Interior designer Tereza Stubley in one of her favorite spots in the house—the reading room on the first floor. Photo: LEXXUS NORTON.
Neutral colors, plenty of natural light, and linen curtains that transform the sun’s rays into magical patterns on the cream-colored floor. Through the coarse fabric of the curtains, you can glimpse the outlines of a beautiful, mature garden, the shimmering water in the pool, a large hammock, and beds of fragrant lavender. The homeowner—a former professional flight attendant—has more than succeeded in her first design project.
Why did you and your family decide to build a house in Černošice?
When my husband and I were thinking about where to build, we knew it wouldn’t be in Prague. We both come from smaller towns, and perhaps that’s why the bustling life of Prague didn’t seem ideal for family life. We liked the idea of a smaller, quieter town that was still just a short distance from Prague. And since the area around the Berounka River was our favorite spot near Prague, we decided on this location. My husband is also an avid cyclist, and long before we even thought about building, he used to come here on bike trips and dream of a house with a view of Cukrák (Editor’s note: the Cukrák transmitter, located near Prague’s southern border). And his dream came true—we’ve been waking up to that view for six years now. I like it here, too; the surrounding nature is truly beautiful, and when I need to, I can be in Prague in no time by car.
You’re a designer, so you’re certainly familiar with architecture. Did you dare to design the house yourself, or did you hire an architect?
There are some professions you shouldn’t try to do without, and architecture is definitely one of them. Our house was designed by architect Jana Klečková of JHK Architects, s.r.o., and the garden by landscape architect Dana Marklíková. I only designed the interiors myself. The interior of our house was actually my first design project—it’s what inspired me to study interior design in the first place. Other projects naturally followed, and this year marks my sixth year working as an interior designer.
The living area of the house makes you feel as if you’ve arrived at a vacation destination. The interior décor has a casual vibe, and there’s even a design gem—a lamp by Flos. Photo: LEXXUS NORTON.
What was your concept for designing the interior of your home?
At first, I aimed for minimalism. Over time, though, I felt the urge to make it a little cozier. I always thought I was a true minimalist, but I realized that’s not entirely true. This casual, almost vacation-like style suits me perfectly, and I feel comfortable in it. I also wanted to avoid making the interior look overly luxurious, so the kids wouldn’t be afraid to sit down anywhere. So we have a lot of concrete here that shows signs of everyday life, and I don’t mind that. Although, of course, I remember very well who got scolded by me for what kind of damage (laughs). The interior isn’t quite finished yet—I still haven’t lost the urge to make it cozier.
Do you have a dream piece of furniture or home decor item that you’d like to treat yourself to someday?
I don’t have anything like that right now, but I did until recently. It was a wicker bench, which arrived last week and is now in our annex (editor’s note: an adjacent building that forms a single organizational unit with the main building; in this case, an outdoor dining area with a fireplace). It was my dream piece not only because of its design but also because of its dimensions, which are exactly what I needed. We’re still missing a few light fixtures in the house that I’ll have to get. I haven’t found any suitable ones yet, and I refuse to settle for a temporary solution. After all, temporary solutions very often become permanent ones.
Adjacent to the main part of the house is the so-called annex, a separate building serving as an additional dining area, which is connected to the main living area by a passageway that functions as an outdoor lounge zone; thanks to its clever roofing, it’s possible to barbecue there year-round. Photo: LEXXUS NORTON.
The walls of your home are adorned with interesting paintings. How did you choose them?
We have a total of five paintings in the living room. Two of them were custom-made for the interior, and the rest are by Jan Vajda, who creates under the artist name Antimultivitamin. We first came across his work in a Prague café we often passed by, since my husband had an office right next to it. They regularly exhibited works by various artists there, and one day we happened to spot some pieces by Antimultivitamin. We fell in love with them at first sight and decided to buy a few pieces from him. The painting *Cyclists* is brilliant—it looks just like my husband. (laughs) We have both the original and an artist-authorized reproduction of it. So I actually have three “Cyclists” at home.
The paintings aren’t just in the living room—they’re also on the first floor of the house. Are those by this artist as well?
We’ve only had the paintings on the first floor for a short while. We haven’t even had a chance to hang the one in the reading nook yet. It’s our “new baby in the house” and has only been with us for a few days. It was created by the contemporary artist duo Ondřej Konupčík and Radim Kašpárek, who work under the brand Ondrash & Kašpárek and are based right here in Černošice. We also have two paintings by them titled *Aliens* in the guest room. Given the room’s purpose, this title might seem amusing, but we definitely don’t mean anything by it. (laughs) With their bold colors, these paintings might not seem to fit in here, but I love exactly these kinds of unexpected touches in interiors. Above the headboard hangs a painting by the artist Tomáš Bím, who hails from nearby Dobřichovice.
The adjacent garden also embodies a casual, vacation-like atmosphere. It features a pool, several spots for undisturbed relaxation, and an abundance of fragrant lavender. Photo: LEXXUS NORTON.
If I asked you for one design tip that you consider most important when furnishing an interior, what would it be?
Above all, don’t skimp on the flooring—it’s simply the foundation. Even an expensive designer armchair won’t look as good as it could on cheap flooring. Conversely, if you place a piece from a popular store like IKEA on high-quality flooring, it elevates the piece by several levels. In our home, the chest of drawers by the reading nook is proof of that.
One of Tereza’s favorite places to relax is the reading room on the first floor. There, a designer armchair from Magis stands out just as much as the dresser from IKEA. The “new baby in the house”—a painting by local artist Ondřej Konupčík, alias Ondrash—also finds its place here. Photo: LEXXUS NORTON.
Tereza’s husband is an avid cyclist. So when the couple first saw the painting *The Cyclist* by their favorite artist—who goes by the name Antimultivitamin—it was clear that it had to be part of their home. Photo: LEXXUS NORTON.
Tereza Stubley
