YOU ADHERE TO?

Combine different materials and textures and don't stick to a template when furnishing. HOW TO MAKE A SPACE COZY?

With light, try to illuminate all dark corners; I believe light creates a home. In general, I love fabrics. It's good to combine different materials and keep them in one tone, and then perhaps experiment with pictures. I try to perceive the apartment as a whole, because our gaze doesn't stop at one place but wanders through the space. It's not static, and that's how I think about furnishing. It requires looking at the apartment from different angles and creating a story based on how the eyes wander.