SOFFA 04 / MEN, English edition by SOFFA

VOLUME | 04

CONTENT - VOLUME | 04

FLOWERS From an old gardener...

CITIES New York in cine-film

EDITORIAL

FASHION Mens’ time

TATTOOS Getting under the skin

EDITORS’ CHOICE Timeless pieces for men

JUST LIKE BY A SEA With wallpaper in the main role

LIVING BY SOFFA Cosy and practical loggia

Treats for a real lady

RECIPES Sausages - the czech classic

HOME TOURS Trapped by design icons

Two cocktails for the summer

Chocolate chili sea-salt cake

TRAVEL Black&white oasis in Amstedam Seven sisters DB soffa mag 210x297_Sestava 1 1.8.14 13:56 Stránka 1

šestnácterý

14 7. –EVENTS 12. 10. 12 CALENDER

DIY PROJECTS Learn to tie a tie and a bow tie

Designblok

Stylish business card case

Prague Design and Fashion Week www.designblok.cz

Designblok podporují tyto instituce: UMPRUM, Velvyslanectví Nizozemského království, Francouzský institut v Praze, Velvyslanectví Švédska, Instituto Cervantes, Česká centra, EUNIC, Rakouské velvyslanectví, Rakouské kulturní forum, Goethe - Institut, Polský institut v Praze Oficiální dodavatelé: Parfumerie Douglas, Giorgio Armani Cosmetics, Veuve Clicquot, Heineken, SONBERK, TONI&GUY, fusion hotel prague, Ambiente restaurace, SAMSUNG, NESPRESSO, TONI&GUY HAIRMEETWARDROBE Mediální partneři: H.O.M.i.E., Art+Antique, Architekt, Dolce Vita, Design & Home, ERA21, ELLE Decoration, Flash Art, Marianne Bydlení, Travel Fever, Radio 1, DesignMagazin.cz, Czechdesign.cz, elle.cz, fashionbook.cz, iconiq.cz, ihned.cz, MAUDhomme, protisedi.cz, Dotyk Zahraniční mediální partneři: H.O.M.E., H.O.M.i.E., Atrium, Designum, Flash Art Partneři:

Deloitte Pražská správa nemovitostí Galerie hlavního města Prahy Meet Czech Design CzechTourism

Cover photo | photo: Lina Németh

Hlavní mediální partneři:

Hlavní partner:

Generální partner:

Tie, Le Premier; hats, white T-shirt and braces, all H&M

GE NTL E M EN A N D L A DI ES , text: Adéla Kudrnová | styling: SOFFA | photo: Honza Frýdl

“Let’s photo-shoot tattoos” we told ourselves in May and that was the very first idea of this SOFFA issue which is mainly dedicated to men. Ladies will forgive us for the ordering of the title. We believe that this ‘gentlemen’s‘ issue will give you the same amount of pleasure it gave to us. Apart from fascinating tattoos we highlighted men’s fashion and we gave one of the main roles in the fashion photo-shoot to an old Porsche with which the entire team fell in love. When thinking about the recipes that could possibly appeal to men, it was clear that there has to be something spicy, something containing alcohol and something more manly. Apart from a chocolate chili cake, you can enjoy refreshing cocktails, which were so good that we almost did not manage to finish the photo-shoot! And because we are proud of our Czech culinary traditions, we also included a summer sausage classic! Concerning DIY projects, we were not sure if they would be generally appreciated by men, so instead we present you with a manual on how to tie a tie and a bow tie. We hope, that real gentlemen are not dying out yet! Do you like our articles on living and interiors? If yes, you will definitely find this issue interesting. Apart from two original flats we present you with an interior wallpaper styling. In this issue you will also find out new column called Living by SOFFA. Let yourself be inspired and devote the rest of this summer to improving your home! Have a lovely August and a beautiful start of autumn, Your SOFFA team

šestnácterý

7. – 12. 10. Designblok

Prague Design and Fashion Week www.designblok.cz

Deloitte Pražská správa nemovitostí Galerie hlavního města Prahy Meet Czech Design CzechTourism

Hlavní mediální partneři:

Hlavní partner:

Generální partner:

F LOW ER S An uncommon edible bouquet

F RO M AN O L D G A R DEN ER’ S WO R K S H O P text: Květinové lahůdkářství | styling: Květinové lahůdkářství and SOFFA photo: Lina Németh

MR RUDOLF GETS UP EARLY EVERY DAY SO THAT HE COULD DO ALL THE WORK IN HIS GARDEN BEFORE THE HEAT STRIKES THE DAY. SO HE PUTS A PAN ON THE STOVE AND GOES TO THE BATHROOM TO HAVE A SHAVE. HE HAS BEEN PRACTISING THIS MORNING RITUAL FOR ALMOST SIXTY YEARS. HE EATS HIS SLICE OF BREAD WITH MARMALADE, PUTS ON HIS OLD APRON AND SETS OFF TO HIS GARDEN TO COLLECT FLOWERS. AFTER A VERY LONG TIME HE IS EXPECTING VISITORS TODAY. MR RUDOLF IS NOT A ROMANTIC AND HE DOES NOT REJOICE IN THE IDEA OF HAVING MERRY FLOWERS IN HIS BEDROOM: THEREFORE, IN THE GARDEN HE PICKS EVERYTHING THAT CAN BE EATEN. AFTER ALL, VEGETABLES AND UNRIPE FRUITS ARE SO BEAUTIFUL! THE WALK IN HIS GARDEN TIRED HIM OUT, HE PUT THE FLOWERS INTO A RUSTY EWER AND CANS HE HAS HAD SINCE WAR, HE LAID ON AN OTTOMAN AND ANOTHER FLY GOT CAUGHT ON THE FLAPPER.

Radish – tuber (Raphanus sativus var. sativus), Beetroot – leaf (Beta vulgaris var. vulgaris), Garden cress – flower (Lepidium sativum) European blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), Tall huckleberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis), Juneberry (Amelanchier lamarckii) Redcurrant (Ribes rubrum), Strawberry (Fragaria vesca)

JU S T L I K E BY A S EA 3x wallpaper still-lifes

W ITH WAL L PAP ER I N T H E M A I N RO L E text: Adéla Kudrnová | styling: SOFFA | photo: Lina Németh

IT IS THE PEAK OF SUMMER – THAT IS WHY WE WANTED TO PRESENT YOU WITH PICTURES FROM A HOT EXOTIC COUNTRY. NEVERTHELESS, WE DID NOT MANAGE TO VISIT ANY, AND SO WE REPLACED THE SEA WITH THE WALLPAPER ECO EARTH BY ECO (SOLD BY INFRAME). THIS IS HOW HONZA, OUR PRODUCTION MANAGER, HAPPENED TO HAVE UNIQUE WALL THANKS TO WHICH HE WILL FOREVER FEEL LIKE BEING ON A BEACH. FABULOUS, DON’T YOU THINK? If you would like to create an coastal atmosphere in your home, let yourself be inspired by three still lifes we created. We will show you how it can decorate a blue and white closet, summer terrace and a blue and white living room. Appropriate combination of patterns and materials is the basis of all the three interiors. We will teach you to work with them. Do not worry – go ahead and try! ■ We would like to give our many thanks to INFRAME for providing the Eco Earth wallpaper by Eco Wallpaper.

BLURRED STRIPES ON THE WALLPAPER GO EXQUISITELY WELL WITH THE DOTTED CARPET. A METAL CHAIR WITH PATINA IS AN IDEAL PARTNER FOR A LEATHER TABOURET. DIFFERENT STRUCTURE TEXTILES MATCH THANKS TO THE SAME COLOUR SPECTRUM! Eco Earth wallpaper, InFrame; chair a la Tolix, Silent-Time; tabouret and a throw-over Natural, Nila; Grey hanger and Dots carpet, Nordic Day; striped table cloth, blue plaid and scarf with skulls, Apropos; turquoise-brown plaid, H&M Home; Hopa hangers, Ikea

DO NOT WORRY AND COMBINE OLD MATERIALS WITH THE NEW ONES IN THE INTERIOR. OLD WOOD WILL LOOK GREAT IN COMBINATION WITH A TEXTILE SOFA. PATINA CAN BE REPEATED ON THE CARPET. SUMMER ATMOSPHERE CAN BE ENHANCED BY WICKER ACCESSORIES. MIX OF VARIOUS WEEDS CAN BY NICE! Eco Earth wallpaper, InFrame; armchair by Karup, Bonami; carpet, Stockist; Leran lamp, Kastanjenรถt bowl, both Ikea; laundry basket Corn, Nordic Day; throw-over Natural, Nila; basket with a handle, H&M Home; wicker bowl, Apropos

THE WATERCOLOUR PATTERN ON THE WALLPAPER IS DECORATIVE ON ITS OWN. THERE IS NO NEED OF ANY MORE PAINTINGS OR POSTERS. PLAY WITH THE STRUCTURES ON CUSHIONS AND ACCESSORIES. COMPLEMENT ASYMMETRIC SHAPES OF VASES WITH GEOMETRICAL ONES. Eco Earth wallpaper, InFrame; Mingus Dusty light, tall vases, carpet, all Stockist; table Coffee, cushions Knitted and Denim, vase Geometry, all Nordic Day; linen pillowcases and smaller pillowcase from denim, both H&M; dark blue pillow, Ikea

WWW.INFRAME.CZ Design wallpapers by Swedish producers Mr Perswall, Eco and Bor책stapeter

C I T I ES The city of skyscrapers

NE W YO RK I N C I N E-F I L M text: Adéla Kudrnová | photo: Jan Kalužný

AS MUCH AS WE LOVE NATURE, WE ALSO ENJOY BIG CITIES! JAN KALUŽNÝ, OUR FRIEND, MADE A SERIES OF BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOS OF NEW YORK CITY. MAYBE IT WILL MAKE YOU SEE THE MOST POPULATED CITY IN THE WORLD FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE! New York – the city that never sleeps – does not need a profound introduction. This fascinating and constantly pulsating metropolis will charm everyone with its perfect freedom and multiculturalism. The city was founded in 1625 by Dutch merchants under the name New Amsterdam. Later it got under British rule who renamed it to New York. Until 1783 New York was officially a part of the British Empire, several years later it became the capital of the independent United States of America for some time. Modern New York consists of five districts: Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island and is inhabited by more than 8 million people. For more information go to: www.newyork.com, www.newyorkpass.com ■

VIEW OF MANHATTAN FROM A REGULAR STATEN ISLAND FERRY CONNECTING MANHATTAN AND STATEN ISLAND. IT IS ONE OF THE MAIN ATTRACTIONS OF THE CITY. FURTHERMORE, IT IS FOR FREE!

WHAT ELSE CAN BE IN A PICTURE FROM NEW YORK THAN A TAXI? THE YELLOW CABS BECAME THE SYMBOL OF THE CITY. THERE ARE OVER 13.000 OF THEM AND THE DRIVERS SPEAK IN VARIOUS ACCENTS.

THE WALL STREET, THE CENTRE OF ALL THE FINANCES OF ALL OVER THE WORLD. DO NOT MISS OUT ON IT DURING A WORKING DAY; YOU WILL FEEL WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE IN THE CENTRE OF ALL THE ACTION.

ON THE WAY TO BRONX! THE PICTURE WAS TAKE WHEN JAN INSERTED A NEW FILM IN HIS CAMERA AND PRESSED THE BUTTON BY ACCIDENT: HE MADE HIS FIRST CINE-FILM PHOTO!

HARLEM – DESPITE ITS REPUTATION IT IS, ACCORDING TO JAN, A VERY PLEASANT AND QUIET PLACE FULL OF NATIONAL COMMUNITIES, LAUNDERETTES AND HAIRDRESSERS.

“THE EIFFEL TOWER OR ‘OW THEY CALL IT”, OR THE STATUE OF LIBERTY WAS A GIFT FROM FRANCE TO THE AMERICAN NATION FOR THEIR 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

MINI SOFFA ISSUE Now you do not have to wait for another SOFFA issue for two long months. Register on our web and get a MINI ISSUE (full of special herb contents) at the start of September to your email address!

photo: Anna Dumon

TAT TO O S A little different pieces of art

GE T T ING UN DER T H E S K I N text: Adéla Kudrnová | styling: SOFFA | photo: Lina Németh

WE ARE FASCINATED BY UNIQUE TATTOOS AND SO WE DECIDED TO PRESENT YOU WITH THIS MINISERIES OF PEOPLE WHO LET THE LITTLE INK NEEDLE GET UNDER THEIR SKIN... SEVERAL TIMES! OUR HYPOTHESIS THAT THE MORE INTERESTING THE PERSON IS, THE MORE FASCINATING ITS TATTOOS ARE WAS CONFIRMED. Apart from the aesthetics the most interesting thing about tattoos are the stories behind the individual themes. Let yourself be gripped by beautiful pieces of art and enjoy the stories behind them. Maybe you will realise that you need to get one as well! And if you are not dead sure about it, we have a washable alternative ready for you. ■

NINA ŠPITÁLNÍKOVÁ STUDIES KOREAN STUDIES; SHE SPENT WEEKS IN THE NORTH KOREA. HER TATTOO REFLECTS THE KOREAN MYTHOLOGY. NINA HAD HER FIRST TATTOO MADE WHEN SHE WAS 18 YEARS OLD. FROM THAT POINT SHE STARTED TO ADD MORE TATTOOS TO MARK THE MILESTONES OF HER LIFE. EVER SINCE SHE WANTED TO HAVE A TATTOO OF A CAT, A BIRD AND A SAKURA TREE. SHE WANTED A CAT BECAUSE IT DRIVES BAD SPIRITS AWAY. THE SPIRAL ON HER LEFT ELBOW IS MEANT TO GIVE HER ENERGY. IN THE AREA OF HER BUTTOCKS THE TATTOO TRANSFORMS INTO A LOTUS FLOWER WHICH IS A SYMBOL OF PURITY AND IS TRADITIONALLY CONNECTED TO BUDDHISM. Petr Bobek from Bobek Tattoo is the author of Nina’s tattoos.

ON HER BACK NINA HAS TWO HERONS. ACCORDING TO THE ANCIENT YIN-YANG PHILOSOPHY A HERON REPRESENTS THE FEMALE ELEMENT AND IS A SYMBOL OF WISDOM.

MARTIN PECINA MAKES HIS LIVING IN TYPOGRAPHY AND BOOK GRAPHICS AND SO IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT HE HAS LETTERS TATTOOED ALL OVER HIS BODY AS WELL. HE EXHAUSTED ALL THE ACCESSIBLE MEDIA WHERE HE COULD PRACTICE HIS PASSION FOR LETTERS AND SO HE STARTED TO USE HIS OWN BODY FOR IT. IF THE TATTOOS ON HIS ARMS AND CHEST SEEM COMPLETE TO YOU, DO NOT GET MISLED, THERE WILL BE MORE! Martin designed his tattoos himself. They were realised by Jara from Planet Tattoo Studio in Brno.

MARTIN CHOSE FOR HIS BODY THE VARIOUS TITLE FONTS WHICH HE LIKES AND WHICH HE USES FOR HIS WORK ON A REGULAR BASIS.

ADÉLA IS CZECH; SHE HAD HER TATTOOS DONE, HOWEVER, ON HER TRAVELS ABROAD. SHE STUDIED AND LIVED IN AMSTERDAM WITH WHICH SHE FELL IN LOVE. WHEN SHE WAS TO GO BACK TO THE CZECH REPUBLIC, SHE WANTED TO HAVE A SOUVENIR. SHE ALWAYS LIKED THE ANCIENT HABIT OF GIVING AN EYE-SHAPED PROTECTIVE AMULET TO NEWLY BORN BABIES. WHEN THE CHILD GREW UP AND MOVED AWAY FROM THE FAMILY, IT TURNED THE AMULET TO HIS OR HER BACK: THIS WAS MEANT TO SYMBOLISE A PROTECTING EYE WHICH WAS MEANT TO LOOK OUT FOR THE CHILD. ADÉLA IS THUS PROTECTED BY HER OWN OVAL AMULET. THE SECOND OF HER TATTOOS SHE HAD DONE IN SLOVAKIA BUT IT IS LINKED TO HER HOME – SOUTH BOHEMIA. THE CRYSTAL ON HER ARM RESEMBLES A MOLDAVITE STONE WHICH IS TYPICAL FOR THE AREA OF SOUTH BOHEMIA. THE HABIT USED TO BE THAT A LAD PROPOSING TO A GIRL HAD TO FIND AND PRESENT HER WITH A MOLDAVITE. THIS WAS WHAT ADÉLA’S DAD DID WHEN HE PROPOSED TO HER MUM. SINCE THEN THE MOLDAVITE REPRESENTED THE FAMILY TREASURE BUT UNFORTUNATELY, ADÉLA LOST IT ONE DAY AT SCHOOL. NOW SHE HAS IT TATTOOED! Adéla had her crystal tattooed in Slovakia by Martin Jankura who is also know for his ‘tattooed‘ furniture.

IN SOME PARTS OF GREECE THE TRADITION OF WEARING THE PROTECTIVE AMULETS ON THE BACK IS STILL ALIVE. LOOKING FROM BEHIND CAN NOBODY BEWITCH!

TERÉZIA BĚLČÁKOVÁ, OUR SALES MANAGER, IS TATTOOED ON SEVERAL PLACES. TWO MEXICAN SKULLS ON HER FEET ARE PROBABLY THE MOST DISTINCTIVE ONES; THEY REPRESENT HER AND HER BOYFRIEND. TERÉZIA HAS NEVER HAD THE COLOURING OF HER TATTOO FINISHED FOR IT WAS TOO PAINFUL BUT MAYBE THAT IS WHAT MAKES IT BEAUTIFUL! THE POPPY SEED FLOWERS ON HER ARM SYMBOLISE TERÉZIA’S BEAUTIFUL CHILDHOOD IN SLOVAKIA WHERE SHE REMEMBERS THERE WAS A MEADOW WITH POPPY SEED FLOWERS NEXT TO THEIR HOUSE. THE ANCHOR ON HER COLLARBONE SYMBOLISES TERÉZIA’S LOVE FOR TRAVELLING WHICH HELPS HER TO BROADEN HER HORIZONS. The skulls were tattooed by Kubo from Tattoo Stanley Prague. Babboo from the Hell studio is the author of the poppy seed flowers.

TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT MOTIVE FOR A TATTOO ON SUCH A SENSITIVE PLACE LIKE FEET WAS NOT EASY AT ALL. HOWEVER, THE MEXICAN SKULLS HAVE BECOME SPECIAL FOR TEREZIA!

DO YOU LOVE VINTAGE BICYCLES AS WELL? THANKS TO THE ETSY/TATTOORARY WE COULD TRY HOW A VINTAGE BIKE LOOKS ON OUR FRIEND PETR’S NECK!

opera PRESENTED AT THE NATIONAL THEATRE

FIBICH

THE FALL OF ARKUN PREMIERES: 9 & 10 OCTOBER, 2014 CONDUCTOR: JOHN FIORE STAGE DIRECTOR: JIŘÍ HEŘMAN Tickets on-line: www.narodni-divadlo.cz

L I V I N G BY S O F FA The balcony of your dreams in a day

CO SY AND P R AC T I C A L LO G G I A text: Adéla Kudrnová | styling: SOFFA | photo: Lina Németh

LINDA, A TRANSLATOR, ASKED US TO HELP HER WITH FURNISHING HER LOGGIA. SHE WANTED TO ENJOY THE SUMMER THERE. THANKS TO WHAT WE DID, SHE CAN NOW READ THERE AS WELL AS WORK! REQUIREMENTS: • an outdoor storage as a pantry • a look-out with a cat bed for her cat • comfortable outdoor seating • shelter from the sun and rain • to preserve the space for plants and the airing area OUR SOLUTION: First we agreed with Linda on the colour scheme as well as on the activities she wanted to use the loggia for. We also did not want the new loggia to cost a little fortune; after all, it is an outside area which is only used seasonally. Therefore, we suggested the following solutions: • An outdoor seating in the L shape in the back of the loggia – that is the quieter and more spacial part (comfortable seating is created by cushions that can easily be removed and by foam bespoke seats which are cheap). • For protection from the sun and rain we chose shower curtains because they are waterproof and the go nicely with the modern style of the loggia. • The tiles on the floor (which is in a very good condition after the reconstruction) get hot very easily and so we covered them with washable vinyl carpets. • We complemented a storage cupboard from IKEA with a wooden bespoke board and thus created a space for storage as well as an observatory for the cat. ■

BEFORE

5 TIP S F O R B EAU T I F UL B A LCO N Y First think about what you want from that particular space, then go for the realisation suitable for you. A balcony can be used for relaxation, as a dining room, study or as a storage room. The cosiness and the feeling of an inhabited space can be created by textile or accessories such as solar lights and lanterns. Think about sheltering: direct sun or the lack of privacy will deprive you of the pleasure from having a balcony. Washable textiles are perfect for that.

Do not forget about the floor. Tiles can be both cold and hot (especially in summer). Wooden surface is more comfortable but we also recommend washable vinyl carpets: they can be used also in winter (in bathroom, for example). When planning the spacial layout bear in mind that easy movement is crucial and can be guaranteed by 50-60 cm. The seating area is more convenient to be situated by the wall or railings.

LINDA WISHED FOR A MULTIFUNCTIONAL CUPBOARD. IT CAN BE USED AS A WORK TOP AND IT WILL DEFINITELY BE USED BY HER CAT. Carpet Bobbi, Selbrekka; cupboard Josef, stairs Bekv채m, plaid on the seat Gurli, pillow case Gurli, lanterns, fondue set Senior, cups and plates Tickar, all Ikea; bespoke wooden board, Hornbach; striped pillow case, H&M Home; light chain, Granit

IN THE BACK PART OF THE LOGGIA WE DESIGNED A SEATING AREA SUITABLE FOR READING, WORKING AND DINING. Furniture Äpplarö, basket Maffens, pillow Nävviva, pillow cases Gurli and Sanela, solar chains Solvinden, pots Tickar and Dinera, all Ikea; carpet Gerda, Selbrekka; curtains, H&M Home; bespoke foam seats, Calounickepotreby.cz; pillow cases, H&M Home

FA S H I O N Casual male elegance

MEN S ’ T I M E text: Adéla Kudrnová | styling: SOFFA | illustration: Lenka Hlaváčová make-up and hair styling: Marcela Hanke | photo: Lina Németh

WE OFTEN HEAR THAT CZECH MEN CANNOT DRESS UP BECAUSE THE AVAILABILITY OF STYLISH CLOTHES FOR SENSIBLE PRICES IS VERY LIMITED HERE. WE BELIEVE IT IS NOT QUITE SO AND WE HAVE DECIDED TO PROVE IT TO YOU. WHAT IS YOUR VERDICT? What is the best way to show that even here men can easily wear nice and original clothes? One afternoon we tried several shops, chose the most interesting pieces and instead of professionals, we invited Petr and Michal to do a little fashion show for us. They willingly tried the models on and posed by a Porsche 356c from the year 1965. Who would not want to pose next to such gorgeous veteran! We chose the clothes for them in two different styles on purpose – it would be boring if they both looked the same! The basic outfits were mainly focused on quality and comfortable materials; we complemented them with significant details. For example, the hand-made bags by WooleWo are beautiful, practical and unisex! Do you remember when our grandfathers used to carry a comb in the pocket of their trousers or jacket? Why not to revive this tradition? We think it is pretty stylish! Do you miss some non-extravagant accessories for men? We discovered great copper accessories produced by the studio Simon&Me in Berlin. Do you insist on watch having an important role in a man’s life? You will definitely like those we have selected for Michal. The main part in this photo-shoot, however, goes to the car! ■

We would like to give our thanks to the 2MEDIA.CZ agency for making the premises available for the photo-shoot.

PETR: Leather shoes, The Dogs; trousers, H&M; Kostka top and Sailor Black sweatshirt, both Sistersconspiracy; leather strap bag, WooleWo

MICHAL: Travel bag, WooleWo; shoes, Freshlabels; trousers Chinos and chequered handkerchief, both Le Premier; shirt from the collection Liberty and Jersey jacket, both H&M

A REVERSED LEATHER BAG LOOKS GREAT IN COMBINATION WITH BLACK OUTFIT. THE DETAILS ON THE CAR FROM 1965 LOOK LIKE THEY WERE MADE IN A WORKSHOP OF A CONTEMPORARY DESIGNER. Leather bag, WooleWo Kostka top and Sailor Black sweatshirt, both Sistersconspiracy

THE WOODEN STIRRING WHEEL IS A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF WORK AND DEFINITELY GOES WELL WITH A MALE COPPER BRACELET (AVAILABLE IN SEVERAL SIZES). Leather shoes, The Dogs; trousers, H&M Sailor Black sweatshirt, Sistersconspiracy; The Copper Bracelet bracelet, Simon&Me

Shirt from the collection Liberty and Jersey jacket, both H&M Travel bag, WooleWo

Trousers Chinos and chequered handkerchief, Le Premier Shoes, Freshlabels

ACCESSORIES CAN LIVELY UP EVERY OUTFIT. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE CHOICE OF YOUR WATCH, TRAVEL BAG OR A COMB! Travel bag, WooleWo; trousers Chinos, Le Premier; shirt from the collection Liberty and Jersy jacket, both H&M; Radiomir 1940 watch by Panerai, Carollinum; The Gents Comb comb, Simon&Me

ADDRESSES FOR

WELL-DRESSED MEN:

Alain Delon Botas Chatty Prague Czech Labels&Friends Debut Gallery Freshlabels Kuráž.cz

Leeda Le Premier Pánská pasáž Simple conceptstore Sistersconspiracy The Dogs The Room by Basmatee

PETR: Leather shoes, The Dogs; trousers, H&M; kostka top and scarf, Sistersconspiracy; The Copper Bracelet, Simon&Me

MICHAL: Shoes, Freshlabels; shorts, Alain Delon; shirt, collection Liberty, H&M; Radiomir 1940 watch by Panerai, Carollinum

Furniture from Galerie 22, book Kmeny and books from the Franz Kafka publishing house in the premises of 2media.cz

SO F FA T EA M T I PS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR MORE INSPIRATION? OUR TEAM HAS PREPARED SEVERAL TIPS FOR YOU. DO NOT MISS OUT ON THEM. JUST CLICK ON THE IMAGES!

TOWELS HAMMAM FROM NILA ESHOP

SOFFA AND MEET CZECH DESIGN

Cotton towel is perfect for the beach or as a picnic blanket. We love the hand-woven towels Hammam from Nila.cz!

Do not miss an international bloggers workshop which we are preparing together with Meet Czech Design for Designblok.

DESIGN BLOGGERS WORKSHOP

WIN ZIAJA COSMETICS

QUICHE RECIPE BY COUNTRY LIFE

What country does Ziaja company come from? Email us at info@soffamag.com and win cosmetics with cocoa butter!

Try to prepare the delicious quiche with Provamel cream, buckwheat and tempeh according to the recipe by Country Life.

GIVE-AWAY

E DI TO R S â&#x20AC;&#x2122; C H O I C E Treat each other!

TIME L E SS PI EC ES F O R M EN styling: SOFFA | photo: companies’ archives

YOU CAN TREAT YOURSELF WITH A STYLISH PIECE OF FASHION OR FURNITURE IF YOU ARE IN YOUR THIRTIES AS WELL AS IF YOU ARE IN YOUR SIXTIES. ALL YOU NEED IS A LITTLE BIT OF COURAGE AND PASSION FOR DESIGN! SO LET’S GO SHOPPING!

ATLAS OF REMOT Penguin Books |

SHAMPOO FROM SUNFLOWER Ziaja

NIRVANA: BLEACH VINYL Urban Outfitters

LEATHER OXFORD BLUCHER Zara

CUFF LINK DOT VESPA BeWooden

BACKPACK VOLT Playbag

PEN SPORT Kaweco | Ljus

HEADPHONES H6 Bang & Olufsen

TE ISLANDS | Amazon

CARDBOARD GLOBUS Luckies | Zoot

RADIO SAFE Lexon

BEER FOAMER Menu

TR E ATS F O R A R EA L L A DY styling: SOFFA | photo: companies’ archives

EVERY WOMAN LOVES TO GET UNIQUE PRESENTS – AND EVEN MORE SO WHEN THEY ARE FROM MEN! LET YOURSELF BE INSPIRED BY OUR SELECTION OF WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE FOR OURSELVES! IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE EXPENSIVE BUT IT SHOULD BE PRETTY!

BRACELET VIRUS Zorya | Debut Gallery AROMATIC CANDLE ROSE Meadows

BRIEFCASE HANDO CREAM Belenty

KDYŽ P Helen

GREETING CARDS KATA K Harddecore

OVEN MITT KUKKULUURUU Marimekko | Finnish Design Shop PLATES HOLLY FREAN GALLUS Anthropologie IPHONE COVER Etsy/casesbyscera

PTÁČKA LAPAJÍ na Dařbujánová

KIOSK

ARMCHAIR RO Fritz Hansen | Stockist

R EC I PES The classics and the less traditional ones

SAU SAGE S - T H E C ZEC H C L A S S I C text: Adéla Kudrnová | styling: SOFFA | illustration: Lenka Hlaváčová photo: Lina Németh

EVEN WE ARE TRYING TO ENJOY THE SUMMER TO ITS FULLEST – WE HAVE PICNICS, BARBECUES AND WE ALSO PREPARE SAUSAGES! FOR ONE OF OUR GROUP EVENTS WE TOOK PICTURES OF OUR OWN RECIPES FOR A HOMEMADE MUSTARD AND TWO DIPS WHICH GO FANTASTICALLY WITH BOTH SAUSAGES AND MEAT! There is no more typical summer Czech meal than sausages prepared on a campfire. Naturally, it requires various types of mustard, sauces and bread. We decided to try to improve the classic by adding homemade mustard and two dips. Now you can try our recipes yourselves! While we were shooting photos to document the atmosphere a discussion on the ways of cutting the sausages has been ignited. Lenka has made a little manual for you on that topic :). ■ ‘Špekáček‘ is a typically Czech sort of sausage. It is customary in summer to bake it on a wooden stick over a campfire while playing the guitar and singing country songs.

HO ME M A DE M U S TA R D text: Adéla Kudrnová | styling: SOFFA | photo: Lina Németh

TIME: 20 min. PORTIONS: 1 small glass INGREDIENTS: ½ l vinegar 100 g mustard seeds (it is better to combine both light and dark) 40 g icing sugar honey (optional) herbs (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS: First grind mustard seeds. You can also crush them in a mortar or buy a pre-ground packed seeds (which will save you some work and time). Boil vinegar and leave it to cool. Add sugar to the seeds and slowly pour vinegar while constantly stirring the mixture. Regulate the density of the mixture by adding more or less vinegar in. Finally you can add honey (for smoother taste) and herbs. Fill a glass with the mixture and let it rest in the fridge. TIP: Use both light and dark seeds – not for the taste so much but rather for the looks! ■

HO R SE R A DI S H A PPL E DI P text: Adéla Kudrnová | styling: SOFFA | photo: Lina Németh

TIME: 15 min.

INTSTRUCTIONS: Grate both horseradish and apples and mix them together.

PORTIONS: 1 small glass

Add salt and sugar according to your taste.

INGREDIENTS: 2 sweet apples 1 small horseradish root sugar

YO GHU R T DI P W I T H C H I V ES text: Adéla Kudrnová | styling: SOFFA | photo: Lina Németh

TIME: 10 min. PORTIONS: 1 small glass INGREDIENTS: 1 white yoghurt 1 spoon of mayonnaise 1 ½ teaspoon of Tikka Masala 1 teaspoon of Vegeta ½ teaspoon of chive

INSTRUCTIONS: Again the preparation is simple: just mix all the ingredients! ■

T WO CO CK TA I L S F O R T H E S U M M ER text: Adéla Kudrnová | styling: SOFFA | photo: Lina Németh

WE LIKE STYLISH COLOURS AND GOOD DRINKS AND SO WE DECIDED TO LEARN TO PREPARE TWO DELICIOUS COCKTAILS! WE INVITED A BARTENDERING TEAM FROM BARTIDA DEGUSTATION BAR & SHOP TO HELP US WITH COCKTAIL PREPARATION. The combination of summer and the male spirit of this issue is simply ideal for a refreshing cocktail shooting. See it yourself! We spent a half of a day in a pleasant dim atmosphere of the Bartida bar and during that time Tomáš, the bartender, taught us to mix a couple of cocktails. We chose the best two for you. Try them at home! ■

Our special thanks go to BARTIDA DEGUSTATION BAR & SHOP for their cooperation during the cocktail making and for that they let us do the photo-shoot in their premises.

CA I PI R I N H A text: Tomáš Vecko - Bartida | styling: SOFFA | photo: Lina Németh

TIME: 5 min.

INSTRUCTIONS: Get all the ingredients ready first.

PORTIONS: 1 cocktail

Put limes, sugar and syrup in a mixing glass. Mash with muddler and add ice and Cachaca.

INGREDIENTS: 6 cl Cachaca Ypióca ouro 1 cl Giffard Sugar Cane syrup ice ¾ lime 1 teaspoon of cane sugar

Mix well in a shaker and pour into a glass. TIP: Add one or more straws, it will lively up the cocktail. ■

IT IS A PLEASURE TO WATCH TOMAS’S EXPERIENCED HANDS AT WORK. LET HIM INSPIRE YOU TO MAKE YOUR OWN COCKTAILS AT HOME!

CH I L I C UM B ER text: Tomáš Vecko - Bartida | styling: SOFFA | photo: Lina Németh

TIME: 5 min.

INSTRUCTIONS: Get all the ingredients ready first.

PORTIONS: 1 cocktail

Fill a shaker with ice cubes and pour in the gin, cucumber syrup, lemon and lime juice. Add three drops of Pimento chili sauce.

INGREDIENTS: 6 cl Boodles gin 1 cl Giffard cucumber syrup 1 cl fresh lemon and lime juice ice a slice of cucumber 3 drops of Pimento chili sauce

Shake well and pour into a cocktail glass. Decorate with a slice of cucumber and several drops of Pimento.

TIP: Chilicumber is not only delicious, it is also refreshing. Therefore, it is perfect for all summer parties! ■

THE PREPARATION TIME OF THE CHILICUMBER IS ONLY FEW MINUTES; HOWEVER, IT IS CRUCIAL TO HAVE THE RIGHT INGREDIENTS SUCH AS PIMENTO CHILI SAUCE!

FRESH CUCUMBER GIVES THE COCKTAIL FRESH SUMMER TASTE. POURING THE COCKTAIL INTO A GLASS OVER A SIFTER IS A CEREMONIAL ACT AND TOMAS ALWAYS ENJOYS IT!

ADD FEW DROPS OF PIMENTO CHILI SAUCE ONTO THE CUCUMBER SLICE. EVERYBODY WILL APPRECIATE THIS FUNNY DECORATIVE DETAIL – BE IT A GUEST IN THE BAR OR A GUEST TO YOUR PARTY!

WIN A BOW TIE BY BEWOODEN LET US KNOW WHICH ARTICLE IN THIS ISSUE IS YOUR FAVOURITE ONE AND WHY. THE TWO MOST INTERESTING ANSWERS WILL BE REWARDED BY A STYLISH WOODEN BOW TIE BY BEWOODEN! mail to: info@soffamag.com

C HO CO L ATE C H I L I S EA-S A LT C A K E text, styling and photo: Bára Perglová

TICKLE YOUR TASTE BUDS AND TRY OUR NEW CHOCOLATE CHILI CAKE RECIPE – IT WILL MAKE YOUR TONGUE LOSE COOL. IT IS PERFECT FOR EVERY PARTY! TIME: 2 hrs. + 3 hrs. for maturing the dough PORTIONS: 1 large cake INGREDIENTS: DOUGH 125 g almond flour 125 g tapioca flour 100 g butter 70 g cane sugar 2 egg yolks 2 spoons of cocoa

INSTRUCTIONS: Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl and use your hands to knead the dough. Make a loaf and leave to rest in fridge for at least 3 hours. Fill a pot with water (to one third) and boil. In the steam above, in a metal bowl, whisk sugar with eggs and thus prepare “snow” (thick foam). Remove from the heat and keep whisking until it cools down (several minutes). In another bowl above the steam melt chocolate. Remove from the heat and when the chocolate cools down mix in butter, cocoa and chili powder. Then mix the snow in the chocolate mixture. If the cream is too strong, add cream cheese for smoother taste. Leave the cream to rest in fridge for at least one hour To bake the cake corpus you will need a round baking form (preferably with removable rim). Take the cooled loaf of dough out of the fridge ►

CREAM 400 g dark chocolate 150 g butter 100 g cane sugar 100 g creamy cheese (for smoother taste – optional) 2 eggs 2 spoons of cocoa ½ teaspoon coarse sea-salt ¼ - ½ teaspoon of finely ground chili powder 6 - 8 chili peppers for decoration

and use a roller to make it into a 0.5 cm thick slab. Cut out a circle which will create the bottom of the cake. Roll the rest of the dough again and cut out slices of 4 - 5 cm width – these will serve as the sides of the cake – so place them on the inside of the baking form rim. Bake for 160°C in preheated oven for approximately 45 minutes. Do not worry if it is hard to roll the dough and if it tears: simply lay the pieces of dough on the bottom of the baking form and flatten with your hands or using the bottom of a glass. When the corpus is done let it cool down and only after that fill it with the chocolate cream. Decorate with chili peppers and sprinkle with salt: thus the flavour of chocolate will be absolutely exceptional! Preferably let the cake rest until the next day so that the cream links nicely to the corpus and the chocolate absorbs the chili flavour. TIP: If you worry that the sides of the corpus will fall from the rim, put baking paper on the dough and fill the baking form with beans: they will prevent bubbles on the dough as well as deformation of the corpus during baking. ■ Cooking spoon and stone cup, both HNST.LY

THIS RECIPE IS ALSO SUITABLE FOR PALEO DIET FANS AND FOR PEOPLE LIVING A GLUTEN-FREE DIET.

H O M E TO U R S Two cities â&#x20AC;&#x201C; two apartments

T R AP P E D BY DES I G N I CO N S text: Adéla Kudrnová | styling: SOFFA | photo: Lina Németh

NOT EVEN IN OUR DREAMS WE HOPED WE WOULD HAVE THE POSSIBILITY TO PRESENT YOU WITH A CZECH FLAT FULL OF DESIGN ICONS AND CAPTURING THE GENTLEMAN SPIRIT OF ISSUE! This apartment with a gallery is located in the centre of Prague. It is inhabited by Jiří Kučera, an architect who runs – together with his colleague Marek Habr – a studio, showroom and gallery Kvalitář, and whose aim is to interface art, design and architecture. Therefore, it is not surprising that the apartment itself looks like a small gallery and showroom displaying the classics of world design. All is syntonised in a unique style! We spoke to Jiří not only about his apartment but also about architecture and art as such. Get inspired by his attitude to design and living: HOW ARE YOUR PROFESSION AND HOBBIES INTERCONNECTED? I am an architect and I have been making my living through designing over five years now. I work a lot and my job – architecture – is also my greatest hobby. Apart from that I also like to spend my free time with my two children; ideally out of Prague in the countryside. Naturally, I am also very fond of art but I feel closer to it in connection to my profession: that is in connection to specific realisations. Kvalitář, our gallery, is curated by Jana Bernártová. After having considered the atmosphere of the use design market in the Czech Republic and the inaccessibility of certain ► GALLERY: This part of the flat used to be divided from the flat by a wall with windows. Now the gallery is covered and it became a part of the apartment.

design products I started to put emphasis on providing my clients with above-standard design at an acceptable price. Therefore, I like to collect used iconic armchairs by widely known designers. CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT THE BEAUTIFUL FLAT YOU LIVE IN? Unfortunately, I do not own this flat, I only live here :). When I first moved in it was not beautiful at all; after all, the entire house used to be called ‘the house of horror‘. It was in an absolutely terrible state and it consisted of two units. One of these units had been deserted for twenty years perhaps. The aim of the reconstruction, which turned out to be successful, was to significantly lighten up the flat; for instance, from the gallery leading to the courtyard. I managed to create connection between the North and the South and due to the opened gallery the apartment gives a slight impression of a Southern atmosphere. I like classicism because it is organised, pleasant and simple and legible. The spacial dimension of the flat is generous, indeed, and it offers a whole range of dispositional solutions, which are utterly satisfactory. For example, the vaulted bathroom has several individual entrances. I am also very satisfied with the location of the apartment. WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO THE APARTMENT? I designed the interior of the flat and reconstructed it ‘on my knee‘ and it took me over a year to do so. Because of that I have developed a very strong feeling for it. YOUR FLAT IS FULL OF ART AND DESIGN ICONS. WHAT DO YOU LIKE THE MOST ON COLLECTION ART AND FURNITURE? Thanks to the fact that my apartment is so spacious, it also gives space ► GALLERY - DETAILS: Mixture of flowers and remarkable items create interesting corners in the gallery.

DINING ROOM AND LIVING ROOM IN ONE: A dining table is a replica of Vlastislav Hofman (1980s). In front of the sliding metal door there is seating furniture by Vitra and B&B Italia. The paintings are by Milan Houser.

STUDY: The original tiled stove is in a surprising harmony with the replica of LC4 Chaise Longue by Le Corbusier from the 1950s and with the colourful carpet from Jiří’s parents.

to various sofas, armchairs, pieces of art etc. I work with the furniture through projects; often I also buy some pieces of furniture in advance and place them in my flat – this works as a sort of getting-to-know it process. I then sell them. Actually, I can then sell them with much bigger enthusiasm because I got attached to them beforehand. It is just so much different from selling preordered items, I do not do that. You can encounter these design icons here and only here: they are not sold anywhere else in the Czech Republic. That is also why I enjoy the process of treating them. WHAT KIND OF FURNITURE DO YOU LIKE THE MOST? The most I like the timeless things which are practical and decorative at the same time, and which match my aesthetic requirements. On the other hand, I let myself be advised in terms of art. The truth is that in my flat not many pieces of art are in their permanent positions; they are moving constantly. I prefer to consult everything concerning art with our curator. HOW DID YOU REFURBISH THE APARTMENT? It was mainly the second-hand items that I used. Nevertheless, I did not design the kitchen: it is here purely for practical reasons. WHAT DOES THE TERM ‘HOME‘ MEAN TO YOU? It is a place where my children grew up, or where we did. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU NEED TO HAVE IN YOUR FLAT; SOMETHING THAT YOU CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT? I need a place where I can comfortably consult myself. I cannot live without good light, atmospheric lighting even during evenings. But it is the ► PAINTINGS: You will find many paintings in the apartment but only few of them are actually on the walls. These two are by Milan Houser and Eva Eisler.

overall energy of the space that is crucial; not the furnishing but the purity and energy of the space itself. The architecture of materials in a flat should be done perfectly. Only after that there comes the task of decorating the flat with furniture after your grandmother, or the IKEA one. That simply is the task of each architect. WHAT, ON THE OTHER HAND, DO YOU NEVER WANT TO HAVE IN YOUR APARTMENT? WITH WHAT CAN YOU NOT LIVE? I have no television, I can get by without it. WHERE DO YOU SEEK INSPIRATION? DO YOU FOLLOW ANY BLOGS OR TRENDS? I do not follow any blogs. It is more of a naturally evolving scenography. COULD YOU GIVE A PIECE OF ADVICE CONCERNING INTERIOR TO OUR READERS? I guess it is not only for your readers but more generally; I would advise them to inspire themselves mainly with the Western and more sophisticated media and not to limit themselves on the Czech commercial market. The variation of items and materials is limitless so it is enough if people see the world around themselves.

► BEDROOM: On the mattresses made of horsehair there is a plaid from Morocco. The individuality of the interior is underlined by the children’s drawings. The area designed for resting consists of a day-bed by Zanotta above which there is a painting by Petr Duba. The marble vase Bianco on the glass table is by the Studio DeForm. BATHROOM: Who would not like to watch the flames in the fireplace while having a bath?

GUEST ROOM: More design icons – this room is no exception. Jiří had the old functionalist armchair reupholstered with a textile from Lithuania.

WE CAN SEE VARIOUS ITEMS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD; DO YOU TRAVEL A LOT? I used to travel more but one cannot travel as much with children. I have two little girls (4 and 6 years old) and so I do not have as many opportunities now. However, not long ago I went to Romania with them, which was really interesting and adventurous. Morocco is another inspiring place where you can find pure ‘loosean‘ [Adolf Loos] architecture almost at every corner. I really like it there...or Gaza, for example! To me to travel means to discover. Recently I went to Las Vegas on a work trip and that was a whole new experience and inspiration to me as well. DO YOU PLAN ANY FURTHER CHANGES TO YOUR APARTMENT? I plan to repaint it. The plan also is to partially open the gallery and thus create a terrace. I am also considering asking one academic painter to paint me my own motives on the wall. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF THE FLAT AND WHY? The toilet in the gallery is an interesting feature; however, it will have to be removed in the name of the planned reconstruction. When you sit on it you can diagonally see through the flat the square. What I also like is the central multifunctional open space of the kitchen, the dining room and the living room at one, and together with the open space to the bathroom. THERE ARE SEVERAL TWEAKS HERE, SUCH AS A SLIDING DOOR TO SEPARATE THE BATHROOM FROM THE LIVING ROOM. HOW ARE THESE IDEAS BORN? The sliding wall was created by the composition of the steel elements in the bathroom. In the kitchen it is the combination of the fireplace and the hood: they are proportionally in scale. ■

BECO ME O U R PA R T N ER www.soffamag.com terezia@soffamag.com | +420 775 555 035

WE LIKE TO COOPERATE AND PARTICIPATE IN INTERESTING PROJECTS! EVEN YOU OR YOUR COMPANY CAN BE IN OUR NEXT ISSUE, MAKE YOURSELF SEEN ON OUR WEB. DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT US. WE WILL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU!

BL ACK & W HITE OA S I S I N A M S T ER DA M text: Adéla Kudrnová | photo: Desiree Groenendal and Holly Marder

AN AMSTERDAM APARTMENT OF DESIREE GROENENDAL IS A PROOF THAT EVEN MONOCHROMATIC LIVING WITHOUT COLOURS CAN BE VERY COSY AND YET FRESH. HAVE A LOOK YOURSELF! ‘Minimum colours – maximum style’- this is the motto which could characterise an Amsterdam apartment of Desiree Groenendal, an interior designer, blogger and a stylist, who is known mainly for her two blogs Vosgesparis and Amsterdam Next. Apart from blogging she devotes her time to styling and she cooperates on Bloggers Tour project. The current form of the flat, located in a part of Amsterdam called Eastern Docklands, is a result of constant transformation and improvement which started when Desiree’s grown up children moved out. All the changes have been documented on her blog. What you will find in the flat is an interesting mixture of the old and the new, of the top designers’ pieces and handmade stuff, minimalistic layouts and cute little corners. What you will not find is colours. The entire flat is furnished in neutral shades and earthy colours with the dominant black and white combination. Also the materials play an important role: raw concrete, metal and wood of various types and ages. Let yourself be inspired by the personal authentic style of Desiree! Would you like to get to know more about her plans for living, blogging and other projects? Read the interview she gave us below: ► HALLWAY: Still life with a black and white poster of Batgirl which slowly became a design icon.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR BLOGS, YOUR WORK AND YOUR HOBBIES? I think my biggest hobby is my blog Vosgesparis. I blog about interior design, beautiful homes, things I change at home and sometimes I make a little escape towards fashion. On my blog Amsterdam Next I cover cool spots in my hometown. The readers can download a guide where I describe several areas in the city and its stores. It is really hard sometimes to have a day job and being a blogger at the same time. There always seems to be not enough hours in a day. I became quite good in setting my priorities and knowing when to relax and when to work hard. If I am in the right flow I can write one post after another and that gives me time to relax because then I always have something in reserve. I only post what I really love and think for it represents what I want my blog to look like. WHEN DID YOU START WRITING YOUR BLOGS AND WHY? I started writing my blogs at the end of 2007. Before that I was a member of an online home decor forum; together we talked about our homes our discoveries in home decor stores and flea markets and we shared pictures in an online community we made. I used to love making little still lives with flea market items and photographing them. Then one day I came across ‘a blog’ – I remember it was a French blog and I was charmed by how you could write some sentences along with the pictures. I then started my own blog: Vosgesparis. Amsterdam Next, as I now call my city guide, started even earlier. I am definitely taking blogging more seriously now. In the beginning I was just posting pictures for myself and a small group of people. Nowadays I try to write at least three posts per week and occasionally I also run ► KITCHEN: Black wall is sharply contrasting with the whaite countertops which creates perfect background for flowers and the kitchen equipment. Minimalism above all!

DETAILS AND STILL LIFE: Large monochrome areas create a special background for tiny photos and pictures. Desiree can combine the with her personal originality!

giveaways with my sponsors. I am also much more aware of the effect it can have on people’s lives. It is great to see that something you write can inspire people in how they see their own homes and find their own style. HOW DID YOU START WRITING ABOUT YOUR HOME? I have been an interior design lover for years and I used to visit several forums – especially when I decided I needed a place to share my interior pictures. I think blogging is about sharing inspiration and sometimes it is nice to show your readers what you are busy with, in this case it was my home. CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR BEAUTIFUL HOME? It used to be a pretty normal family apartment with three bedrooms, a living room and a kitchen. It is a part of a small neighbourhood on the ground of a former slaughter house in Amsterdam in the Eastern Docklands. It was one of the first new neighbourhoods they built in the area. The Eastern Docklands consist of several islands with modern and different architecture. The part of the city is about 15 minutes walking distance from the main central station. When my kids moved out I converted it to the small city loft it is now and I documented the process on my blog. WHAT WAS THE MAIN FOCUS WHEN FURNISHING AND TRANSFORMING THE APARTMENT? When I started to renovate and change my home I only had an idea in mind about what kind of atmosphere I was after. For me, at that moment, it had to be a light and airy home with raw elements in every room – like the concrete, for example. I first threw away all the pieces I did not have any real connection with anymore, so I had a good base to start with. Over the time I collected some industrial pieces and I used them all in my home. In my bedroom, next to the bed with lots of cushions, I only used a locker and I added a hand-made clothing rack hanging from the ceiling and an industrial chair. I love the combination with white and simple ►

MATERIALS: Black metal, light wood, plastic, concrete and paper â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all the materials have their exceptional characteristics thanks to the neutral colour spectrum of the background.

linen. As for the rest of the apartment I did the same: I combined industrial pieces, such as old army tables, with contemporary chairs and a little bit of IKEA. I do not really buy furniture, most is found in ordinary places like army dumps, and many pieces I have for years. For instance, the old cupboard from my children’s school: I painted it black and wrote a poem on in chalk. I have a few corners with accessories and I like to group them together; a little collection of Scandinavian pieces like candlesticks with black and white pictures in different frame sizes or a group of rubber baskets in the corner. I love an uncluttered home. WHAT THINGS INSPIRE YOU? It’s a cliché to say that you can find inspiration everywhere around you but I think there is something to it. I guess it is all about what you do with it. If I come across something I like, I can use that another time and maybe combine it with something else. There are the impressions in your head which you collected both in real life and online and they allow you to create something new with that item. Travelling inspires me; it makes my head empty and opens doors for new projects. It makes me happy and gives me that free feeling the world is at your feet and you only have to explore it and find new opportunities. AS READERS OF YOUR BLOG, WE CAN SEE THAT YOU QUITE OFTEN MAKE CHANGES TO YOUR PLACE. HOW OFTEN DO YOU DO CHANGES AND WHAT IS THE NEXT ONE YOU ARE PLANNING TO MAKE? Most of my furniture does not change that often but everything else is really easy to turn into something new. I love to make small corners that I decorate with black and white pictures and various items. Getting a small ► WORK SPACE: More paintings and posters. The clean base of the room provides a perfect space for concentration! Desiree has everything she needs here.

BEDROOM: White linen is the base of the minimalistic bedroom in which Desiree likes to rest. The iron chair instead of a bed table is original and practical at the same time!

new item for my home can make me come up with a new layout, moving a cupboard or changing the positioning on the wall. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PIECE AT YOUR PLACE? My favourite piece in my apartment is an old industrial card which I found in a container on the street. I combined it with shiny tiles with monochrome motifs. It is the combination of materials that makes it unique. ARE THERE ANY DESIGNERS THAT INSPIRE YOU? I have a crush for Paola Navone. The places designed by her and also many pieces of her furniture they are totally my taste. She often uses combinations of different materials such as wood and stone. It gives her interiors something unexpected and a kind of raw elegance I also love to use in my own home. DO YOU FOLLOW THE CURRENT TRENDS WITHIN INTERIOR DESIGN? Even if you say you do not follow trends I think we all take something along and use it in our homes. Several years ago, for example, I could not think I would use marble in my home again but seeing it used in a beautiful clean and contemporary way by several Scandinavian designers it is not very hard to adopt a trend. I think that in this case black and mostly white marble really suits my monochrome home. YOU ARE PART OF A DESIGN BLOGGERS COLLECTIVE BLOGGERS TOUR. WHAT DOES THE FUTURE OF THIS PROJECT LOOK LIKE? We are passionate about good design and we spend time in different European cities. We get on really well and love to travel together. This autumn the group will come to Amsterdam and I am working hard to fill our days together with great places and activities. We will continue to visit various cities and fairs and who knows where we will be heading next. â&#x2013; Learn more about Desiree, her living and work here.

T R AV EL Sussex coast

SE V EN S I S T ER S text, styling and photo: Bára Perglová

COME WITH US TO THE COAST OF SOUTH ENGLAND WHERE WEATHERPROOF BRITONS DO NOT MISS OUT ON A SINGLE CHANCE TO SWIM IN THE SEA UNTIL LATE SEPTEMBER. LATE SUMMER AT SEASHORE CAN BE VERY WELCOMING! South-East of England is immensely rich in natural beauties and breathtaking sceneries. We headed towards the headland Beachy Head to the Southeastern tip of the island and we were charmed by miraculous cliffs and mythical places with unknown origin, which – perhaps for that reason – attract visitors from all over the world. The South-East of England is the most densely populated area of the United Kingdom but it is also very rich for various bicycle paths and pathways cutting through quiet countryside, distant from busy city-life. We went to the county of East Sussex to see the famous chalk cliffs called Seven Sisters and the nearby Country Park Seven Sisters. We ended our trip at the viewpoint from where you can see a silhouette of a man engraved in the rock: the famous Long Man of Wilmington. WHAT TO DO AND SEE AT BEACHY HEAD: The entire region of Southeastern is full of satisfactions for all lovers of outdoor activities. The regional tourist agencies provide vast range of maps and guides for both hiking and cycling but also for paragliding and yachting. We discovered the best tourist guides and publications on tra-velling in this area in the National Trust store by the Birling Gap bistro. The SouthEast offers several long-distance tours (about 250 km): for more information on bicycle paths in the region go to the National Cycle Network. Those who love hiking have many possibilities to follow the long-distant ►

SOFT GRASS INVITES FOR A REST WHILST THE TREASURES OF NATURE MAKE YOU WANT TO PLAY! WE ENJOYED BUILDING FROM PEBBLES AND SMALL STONES.

HOW TO GET HERE: There are regular buses from the Victoria Station in London, from Brighton and from Eastbourne to the Seven Sisters Country Park. For more information on travelling by bus from Brighton go to Brighton & Hove Buses. If you prefer trains, go to Southern Railways website to check the times and the prices or to the website of The Trainline. You can also use the Stage Coach Bus journey planner or Traveline South East for travelling around the South-East and the area around London. Nevertheless, it is the best to travel around Susses by car: it gives you the freedom to fully experience all the uniqueness this region has to offer. If you do not have your own car, you can always rent if from the car rental in Eastbourne or Brighton.

THE LIGHT COLOUR OF THE LIGHTHOUSES MATCHES WITH THE COLOUR OF THE CLIFFS; THAT IS WHY THE LIGHTHOUSES SEEM TO BE A NATURAL PART OF THE SCENERY!

routes of which many of them have also the shorter versions suitable for less demanding trips. If you take the shorter version, however, it does not mean that you would miss the beautiful scenery. On our one-day trip we managed to cover only a small part of the breathtaking nature but we did not have a reason to regret because even such a small area like the Country Part, located between Brighton and Easbourne, offered us a whole-day programme. Our first stop was at the sea-shore at the Birling Gap bistro. The parking ticket there costs £2 for four hours (which gives you enough time to walk over at least two or three hillside sea-cliffs). Furthermore, the cost of the ticket is returned to you if you buy refreshment in the bistro. Should you keep following the sea-cliff’s edge, the pathway would lead you to the Belle Tout Lighthouse, where you can also get something small to eat or drink from the local stall. Then it is up to you where to go, the pathway along the cliff continues up and down, from a cliff to a cliff. The path is not difficult to walk, plus you can stop anytime and have a break, sit on the freshly green grass and enjoy the lovely views across the open sea. The weather on the tops is very pleasant: when we were there the sun was shining and there was only a mild breeze. Nevertheless, if you come here when the weather is cold, we definitely recommend taking a good hat with you: if the weather changes suddenly and it becomes windy, you might get unpleasantly surprised. What is interesting about this place is that there are not seven cliffs but eight; the area is named after seven sisters which used to have their houses in between the cliffs. On your way to the Seven Sisters Country Park make sure you stop at the Seven Sisters Sheep Centre which is on the way and so you will not miss it. In the barn from the 17th century there is the biggest private collection of sheep. One can see over 50 different kinds of sheep. This unique sheep centre has its own spring and summer programme. From March to April you can feed little sheep from a bottle; in summer between July and ►

THE MUST-SEES: If you stay for longer pay a visit to Eastbourne, Lewes and Brighton. Eastbourne is a quiet and neat city which will be very much to your taste if you enjoy clean pebble beaches. If you like the opposite, go to the cosmopolitan city of Brighton and get lost in the Brighton Pier complex: over a hundred years old pier which now serves as a pleasure pier and is filled with attractions. For us the most beautiful place was Lewes, a lovely town where you can rest as well as explore sites with dramatic history: a place ideal for afternoon trips!

September you can (apart from feeding the sheep) attend sheep shearing, ride a tractor or simply pet the baby sheep. The entry fee is £6 (per adult) and £5 (per child) but there are also special prices for disabled persons, families and groups. From the Sheep Centre continue towards the natural beauties, vast plains and meanders of the Country Park. Before you enter, pay a visit to the nearby visitors’ centre. Not only will it charm you with the original barn from the 18th century, you will also find useful information about the history of the park, geology and the animal inhabitants of the park. Then you can set of for a walk on one of the four indicated. We chose one on which we did not meet a living soul for a long time and which led across the grassy hills with peaceful sheep. On this route you will get the best and most beautiful views on the plain with meanders form the 19th century created by the river Cuckmere. According to the maps every route should be approximately an hour and a half long but you need to add some time for those breaks and pauses that you will take in order to enjoy the views with the pebble coastline far on the horizon. All the paths are intertwined and they will all lead you back to the parking place by the visitors’ centre. We walked for many miles over the cliffs and in the park and so our last stop was a relaxing one. If you follow the road A27 in the Southeastern direction, you will reach the town of Wilmington – there is a byroad leading to a viewpoint from where you can see the unique 70-metres long silhouette of a man engraved in to rock, the so-called Long Man of Wilmington. The road is not well indicated and you can easily miss it, so just remember that it is in the direction from Eastbourne to Lewes, on the left hand side just on the edge of the Wilmington town. If you would like to see the gigantic man more closely, set off along a pathway about which you can get informed in any tourist centre.

►

WHERE TO STAY: In the area of Beachy Head there are se-veral holiday cottages: naturally, these are the most luxurious and the most expensive places of accommodation. The aforementioned Tiger Inn is slightly cheaper. It is rather a small guesthouse with five private rooms with breakfast included in the price. If you want an extraordinary experience, rent a room in the Belle Tout Lighthouse. From here you will have a marvelous view across the sea. Other hotels around the Birling Gap vary accor-ding a price category: you can view the offer at Pictures of England, for instance. Or you can use our favourite Airbnb and live with the locals: thus you will discover the region like a true explorer and get the information from the source; that is the people who live here. WHAT AND WHERE TO DRINK AND EAT: In the Birling Gap bistro you will find a decent offer of main courses as well as small snacks. Sandwiches cost around £3.50, soups are from £7 and main courses from £12. Make sure that you taste the local homemade cakes and lemonades. Just a small distance beyond the Sheep Centre (approximately 100 metres) there is Beachy Head Brewery. It is a small brewery house with a great philosophy: brew great beer from the best ingredients. From Gilbert’s Drive there is a byroad leading to a nearby Tiger Inn. Their kitchen offers rich breakfast, lunch and supper menu. The prices are from £5 to £15. The Tiger Inn has a long tradition and has been serving traditional English means and good beer and wine since the 16th century. Not far from The Tiger Inn there is a pleasant cafe called Hiker’s Rest. It is a perfect place to rest with a cup of coffee and a homemade cake. They offer light and freshly made meals which they also offer as a take-away. ►

AND THE BEST AT THE END! THE FAMOUS SILHOUETTE OF THE LONG MAN OF WILMINGTON WAS A MUST-SEE.

WHAT AND WHERE TO BUY: In this area you will find many shops which are also linked to cafes or small bistros. At the Birling Gap there is also a visitors’ centre and a small shop selling local products from fashion accessories and ceramics to art products and practical beach equipment. Here we found great publications for trips in the surroundings of Sussex and tips for long hikes as well as short walks. Those who are gourmets should definitely pay a visit to the Village Deli store. Apart from being a cafe, where you can taste the local cuisine delicacies, the Village Deli is also a shop where you can buy groceries from all over the world. Kathy and Andy, the chefs choose the products themselves and so you can be sure to find the best of fruits, vegetables, English wines, chocolate and spices. If it is the products of local farmers that you prefer, visiting the market at Gilbert’s Drive is definitely the thing for you. You will find various meat products, vegetables and fruit as well as products made by local artists. The farmers’ market takes place every Wednesday from 10 to 12.30. Hiker’s Rest tearoom is also a gift shop where you can find presents for anyone. The products are predominantly crafted and artistic items. ■ FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO: www.beachyhead.org.uk www.sevensisters.org.uk/index.html

DI Y PRO J EC T S Projects not only for men

LE AR N TO T IE A T I E A N D A B OW T I E text: Adéla Kudrnová | styling: SOFFA | photo: Lina Németh

EVERY GENTLEMAN SHOULD KNOW HOW TO TIE A TIE AND A BOW TIE. WE HAVE PREPARED FOR YOU SIMPLE MANUALS THAT YOU CAN PRINT OUT. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THEY WILL COME IN HANDY! Even if you do not have to wear a suit to work and you have never worn a bow tie before, you never know when you find yourself in a situation of having to face the mission to tie your own bow tie. We know that to tie a neat know on a tie is a mission impossible for many guys and so they do not untie the knots on their ties which ruins the textile. Lenka, our designer, has prepared two practical and stylish manuals to tie a tie and a bow tie. We hope every gentleman will appreciate them. All you need to do is to download them from our website, print them out and stick it into your wardrobe like a poster. Honza, our production manager folded it in his wallet to be able to carry it everywhere with him! The most important thing when you tie your tie or your bow tie is to be able to harmonise the knot with the shirt and the suit. There are numerous ways of how to tie a knot – generally they are divided into two groups of tie knots: small ones and big ones. The easiest knot is the socalled Four-in-hand knot (here is the manual for it). However, we chose the more difficult one – the Windsor knot. Concerning the bow tie, the easies is to have a pre-tied ‘clip-on‘ bow tie but why not to learn how to tie it yourself? After all, a loosened bow tie around a man’s neck at the end of a party is so sexy! ■ Tie and bow tie, both Le Premier

T HE WIN DS O R T I E K N OT text: Lenka Hlaváčová | styling: SOFFA | illustration: Lenka Hlaváčová photo: Lina Németh

DIFFICULTY: medium TIME: 5 min. WHAT YOU NEED: tie colour printer papers

The windsor tie knot is one of the so-called big tie knots; it is wide, symmetrical and look well in an open collar. It gives a dominant impression and it fills the space between the tips of the collar nicely. DOWNLOAD THE MANUAL HERE.

►

INSTRUCTIONS: Print the manual in colour. You can then stick it in your wardrobe so that you have it in front of yourself when you tie your tie. Put the tire around your neck around the collar of your shirt so that you have the loose ends on your belly. The wider end should be on the right hand side and significantly longer than the thinner end (approximately 30 cm). From now on you will be working with the wider end of the tie. Cross the wider end over the thin end. Pull it through the new loop in the direction from below. It should be pointing to the left now. Lead the wide end below the loose part of the thin end of the tie. The wide end is now pointing to the right, is in a horizontal position and you can see the reverse side of it. Lead it through the loop by your neck. Let it go down so that the reverse of the wide end is pointing down and to the left. Lead the wide end over the thin end. Lead it through the loop by your neck from below. Finally lead the wide end through the horizontal loop on the tie. Tighten the tie and make it look neat. TIP: Try to make a ‘dimple‘ on your tie. It is done in the last step: create a slot in the centre of the knot by moving your finger on the final loop before tightening it. When tightening slowly pull your finger out! ■

HOW TO TIE

TH E WINDSOR K NOT

A B OW T I E text: Lenka Hlaváčová | styling: SOFFA | illustration: Lenka Hlaváčová photo: Lina Németh

DIFFICULTY: medium TIME: 5 min. WHAT YOU NEED: bow tie colour printer paper

A bow tie is suitable for more formal occasions such as weddings, balls etc. It looks best in combination with a tuxedo! Learn to tie a bow tie in the traditional way, it is not that difficult! A tied bow tie should never be wider than the widest part of your neck. It should not extend beyond the collar of your shirt. A bow tie goes best with two types of collars: business (the most frequent, standard collar) and tuxedo (stand-up collar which is appropriate only for evening). DOWNLOAD THE MANUAL HERE. ►

INSTRUCTIONS: Print the manual in colour. You can then stick it in your wardrobe so that you have it in front of yourself when you tie your bow tie. Place your bow tie around your neck around the raised collar of your shirt. The left end of your bow tie should be longer than the right one (approximately 5 cm). Now you will be working with the longer end. Cross the longer end over the shorter one. Lead it from below through the loop by your neck and place it on your right shoulder. Fold the bottom end to the right and then back, you will get a little s-like shape. On the left side you will have the loose end and on the right side you will have the right part of the bow. Fold the loose end at the distance of the future bow width and you will get the second half of the bow – lead the loop upwards. Lead the loop from behind so that it is behind the right part of the bow. Tighten the bow tie and make the bow look neat. TIP: If you are wearing a bow tie, do not forget to fold a handkerchief in the pocket of your jacket – it is a must! ■

HOW TO TIE

A BOW TIE

ST Y L ISH BUS I N ES S C A R D C A S E text: Adéla Kudrnová | styling: Lenka Hlaváčová | photo: Lina Németh

ONLY A VERY FEW PAPER THINGS HAVE NOT LOST THEIR MEANING IN THE INTERNET AGE. ONE OF THEM IS THE PHENOMENON OF BUSINESS CARDS! MAKE YOUR OWN ORIGINAL BUSINESS CARD CASE! DIFFICULTY: medium TIME: 30 min. WHAT YOU NEED: felt (min. 40 × 13 cm) thin leather / leather imitation (23 × 13 cm) papers for the template print thread (sewing machine) printer scissors textile glue textile chalk /marker pins needle

Have you got beautiful business cards and all you missing is a practical case for them? Lenka, our designer, has prepared for you a simple manual for a hand-made leather/felt business card case. You can make it yourself! All you need to do is to select the colours! What a perfect present for your dad, brother or boyfriend, what do you think? INSTRUCTIONS: Print out the template and cut it out. Cut out a rectangle of 23 × 13 cm from the felt – this will serve as a piece I. Have the leather/ imitation of leather ready in the same size. Cover both pieces (leather and felt) with glue and stick them together – press them against each other and let them dry. Copy the template on the felt side of the part I by using a chalk for textile and cut out. Then on the felt side of the part I sew pockets for business cards. The bottom line of ►

the bottom pocket will be aligned with the edge of the main part. The second pocket will be mirroring the first one and its bottom line will be 13.5 cm far from the edge of the main part. Use pins to attach the pockets to the main part. You can even attach a loop under the top pocket. Sew both pockets on three sides approximately 0.5 cm from the edge. To the obverse of the part I (approximately 2.5 cm far from the side) attach a strap for easier manipulation. But you can also make a little hole in the middle of the lapel and lead a strap through it â&#x20AC;&#x201C; this will enable you to tie your case. â&#x2013;

Bag Frazer, Eggo

IN THE WAY LENKA DESIGNED IT, THE BUSINESS CARD CASE CAN ALSO SERVE AS A WALLET FOR COINS, CARS ETC. SET YOUR IMAGINATION FREE!

E V EN T S C A L EN DER Events you should not miss!

AUGUST PRAGUE / CZECH REPUBLIC Unikáty zemských muzeí / Národní muzeum / August 5. - 27. 2014

POPRAD / SLOVAKIA Pecha Kucha Night / August 20. 2014

LONDON / GREAT BRITAIN Designs of the Year / Design Museum / March 26. - August 25. 2014 SAO PAULO / BRAZIL Sao Paulo Design Weekend / August 14. - 17. 2014

SEPTEMBER

VENEZIA / ITALY Venice Architecture Biennale / June 7. - November 23. 2014

BRATISLAVA / SLOVAKIA Bratislava Design Week / September 22. - 28. 2014

VIENNA / AUSTRIA SHOEting Stars. Shoes in Art and Design / Kunst Haus Wien / June 18. - October 5. 2014

MLADÁ BOLESLAV / CZECH REPUBLIC Roztočte kola designu / September 12. - 14. 2014

FRANKFURT / GERMANY Mezinárodní veletrh Tendence / August 30. - September 2. 2014

HELSINKI / FINLAND Helsinki Design Week / September 4. - 14. 2014

PRAGUE / CZECH REPUBLIC Pecha Kucha Night/ Kino Aero / September 24. 2014

LONDON / GREAT BRITAIN London Design Festival / September 13. - 21. 2014

PRAGUE / CZECH REPUBLIC Prague Fashion Week /

BRUSSELS / BELGIUM

September 8. - 14. 2014

Brussels Design September / September 9. - 30. 2014

PARIS / FRANCE Paris Design Week / September 9. - 14. 2014 PRAGUE / CZECH REPUBLIC Mercedes-Benz Prague Fashion Weekend / Právnická fakulta / September 3. - 7. 2014 JABLONEC NAD NISOU / CZECH REPUBLIC Mezinárodní trienále skla a bižuterie / Muzeum skla a bižuterie / June 29. - October 28. 2014

BERLIN / GERMANY Vasilij Kandinskij: Teaching at the Bauhaus / Bauhaus – Archiv / June 25. - September 8. 2014 LJUBLJANA / SLOVENIA BIO 50 / September 18. - December 7. 2014 VIENNA / AUSTRIA Vienna Design Week / September 26. - October 5. 2014

E D ITO R I A L S TA F F www.soffamag.com

ADÉLA KUDRNOVÁ editor in chief

LINA NÉMETH photographer

adela@soffamag.com

info@soffamag.com

LENKA HLAVÁČOVÁ art director | designer

JAN FRÝDL production manager

lenka@soffamag.com

info@soffamag.com

KATEŘINA KREJČÍ english translation

MARTINA SULKOVÁ social media

TERÉZIA BĚLČÁKOVÁ marketing & PR terezia@soffamag.com | +420 775 555 035

CO N T R I B U TO R S BÁRA PERGLOVÁ baraperglova.com

KVĚTINOVÉ LAHŮDKÁŘSTVÍ wegrowflowers.cz

DESIREE GROENENDAL vosgesparis.com

JAN KALUŽNÝ

DO NOT MISS OUR NEXT ISSUE

IN OCTOBER

VOLUME | 03

f i p l m