Alex Rambousková, founder of the holistic beauty concept Beloved, prefers a neutral colour palette as well as mindfulness in both her professional and personal life. She naturally filled her apartment (and our interview) with harmony, true calm and sheer optimism.

Read on to find out what the term "wellbeing" means to her, what she went through during her apartment renovations and why she fell in love with Lejaan bedding.

Alex, you are the founder of Beloved - a beauty concept dedicated to holistic care and a curated selection of quality products. What inspired you to create it?

A story as old as the business itself. I couldn't find what I was looking for on the market. A place that combines quality, aesthetics and a welcoming environment. A brand that chooses products from a broader perspective, looking for solutions to problems from different angles. Beloved sees things holistically, for example, that beautiful skin is not just about applying the right cream, but also about vitamins and supplements.

What does wellbeing mean to you and how do you try to incorporate it into your everyday lifestyle?

I still haven't found a Czech equivalent for this word. If you search for a description of it in literature, you’ll most often come across the phrase: "A general feeling of calm in all areas of life."

Wellbeing is within us and around us. You can't achieve an overall sense of well-being without balance, harmony and taking care of yourself and your health. Ask yourself, “What rituals would your day have to have to make you constantly feel a sense of well-being?” Your answer will outline what your personal wellbeing is. Whatever wealth we feel inside, can then be experienced on the outside. It doesn't really work the other way around.

When you hear the word 'timeless’, what is the first thing that comes to mind?

Something that, without doubt, I'll still like for ages. The choice is my own and comes from what I personally really like. I try not to adopt other people's opinions.

What do Beloved and Lejaan concepts have in common?

A strong need to offer people quality products and help them develop their sense of wellbeing.

You renovated your apartment with the help of DŮMYSL studio. What was the most important thing for you during the whole process?

Probably to make sure the space reflects our need for calm. For the space to be in tune with what we believe and how we see the world. Martin from DŮMYSL studio had a pretty hard time with us, but he was ever so understanding. We always agreed in the end, finding a solution that suited us all. Now, retrospectively, we’re truly grateful to him and recommend him to all our friends.

What moment during the renovations was the most difficult for you?

We bought a new, completely finished apartment. However, we knew it didn't match our idea of what we wanted to live in. We sat over the plans and finally decided to completely change its layout, to rip out the floors, replace the new kitchen... At one point there was just concrete and bricks everywhere. It was costly and time-consuming. But we don't regret doing so!

And what, on the other hand, was the best moment?

When we realized, what changes it brought!

What does home mean to you and what makes a home?

People and emotions make a home. Little beautiful moments of everyday life. Playing with the kids, a kiss on the cheek from my husband, the smell of coffee, laughter, the sound of cutting food, reading a bedtime story in bed.

Which part of your home is your favourite?

We have a big terrace, it's actually bigger than our apartment. I love having a barbecue with friends in the evenings there, overlooking the city. Or when the kids jump on the trampoline or ‘secretly’ go pick the strawberries and leave traces of it on their faces. I love mornings on the yoga mat when it's still foggy outside. I love taking care of plants and herbs, even though I'm still a novice gardener. (laughing)

And which part of your home is your kids’ favourite?

Our bed, which is where all four of us end up almost every night. And when I the girls in the morning why they didn't stay in their own bed, they always answer: “Your bed is better and we love waking up in your arms!”

Is there any interior design thing you’re still longing for?

My husband and I both love design and we each have a few dream pieces that we gradually buy and gift to each other for birthdays and Christmas.

How often do you change and move things around in your apartment?

We haven’t moved anything around at all yet. We like it the way it is.

What should every home have?

One should feel good in it.

You are a lover of minimalism and monochrome designs, and this is apparent in your brand, too. Do you reflect these aspects into your home decor?

I really live what I feel. Beloved and the interior of our apartment are both a lot about me. Many of their design elements are similar, some even identical. I think my authenticity is behind the success of my brand.

You've incorporated our products into your apartment. Tell us, when did you first come across Lejaan?

When I was furnishing my apartment. I was on the lookout for the last pieces before we finally moved in. My dream was to make my own bed feel like the ones you get in luxury hotels - fluffy pillows, pleasant bedding sheets... Simply put, a bed you want to stay in all day. (laughing) We first purchased one bedding set. We now own several of them, as well as your filler pillows and duvets. And they're truly unbeatable!

What is your favourite Lejaan product from our range?

Tough question. At present, it's probably the bathrobe, which I sometimes walk around in till midday. And your pillows, which I look forward to every night.

And what new product could Lejaan add to its range?

Wool winter blankets.

What feelings does a freshly made bed in crisp clean sheets evoke?

Makes me feel like I want to spend all of Sunday in them reading a book.

Your morning ritual includes getting up early and having coffee on the terrace. Do you also have a daily routine for the evenings?

I have two daughters who are relatively young - Ellen is four and Thea recently turned one. Evenings revolve around bathing, putting them to sleep, cleaning up after dinner and dealing with work emails that I had no time for during the day.

To end on, you said you like to read in bed. Got any book recommendations for us?

Don't expect anything groundbreaking! Seeing as I have a demanding job and kids, I often grab books that someone else recommended in the past. And usually, I’m the last to read them. Most recently I read Crows by Dvořáková and Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. I haven't yet seen the film adaptation of the latter book as I don't like to watch the film adaptations before finishing a book. But then when I do see the film, I like to criticize it loudly for not sticking to what’s in the book, and saying it’s nowhere near to what I imagined it as! (laughing)

PRODUCTS CITED:

Light Brown Playful Cotton Towels

Honest White Bathrobe

Beige and Grey Woven Monocolour Cushion Covers

Beige Woven Monocolour Blanket

Yellow and Green Knitted Colour Melange Cushion Covers

Yellow and Green Knitted Colour Melange Blanket

Brilliant White Quiet Jungle Bed Linen

Light Brown Cosy Sunday Bed Linen

Light Brown Cosy Sunday Bedsheet

Grey Knitted Monochrome Melange Cushion Cover

Grey Knitted Monochrome Melange Blanket

Kids Red Brick Grandma’s House Bed Linen

White Winter Fields Pillowcase

White Kids Organic Cloud Bedsheet