Planning and interior design: Rachel Lichtenstadt Bloch.
Property: Garden apartment, 5 rooms, purchased in the "Buyer's Price" project.
Location:Modiin.
Area:110 sq.m.
Contractor and owner of the apartment: Tal Cohen.
Photo after: Susie Levinson.
Project Story
This apartment was renovated for a young couple and their three children. The spouse is a boutique contractor and this time he is required to plan and manage the project for his property. This has many advantages, but also quite a few difficulties and challenges. After purchasing the apartment as part of the Buyer's Price project, the couple realized that they would have to adapt the interior spaces to the family's needs. In addition, it was important for them to make dressing for the rooms that would suit their desires and personal tastes. The renovation began only after receiving a key due to the nature of the project. The advance planning made it possible to carry out the renovation itself in a short time of about two months from the moment the walls began to be broken until the last picture was hung.
The apartment during the renovation,
Living space after renovation, photo: Susie Levinson
The color palette
It was important to the owners that the house be happy and alive and at the same time maintain a sense of calm and cleanliness of the design, so a main palette of pastel colors combined with a natural oak shade was chosen. The father's study is the only one that has received a deep blue hue.
The office after the renovation, photo: Susie Levinson
Material Palette
The carpentry details in the house were chosen for execution in the Formica final, with considerations taken into account of functionality and cost. Within the Formica family there are many different types and levels of quality. This is a tip worth adopting - quality Formica is in many cases preferable to many other materials. In this case, a high-quality Formica was chosen that comes in special pastel shades. Combined with a bare sandwich in a family corner and delicate white handles in the kitchen, a precise result was obtained that looked simple and warm and exactly matched the desire and initial demand.
Wood is present in the choice of furniture, it is reflected in the central space and in the rooms and adds the necessary degree of warmth in a natural and effortless way.
Much of the complementary equipment chosen is made of wood or straw, further emphasizing the warmth and nonchalant look // Photo: Susie Levinson
Textiles are also very present in the apartment, custom fabrics were chosen for sofas and bedrooms from woven fabrics and we did not give up on carpet in every space.
Foyer
At the entrance to the house was a narrow wooden console that provides a solution for placing small objects but leaves the entrance feeling open. Charging outlets were added and a mirror was installed through which the kitchen is reflected, which adds a splash of color to the wall. The electrical cabinet behind the front door was hidden by wall-colored carpentry.
At the entrance to the house was a narrow wooden console that provides a solution for placing small objects // Photo: Susie Levinson
Living room
The placement of the furniture in the living room was planned with the understanding that the living room is also a transitional area, out into the garden and through it also access to the family room. A long fabric sofa that leans against the wall and in front of it a delicate armchair in the mirror allows for a pleasant transition between spaces.
A rope rug with the interweaving of thin colored rope threads was chosen to provide a background for the living room. On the wall behind the sofa hung a collection of bamboo and straw coasters collected during the project, creating a personal and original work of art.
The living room before renovation
A long fabric sofa that leans against the wall and in front of it a delicate armchair in the mirror allows a pleasant transition between the spaces, photo: Susie Levinson
Kitchen and dining area
The kitchen was a great challenge given the challenge of the limited budget. After a comprehensive examination of the family's needs vis-à-vis the contractor's kitchen installed in the apartment, it was decided to stay with the base and make an upgrade that would change the face of the kitchen.
The base of the kitchen cabinets remained the same, and with it the marble. The facades were completely replaced with pastel green Formica facades, a hanging storage unit remained and the other was replaced with a unit with open shelves for a comfortable and airy coffee corner. Between the upper units, two floating wooden shelves were installed that helped connect the kitchen to the design language of the entire apartment.
A large pantry unit was added to the existing kitchen, which provided a solution for increasing storage solutions in the kitchen, as well as a storage solution added above the refrigerator, in addition to the storage provided by the contractor. In addition, one of the cabinet units became a drawer unit, thus creating a dedicated place for storing dried vegetables such as onions, potatoes, garlic and others.
A round kitchen table allows for movement flow in the space and during hosting opens according to the number of guests.
The lighting in the kitchen has been adapted to illuminate the work surface and it covers up the fact that there is no direct natural light source in the kitchen.
The kitchen before the renovation,
A round kitchen table allows movement to flow in the space and during hosting opens according to the number of guests // Photo: Susie Levinson
Family Corner
The family corner was the important part of the renovation being carried out. The owners dreamed of a family room, one that they enjoy simply being together and allows interest for all ages. To earn a family corner as they wanted, they gave up one bedroom. Sitting in this corner is on lounging armchairs and it allows you to spread the mattresses throughout the room and enjoy sitting or lounging in an informal manner that is suitable for the whole family. A bright yellow light fixture adds a playful tone to the room in a pinpointed, subtle way.
Sitting in the family corner is on recliners, photo: Susie Levinson
Master Room and Bathrooms
The master room and bathrooms were not renovated in this project for budget reasons, but they did get an upgraded touch. The bathrooms were repainted and the master room was dressed with pieces of furniture that matched the style of the owners.
The master's room was dressed with pieces of furniture that matched the style of the owners, Photo: Susie Levinson
Children's Room
In order to allow comfortable accommodation for the three children together in one room, a redesign was carried out that allowed a private space for each of the children. The colorfulness of the room and the mix of materials together create a soft and relaxed look, one that invites to gather in it.
The children's room after the renovation, photo: Susie Levinson
From the designer
"The desire of the apartment owners for a house that would be clean in the eye led directly to the planning by way of great thought to the place to store each and every object. A home is a dynamic place and its nature is to get messy and full of life, when I plan and design a home that knows how to return to its "zero" state at the end of the day by having a place for everything - I know I did something good."
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