We all want a cozy, warm, and welcoming home. But how do you create such a home?

How do you combine all the elements well to create a home that is both comfortable and practical, as well as relaxing and caressing? In this home in north Tel Aviv designed by Orly Gonen Steingart of Gonen Design Studio, textures, materials, and styles were combined to create a warm Scandinavian style with industrial touches.

Ofri Paz | Stanley Home

During the renovation, which lasted about six months, openings were widened, infrastructure was upgraded, and the bathrooms were completely redesigned. There is no doubt that the end result is the connection between all the elements together, from the changed location of the front door to the choice of flower pots, from the planning of storage solutions to the hanging of pictures on the wall.

Here are ten ideas we took from this renovation that you should also cut out and save:

1. Large openings and divided profiles

The house was first built 25 years ago and in the original design did not benefit from much natural light and did not realize the potential of the garden around it. During the renovation, large windows were opened in the walls of the entrance floor around the living room and kitchen. These reveal the beautifully manicured garden and bring in natural light. Black profiles divided into squares frame the views outside and connect with the chosen industrial look.

2. Microtopping for covering structural elements

When it comes to renovating an existing home, the question always arises as to which elements to keep and which to destroy, replace, or modify. Here, for example, it was decided to cover the existing mosaic stairs with microtopping, which is actually a thin-layer concrete covering. This resulted in a more modern look that blends in perfectly with the design language of the home. Microtopping was also chosen to cover the TV wall, for which a climbing-like look was applied that adds texture and creates the appearance of a cast concrete wall.

3. Wall-mounted TV

Speaking of the TV wall, notice a few notable details – the TV is recessed into the wall, creating a clean and elegant look. Above it is a recessed air conditioning vent, and below it is a niche that allows for the display and storage of books and decorations.

4. Lighting fixtures as decorative elements

In all the rooms of the house, you can see lighting fixtures that constitute a unique and interesting decorative element. For example, look at the lighting fixture by Israeli designer Chen Zalkind on the wall above the sofa. Next to it hangs a work by Irit Hayon from the 1of135 gallery, and both are noticeable from the entrance to the house.

5. Laundry folding rack in the bathroom

All the bathrooms in the house were designed and redesigned. One of them, located on the bedroom floor, was designed to also contain a particularly functional laundry area, adapted to the needs of a family with three small children. The washing machine and dryer were placed at a height that allows easy access to them, and a folding table was designed next to them.

6. A storage unit that wraps around the wall

To the left of the entrance door, a utility cabinet was designed that wraps around the wall and is actually hidden behind a front of MDF slats covered in oak veneer. The floor-to-ceiling design of the front and the use of a push-open mechanism modestly present the cabinet without compromising valuable storage space.

7. Incorporating vegetation to emphasize the connection between the outside and the inside

“The connection between the outside and the inside was important to the family. The outside of the house is surrounded by a garden and trees, and we aimed to bring them into the house. Therefore, I significantly enlarged all the openings and made sure to purchase a lot of indoor plants with the clients,” says the designer.

8. Blackened and highlighted beam for an industrial look

A beam painted black runs along the length of the kitchen, which was expanded as part of the renovation by moving the front door. The choice to emphasize it as a significant element in the public space matches the industrial style that was intelligently incorporated into the home.

9. Freestanding furniture for an airy feel

The new stars of this living room are the large windows that were expanded as part of the renovation. The combination of a bookcase that is not attached to the wall alongside light furniture such as an armchair and a metal-framed ottoman by Israeli designer and architect Tomer Nachshon creates a sense of flow in the living room and does not compete with the greenery that can be seen through the windows.

10. Combining smooth and rough textures

“I wanted to achieve a rough Scandinavian look with industrial touches,” explains the designer. She achieved this goal through combinations of textures, such as the rough concrete of the TV wall, the wooden slats of the entryway cabinet, the wooden floor, and soft touches of earthy-toned textiles.

Interior planning and design: Orly Gonen Shteyngart,Gonen Design

Photo: Oren Amos