Is reading in bed also one of your favourite activities? It certainly is for us at Lejaan . And because a comfortable bed alone is not enough for this ritual, we teamed up with the curated bookshop Book Therapy. Together we present books inspired by Lejaan collections that should definitely have a place in your bookcase.
On this occasion we interviewed Petra Caudr, the founder and owner of Book Therapy. We found out what she loved reading as a child, which book she has lined up next, why Book Therapy and the collaboration came about, and how she likes our Prague showroom.
You are the founder and owner of the curated bookshop Book Therapy. Did your love of books go back to childhood, or did you find your way to them later?
Definitely from childhood. I started reading a lot very early. And we were always surrounded by books in the family. My grandfather read a lot of detective stories and French books; my mum and aunt carried on the tradition. I remember loving visits to libraries from a very young age.
Do you remember the first book you fell in love with?
It was The Adventures of Dunno and His Friends by Nikolai Nosov. An enormous tome. I think it was actually a trilogy. Those were the first books I really read entirely on my own.
Lejaan x Book Therapy: Tobias' Dream
What led you to founding Book Therapy?
It was a combination of several factors. The story goes that we travelled a lot and on every trip our first steps led us to galleries or concept stores. Those are places I still love. They are an endless source of inspiration for me. So we thought it would be great to open something similar in Prague. If we loved it, others would have to as well. (laughs) That was the basis. At first our vision was to have more products, but due to space we limited it to (just) books. Now we focus primarily on coffee table books, photography books, travel, architecture, interior design... That's my passion. Book Therapy is simply a mix of what I genuinely love myself.
And what are your all-time favourite books?
I fell absolutely head over heels for the French family publisher Assouline. They themselves say they make travel books, but in format they are classic coffee table books. They have truly breathtaking photographs. When you leaf through these books, you are genuinely transported to the specific places. They capture the genius loci in an extraordinary way. So anything from them. The Greek islands, Sicily, Lake Como...
So primarily travel books?
Yes. Wherever travel, architecture, design and food come together - that's mine.
And fiction? Novels? Not for you?
I must admit I simply don't keep up with that kind of book. I've honestly pushed fiction to the side and leave it largely to my colleagues in the shop, who are definitely more well-versed in it than I am.
Which book are you reading at the moment, or which do you have lined up?
Since the summer Olympics in Paris are approaching, a lot of France-themed books are coming out. And I picked up an interior design one. It's called The New French Look: Interiors with a Contemporary Edge by Lauren Li. I'm really looking forward to it! Otherwise I have lots of favourite magazines like Monocle or Konfekt. Those are my constants that I try to keep up with.
What do Lejaan and Book Therapy have in common, in your view?
Definitely an emphasis on quality, detail and a customer-first approach. Both brands truly pamper their customers.
Lejaan x Book Therapy: Quiet Jungle
Why does the Lejaan and Book Therapy collaboration make sense to you?
The whole collaboration was my idea, because I have always loved Lejaan. I have been following their story for a long time. And the connection felt so incredibly natural to me. Bed is for me a symbol of rest, a place for reading and relaxation. I wish I had more time to devote to this ritual every evening.
Do you have Lejaan bedding at home?
I do. And I've completely fallen for it! It's something fantastic, it really is. I'm often sceptical about advertising slogans and promises, but the difference compared to other brands is truly enormous. So I cleared everything out and we now sleep exclusively in Lejaan. Right now we have Cosy Sunday, I recently added Never Too Late and I have Quiet Jungle in my basket. I couldn't believe what a difference it could make, but it's brilliant. I've even converted my mother-in-law. (laughs) She now has Father's Playground and she's thrilled too.
We conducted this interview in our Prague showroom. How did you like it?
Wonderful. A total oasis of calm in otherwise bustling Nusle. As soon as we finish, I have to try everything here. (laughs) Above all I want to look at the towels and the bathroom things.
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