Nanovo

Some shops restore old furniture. Nanovo restores the idea that postwar design should be lived with, not archived. Founded in Prague in 2011, it set out to recover mid-century Czech and Czechoslovak pieces that had quietly accumulated in workshops and households, largely unknown to the wider collector market. The scope is deliberately tight: every item dates from the second half of the twentieth century, and nothing leaves the workshop until it has been partially or fully renovated. The Czech word nanovo means "anew" — which tells you exactly what the operation is about.

The inventory divides naturally into two registers. On the furniture side, expect armchairs, cabinets, coat racks and case pieces — the kind of objects that anchor a room and reward a longer look in person. The second register runs smaller and more varied: lamps, clocks, lighting fixtures, industrial design pieces, carpets, statuettes and decorative bottles. Both ends of the range reflect the same curatorial logic — original, restored and genuinely ready to use rather than merely display.

Sourcing reaches beyond the Czech and Czechoslovak canon. Nanovo also carries pieces from elsewhere in Europe, which suits buyers interested in the broader postwar design scene rather than a strictly national collection. The curation stays consistent regardless of origin. Age and patina are preserved; condition is not papered over.

Although Nanovo operates primarily as an online shop, buyers can arrange a visit to the warehouse and workshop in Praha 19, in the Kbely district. Seeing a significant piece in person — scale, surface, presence — matters in a way that photographs rarely capture. Nanovo also provides advice on fitting and transport, and purchases reportedly carry a one-year warranty, which removes some of the friction that often accompanies sourcing vintage objects from abroad.

Appointments run Monday through Friday; the workshop is closed on weekends. That weekday-only window suits collectors and interior designers who plan ahead, and it keeps the experience focused rather than walk-in casual. For visitors already in Prague with a design itinerary, the Kbely location makes a worthwhile addition.

Getting there is straightforward from central Prague. The Bakovská bus stop sits less than 50 metres away, served by buses 159, 182, 185, 201, 302 and 914. Praha-Kbely train station, on suburban rail lines S3 and S34, is approximately 500 metres away and connects the area to the broader city network. A second bus stop, U Rumpálu, served by bus 182, sits roughly 100 metres from the address.

Nanovo suits first-time buyers looking for a curated entry point into mid-century design, and experienced collectors who want original European postwar pieces in sound condition. The restoration commitment means less uncertainty at the point of purchase — what you see is largely what arrives.