A Peek Inside a Prague Home
It’s always exciting to tour a new home. You open every door, eager to peek into each room.
But what happens when there’s only one door to open? Welcome to a rare Open House in the Hooked on Houses home tour. I’d like to show you is a 350 square foot condo in Prague.
Prague is the only Central European capital that wasn’t bombed during the last century’s wars. There’s amazing Art Nouveau, statues, and spires throughout the city, so it’s easy to see why Old Town Prague is fast becoming one of the world’s biggest tourist destinations. Who could resist these breathtaking images?
Sunsets over the The City of Spires
Most tourists never end up seeing more than these sights, which is understandable. Should you decide to wander beyond the tourist track, you’re bound to run into some homes like our featured home. But before we get there, I’m sure you’d catch a glimpse of buildings like the one below. These apartment complexes were built during the 40+ year reign of communism with a lot of concrete slabs and few (or no) elevators. The easiest way to spot them? They’re ugly. They were built as fast as possible in attempt to resolve a severe housing shortage, and you can find them throughout the country.
Communist era construction - home to thousands today
Let’s keep stepping a little further from the center of the city where we can see beautiful, modern housing developments like this one that we’re about to walk into.
Prague housing built since the fall of communism
Before I take you inside, you have to promise me one thing. Promise you’ll say Prague, Czech Republic. Saying Czechoslovakia is SO 90s because you know what? Czechoslovakia hasn’t even existed since 1993 - back when things like jelly shoes and saying “rad” where going out of style. The former communist country dissolved into the Czech Republic and Slovakia on January 1, 1993.
So you promise to say Czech Republic? And never, ever Czechoslovakia again? Yeah! That makes me so happy.
Okay, then here she is:
Like I said: a one-door house.
Closet for EVERYTHING on the right there.
Tiny bathroom on the left.
If you can squish a washing machine into the house, this is where it would go - somewhere in that bathroom. You’d have to dry your clothes on a fold up line. Maybe in the entry?
The multi-purpose, every-purpose room.
I love how efficient this home is. The couch turns into a bed at night. The white box under the window is a hot water heater with a small dial control. Heat comes from a central system for the entire building, as do hot and cold water. And isn’t that wood floor beautiful? How about a view of the other side of the room? It’s taken from in front of the chair above:
I’m so sorry - I should have made you some tasty kolach here in the kitchen
The stove and oven are behind me on your left. There is no microwave (where would you put it?!). The fridge is the cabinet next to all the drawers. Americans might describe it as dorm-size, but a fridge like that is actually pretty common here in Europe. (In Berlin where I live, we have to go to the grocery store a little more often than in the US, but stores are in walking distance. Food is packaged in smaller quantities, too. It’s easier to carry your groceries that way, and you don’t need space to store huge containers of flour and a gallon of milk.)
This last year, we celebrated Christmas in the traditional Czech way… which included carp for dinner!
If you enjoyed this small apartment tour, you might like Joann’s 20 square foot kitchen and chef and author Mark Bittman’s tiny space. But you’d better get moving. It’s getting a bit cramped in here with all of us, and I can’t find any more kitchen chairs.
(Photography by Martin Clemons for Making This Home except communist sample by Jackson.)
Related posts:
- October 2008: Most Popular Articles on Making This Home
- A Traditional Czech Christmas
- Earthship Tour (or Tire House Tour)
October 24th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Wow, they really do living efficiently in Europe! And city life is so much different than suburban life in the States! I’m confused though, do you live the CR or in Germany? Thanks for the tour!
October 24th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
small, but cute! actually, that bathroom is bigger than ours, if you can believe that. our kitchen is bigger - but with only one electrical outlet, we haven’t bothered with having a microwave either.
i love this tour! i’ll be back…
October 24th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Hi Katie!
You have to visit this blog I just found…she was born in Prague and now lives in Ohio
http://ivanhoe76.blogspot.com/
Bella
October 24th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Hi,
what a great post and how awesome those pictures are!
I know, I hate the commie housing (Panelaky)! The sad thing is that the new housing developments don’t look much different - they are painted in pink and green instead of the horrible concrete gray but that’s about it…I think…..but than again I may be too critical…but I can’t help it, I am Czech, it’s in my genes…
I am linking you right now!
October 24th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
I love small spaces. Always lived small! A tiny apartment in Zurich for years, then in Boston with my husband, and now living in my newly remodeled Dutch Colonial feels like living very large at 1780 sqf…., but all the rooms are rather small so I still get that super cozy feeling. I would feel right at home at your lovely place.
October 24th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
Love those photos. I love small and cozy.
October 24th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Katie: Firts of all, I could just kiss you for the paragraph about Czechoslovakia being the 90s. It does get annoying when people still call the Czech Republic that. And second, I’m happy that your friend pointed me out and I was able to visit you. I’ll be back :o)
I’m off to check out Tanja’s blog.
Bella: Thank you ;o)
October 24th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Looks very much like the communist-era apartment I was in in Tallin, Estonia. We are so spoiled in the US!
October 24th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Hi Katie!
I love your apartment. And the beautiful photography, too. And I really didn’t know about the Czech Republic thing, either, but now I’ll call it that! You have a very cozy, sweet place and I’m glad we got to get a glimpse of it!
P.S. You are right about the mountain homes - I hadn’t thought about it, but it didn’t have the usual wildlife in it! lol
October 24th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
Katie–
I think yours was one of the most interesting posts on our tour today. Loved it! It’s so much fun to get a peek inside how other people live around the world. From now on I will always think of you when I hear “Czech Republic” and will be sure to correct anyone who calls it “Czechoslovakia.” Ha. I don’t want to be stuck in the ’90s.
And you’re so right that we usually see those grand sights when we hear about Prague and would rarely have a chance to see how regular people live there.
Thanks so much for joining the blog party! -Julia
October 24th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
This was a great tour! I’ve never been out of the US except for Mexico and Canada, so it was really interesting. The city is beautiful and I think your little home is perfectly cozy
rue
October 24th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
Thanks for this very interesting tour, as well as lesson! Karrie has a smaller bathroom than that, too:)
Thanks for sharing!
Karla & Karrie
October 24th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Thank you all for the great comments. I apologize if I may have confused you. I have visited this home in Prague and it’s owners many times, but I do not live there. My husband and I live in Berlin, Germany.
Bella: Thank you for connecting me to a Czech expat.
Just wait’ll you learn about some of the Czech Christmas traditions we’ll be partaking in this year…
Katie
October 24th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
A history lesson and a peak inside a Czech Republic condo - thanks! The contrast between the pre- and post Communism construction is fascinating.
October 25th, 2008 at 12:59 am
Hi Katie…Loved your wonderful post today…think I’ll add you to my blog list, OK?
Bo
October 25th, 2008 at 3:59 am
Your home is wonderful, so quaint and cozy!
October 25th, 2008 at 4:43 am
Great tour; so informative! I already knew to call it the Czech Republic, though! This apartment reminds me of many in New York. The only thing I couldn’t handle would be no microwave. I only need 1 burner on a stove, so maybe I’d keep it there!
October 25th, 2008 at 5:07 am
such a beautiful city! Wonderful cozy home. I love the idea of shopping more often and buying and storing less on a daily basis.
Thanks for the great tour in the Czech Republic!!
October 25th, 2008 at 5:28 am
Hi Katie, thanks for letting me know about your article. My husband was very shocked when he visited my studio in the Czech Republic. It was quite small but I liked it.
October 25th, 2008 at 7:49 am
Wow! What amazing majestic buildings.
I no longer feel so bad about my small house. It’s almost a McMansion next to some of those rooms!
And I swear, I’ll only say Czech Republic. Honest.
October 25th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Now I HAVE to visit Prague. A friend of mine visited a couple years ago, and to hear him describe it…let’s just say I wanted to visit with just his words. Now, with pictures, I really need to make my way there. I think there is something to be said for a small fridge. Less room for stuff to go bad or uneatten because you can’t see it…and we already visit the grocery store on at least a bi-weekly basis (I hate grocery shopping). Europe would suit us just fine.
October 26th, 2008 at 3:44 am
[...] Americans married to a Czech spouse. Currently, they live in Berlin in a 480 square feet apartment. Check out her article about visiting a Czech flat. It is full of great pictures and observations - exactly how I remember my life in the Czech [...]
October 26th, 2008 at 6:01 am
I have been itching to get to Prague for EVER, so I’m loving this post (And the links you’ve shared). Isn’t it amazing the “style” of buildings that were made in the communist era — in the name of efficiency?? Many generations prior were efficient with space, but never ugly.
I’m all about the small ‘fridge. We’re not big fans of processed foods (nor are Europeans) so even though it’s a bit of a chore to shop a few times each week, fresh is best.
Thanks for the great tour. I’m so happy to meet your blog!
October 26th, 2008 at 9:27 am
This was really interesting. I went to Prague once right after college - but having very little money, we didn’t travel around too much. Actually - it was a great destination for young poor Americans in the mid 90s when we visited because everything was incredibly inexpensive and the stores and restaurants accepted US dollars. I think that city was my favorite stop on our trip and it was an exciting time to be there - so much renovation and change.
October 26th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
I love small spaces. They force you to be efficient and creative, and that’s the best kind of living. Thanks for the tour, and thanks for stopping by my blog earlier.
October 26th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
Thank you for showing us how the locals live! I have been to several countries in Europe but I have only done the touristy things. Your blog entry helped me to fill in some of the blanks. Great tour! KV
October 26th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
Great to see inside some more REAL homes
Certainly compact living - I would have to be so much tidier to live here.
Our fridge in Ireland is about the same size, but dreaming of a huge fridge with ice dispenser….planning a makeover of our kitchen.
October 27th, 2008 at 1:20 am
Hi..my first time on your blog, I saw you on Laura’s site….I adore Germany and have been there many times. Mostly to Munich…I had to laugh about the size of your apartment as I just wrote about living in Paris one summer and our studio was so small it was ridiculous….I had to cook in a toaster oven! I also enjoyed your pictures of the German markets. I remember them well and all the beautiful flowers they had…Sue.
October 27th, 2008 at 1:36 am
Great tour! I want to live there!
October 27th, 2008 at 1:45 am
Thanks for writing to me about the taxes. The person I was speaking of was military wife. So I assume she had access to a truck. As she made a hall on cool thing to bring back with them. It was years ago and I know longer know he. My husbands root come from Baden Germany And New offenberg. in the 1849’s I did family research in the 1999-2001 area. His family was all of German decent. They were Hermann. Till his siblings were changed to 1 n by his parents for some reason. Were did you come from in Us. I am in Mo. I read you want peanut butter cups. email me an address I will see what I can do to send you some.
Grammy
October 27th, 2008 at 5:30 am
Wow, you do live small over there, I read in England they too have small fridge, and shop more often. We
go once a month for main and little things once or twice but we have to drive 25 miles, I live in the country
in Mississippi. I am glad you got to visit show and tell. Have fun deco your place. Oh I love the scarf on the
coffee table.
October 27th, 2008 at 8:06 am
That is really cool! I love to see into other people’s houses. My brother spent a year in Prague while getting his doctorate in Medieval History, and loved it so much he chose to spend his sabbatical last year back in Prague.
October 29th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
I recognize that heater! That’s what we had in our stairwell apartment in Germany. Our washer and dryer was in the basement of the building. Do whole families live in apartments that small?
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:10 am
Hi Katie,
Our readers are also from the Czech Republic, thus we also translated your article to Czech. Here it is:
http://czechfolks.com/2008/10/30/ceske-byty-z-pohledu-americana-v-prekladu-czech-apartments-by-americans-translated-to-czech/
December 1st, 2008 at 11:16 pm
[...] My mother-in-law is from Prague. She will be whipping up a traditional Czech Christmas dinner that I will be sharing with you along with all the German and Czech treats and traditions. [...]
December 15th, 2008 at 11:05 am
[...] kitchen. Think you could manage in such a small space? Check here for a complete tour of a Czech kitchen and home we love to visit–that house is smaller than our own! [...]
December 21st, 2008 at 2:09 pm
[...] Thinking of moving abroad? Check out what an apartment in Prague looks like. Love, love, love those views! [...]
December 29th, 2008 at 9:38 am
[...] We finished the night with wishes for a Merry Christmas. “VESELÉ VÁNOCE!” If you want to know about day to day life in the capital of the Czech Republic, you’d enjoy this Peek Inside a Prague Home. [...]
January 10th, 2009 at 8:11 am
[...] ::Surroundings:: 18. Ms.Tee @ Delightful Home (corrected link) 19. Katie in Prague 20. laura @ the shorehouse 21. Bella Casa Hell, MI House Tour 22. More-Than-Heirlooms 23. Canyon [...]
February 3rd, 2009 at 3:21 pm
These pictures are so beautiful! I’ve always wanted to go to Prague.
April 6th, 2009 at 8:41 am
It has been a few years but Prague is one of my favorite places in Europe. It is a city with great character. I remember young people in the city center playing, not guitars, but violins. There is a unique atmosphere that visitors quickly come to appreciate.