Visiting Chalupa mezi sklepy

What does it look like when food lovers fall for cottage farming? Marika and Jirka, husband and wife and authors of the blog Kitchen Story, have long dreamed of their own cottage. So when they discovered the ideal place in South Moravia, they turned it into their second home. A space they will always love to return to and which you can rent too. Welcome to the Chalupa mezi sklepy.

WHAT DID YOU DREAM ABOUT ON YOUR FIRST NIGHT AT THE COTTAGE?

I have to admit that the first night at the cottage was a lot of work and finishing touches, so we slept like we were being thrown into the water, and no dreams happened.

A cozy bedroom dressed in Quiet Jungle, Afternoon Storm, Jane's Weekend bedding and Fair Play sheets. The tone-on-tone bathroom hides our Playful Cotton collection of soft towels.

WHAT DO YOU THINK EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE AT HOME?

A place or corner where they feel good. Whether it's an armchair, a study or a comfortable bed.

DO YOU HAVE YOUR FAVORITE NOOK HERE?

I like to spend time in the kitchen, which is part of the large living space. And when I want to "hide" somewhere, I run a hot tub.

HOW DOES YOUR HOME SMELL? AND HOW DOES IT SOUND?

For us, it's definitely children's laughter and the smell of freshly baked cakes or cookies.

The spacious kitchen invites you to cook together or have a cup of tea in the comfort of an armchair and the Woven Monocolour woven plaid.

WHAT MAKES A HOME?

Home is about safety and coziness. It's hard to describe, but it's more about a feeling than a place. And also to have people you love around you.

AND IS THERE SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK MAKES EVERY SPACE COZY?

In my opinion, fabrics make every space cozier, so I recommend adding curtains, decorative pillows, rugs and plaids to the interior.

WHERE DO YOU LOOK FOR INTERIOR INSPIRATION?

Pinterest is definitely an endless source of inspiration. But when creating our Cottage Between the Cellars, we approached interior designers Adéla Lipár Kudrnovová and Petra Stein to collaborate, and it was the best decision we could have made.

The second bedroom on the floor is dominated by white Daily Notes bedding, the cream Flat White collection, and Grandma's House brick pillows.

IF YOUR HOUSE WAS ON FIRE, WHAT THREE MATERIAL THINGS WOULD YOU SAVE?

Definitely the photo albums that I glue together pretty old. They record our memories and important moments. And then I can't think of anything else, I'm not a material type of person.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE RITUAL?

We light candles almost every evening, and now in winter, we also light a fireplace. At dinner together, we talk about what happened to us that day. I love it when the family gets together at a set table.

The warmth of a burning fireplace and shared moments at a large table. Moments of happiness that Marika values the most.

WHAT DO YOU ALWAYS BRING FROM HOME TO THE COTTAGE?

We always bring food for the first day because we don't want to go to the store right after arriving. Otherwise, the cottage is equipped in such a way that we don't have to bring anything extra.

AND WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE HOME FROM THE COTTAGE?

It would be a fireplace, it's such a warm home. When we built the cottage, we knew that a fireplace would definitely be a part of it.

A large living space with a window to the garden invites you to meet, feast and relax with your closest friends.

YOUR MOST BEAUTIFUL MOMENT AT THE COTTAGE SO FAR?

When our four-year-old son told us that he really liked it here and wanted to pack up all his toys and our cat Pepina and move it from Prague to the cottage. It was touching and also a confirmation that we had created a place where people would feel good.

AND WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO HERE?

We are looking forward to people renting the cottage and feeling at home with us. We created everything as best we could and we wanted to create a cozy place where not only we would like to return.