Regina Sieberová in her LA TABLE store. Photo: LEXXUS NORTON.
The LA TABLE concept is very interesting and unique in Prague. Could you tell our readers more about it?
At LA TABLE, we offer our clients practical yet beautiful items for dining rooms and lounge areas, which we source for them abroad—primarily in Milan and Paris—and then bring to the Czech Republic. We have everything you can think of—porcelain, glassware, tablecloths, placemats, and cloth napkins, as well as candlesticks and other decorations. We’ve also recently started offering so-called coffee table books, which add the perfect finishing touch to any coffee table.
In addition to beautiful functional items, you can also find select champagnes, premium jams, or even gummy candies in luxurious gift packaging at your store. How did you come up with this combination?
I was greatly inspired in this regard by the famous London store Fortnum & Mason, whose history dates back to 1707 and which boasts two seals of quality from the British royal family. All the items you’ll find here undergo a careful curatorial selection by our team. Following Fortnum & Mason’s example, we also offer luxurious packaging for everything. So if you’re looking for a unique and exclusive gift, we’re the right place to go in Prague. Preparing gifts and gift sets is something we particularly enjoy—it always brings positive energy.
How did you come up with the idea to open a store with this specific focus? And why did you decide to open it in Vinohrady?
I believe that dining together and gathering over good food is an excellent way to strengthen relationships—whether within the family, among friends, or with business partners. I therefore see the dining room as an important space that deserves special attention. And why Vinohrady? That’s easy. I grew up here and have a wonderful connection to the neighborhood. The fact that we managed to open LA TABLE in one of the most beautiful corner buildings in this area is a pleasant bonus. It’s always had a unique charm for me, and its history has always appealed to me. Did you know, for example, that this was the original location of the successful Aromi restaurant?
The central space at LA TABLE is dominated by a large marble table. Photo: Martin Svoboda for OOOOX.
I had no idea. Since you spent your childhood in Vinohrady, you can compare what Vinohrady was like back then with what it’s like today. What do you think about the fact that it has transformed into one of the most stylish—and also one of the most expensive for housing—neighborhoods in Prague?
You’re right; I know a lot about Vinohrady and its transformation. What’s more, it wasn’t just me who spent my childhood here—my great-grandmother, grandmother, and mother all lived here too. Thanks to their stories, I know many tales, and I have a personal connection to almost every building in Vinohrady. During my childhood, my friends and I managed to “sneak into” many of them and played in just about every courtyard.
I have such a close connection to the local lifestyle and the typical layouts of the apartments here. That’s why I paid close attention to every renovation and hoped that as much of the typical Vinohrady way of living as possible would be preserved. At times, I was disappointed by the pressure to create 2+kk layouts, which meant changing the original room layout of the apartment. But I’m very happy that most of the facades are new today, the building hallways have been sensitively restored, and that Vinohrady—thanks in part to this—remains an attractive residential neighborhood where people enjoy meeting and gathering on the streets and in stylish establishments. You can feel the positive energy and zest for life here, which is amazing.
Left: LA TABLE owner Regina Sieberová next to a Rückl vase. Photo: LEXXUS NORTON. Right: Interior of LA TABLE. Photo: Martin Svoboda for OOOOX.
In your store, you sell functional items with a strong aesthetic. But the interior itself—designed by the renowned architectural studio OOOOX—is also a work of art. How did your collaboration come about?
We bought the space in a “shell & core” condition, so I knew we had a lot of work ahead of us before we could open the store. To simplify and speed up the entire interior design process, I decided to reach out to the architectural studio that had worked on the renovation of the apartment building at Mánesova 78, where our store is located. That studio was OOOOX. At first, though, I wasn’t expecting anything extraordinary from the collaboration. After a few weeks of working together, though, I realized that working with OOOOX—specifically with owner Radka Valová and architect Martin Moravec—was truly wonderful. They’re fast, bold in their design, and sensitive to the spaces they work with. It’s a joy to find architects you get along with and whose work inspires you every time.
Perhaps that’s precisely why, together, you’ve managed to create such a striking interior—one where I can easily imagine hosting beautiful events. Do you plan to organize any here in the future?
Definitely—in fact, from the very beginning, we envisioned this space as a gathering place. That’s also why we chose a four-and-a-half-meter-long table as the central feature, which is always set according to the season. It would be a shame not to gather around it with clients, friends, and other inspiring guests. Our next event is planned with the wonderful Czech sculptor Tereza Štětinová, whose abstract marble sculptures elevate any modern interior. That’s another reason we’re so happy that they’re part of the LA TABLE collection. Another wonderful event we’re planning soon will be a meet-and-greet with Katka Handlová, Rückl’s new art director.
What criteria do you use to select the brands you present to your clients?
Customers tell me that when I talk about our products, I smile with love. So I’d say that the heart plays the main role. I’m truly a little bit in love with every product we carry at LA TABLE. This shows most clearly in the fact that I’m constantly talking about them. Of course, quality, impeccable craftsmanship, design, and the brand’s story are also important factors in our selection. In many cases, these are truly amazing, and they never cease to delight both me and our customers.
For example, the history of the Skultuna brand dates back to 1607, when it was founded by King Charles IX. In their work with brass and silver—from which they craft items of the highest quality—they possess incredible expertise honed over 400 years.
Your store is also the largest Rückl showroom in the Czech Republic. Why did you decide to dedicate so much space to this particular brand?
In the Rückl brand, I’ve found everything that fills me with pride: the incredible craftsmanship of Czech glassmakers, the boldness of the designers, and modern design that holds its own in a pan-European context. I’m also very impressed by the philanthropic approach of the owner of the Rückl glassworks, Mr. Martin Wichterle, who literally saved this traditional Czech glassworks and steered it in a new direction. And last but not least—everything from Rückl is simply gorgeous!
The central piece—a marble table—is complemented by lighting fixtures from the Czech brand Bomma. Photo: Martin Svoboda for OOOOX.
Do you plan to expand the range of brands you work with in the future? Are there any specific ones you can name?
In addition to our current brands—Fürstenberg, Rückl, Linoroom, Amoln, and others—we’re set to add the Belgian brand Paveau and the Italian brands Giobagnara and LaDoubleJ in the coming weeks.
Which product or brand from your current lineup is closest to your heart, and why?
Right now, I’m most drawn to the German porcelain brand Fürstenberg, which perfectly combines traditional craftsmanship, the highest possible quality, and modern design from the Sieger studio. My guilty pleasure is also the linen tablecloths from Portugal, which I love to use to decorate the table. Thanks to their luxurious and elegant design, every set table becomes a true gem.
Photo: Martin Svoboda x OOOOX.
On the other hand, what’s the bestseller among your clients?
Definitely products from Rückl. This is probably also because we carry a truly wide range of Rückl products. We have almost all items from the popular Contemporary collection in stock. If there’s one thing I really don’t like, it’s disappointing a customer. So when a client calls saying they want a glass with the letter “š” on it, we have to have it here. Providing the best possible customer service is very important to us. The Lithuanian brand Linoroom is also very popular among clients; it offers products made from very fine linen fabric with beautiful natural prints.
