A whole is greater than the sum of its parts.This is one of the leading principles in a multi-component project like home design and decoration.

One way to achieve the goal is to view the various elements that make up the design as layers, added one on top of the other to create a homogeneous and unique look.

Ofri Paz | Stanley Home

Imagine, for example, the floor, covered with a rug, a coffee table, an art book and a cluster of decorative items, a large picture hanging on the wall and a large light fixture shining above it all. The way all of these fit together, compliment each other and emphasize each other, turns a standard design into one that drops your jaw. But when we try to implement it at home, it’s hard to know where to start, how to balance things and how to combine different items creatively. So this time we thought we’d give you a little lesson in working in layers, and break down into elements several rooms and corners in a chic home in Petah Tikva, designed by Keren Gross for a family of six – a couple with two sons and two daughters. Let’s get started.

Entrance hall

As part of the renovation, the designer planned a niche to create an entrance hall that allows for a gradual entry into the open space. Here, the use of wallpaper as a rich addition of color, texture, and print is already evident, an element that we will continue to see in almost all rooms of the house. For the entrance, geometric wallpaper in shades of green was chosen, which immediately connects us to the color scheme chosen for the kitchen.

The kitchen

Before we get to the kitchen itself, notice the impressive presence of the Pishbon parquet chosen for the entire house, complimenting the spacious spaces. A refreshing sage green shade was chosen for the kitchen, which was adapted for a kosher-observing family with small children. The dark worktop creates a pleasant contrast and connects the greenish hue with the deeper tones of the wall covering and roller blind.

The living room

Opposite the kitchen we see the living room, in the center of which is a sofa upholstered in blue fabric and next to it is a velvety bench, also blue. Remember these shades, we will come back to them shortly. Apart from these two, the living room incorporates items in neutral tones – a rug that connects us back to the dark shade of the kitchen work surface and the black and white photos above the sofa; a brass coffee table that echoes the adjustable lighting fixtures on the ceiling; and a rattan armchair that adds a natural and light look. AndA natural-toned linen mesh fabric curtain frames and envelops the living room with a homely feel.

Family corner

It is located next to the living room and can also be seen from the entrance to the house. We pass the floor to Keren, who will explain the wonderful seating system – “It consists of a combination of 14 (!!!) skillfully crafted fabrics that together created harmonious, incredibly beautiful cushions, suitable for children’s use and integrated as part of the landscape in the shared space.” The fabrics are completely different from each other, but they are composed of all the shades that are expressed in the space – blue, green, yellow, orange, black and white. The carpet has a geometric pattern in black and white and therefore blends in perfectly with the fabrics of the seating cushion. Under the TV hangs a neutral storage unit in a natural wood tone with a thin black frame.

The study room

Remember the blue we emphasized when choosing the seating arrangement in the living room? Here it is again in all its glory: “I wanted the study to be a kind of center of gravity in the space, so I chose a dark and dramatic Ralph Lauren-style blue for it,” says Keren. The room is located at the end of the public space, next to the family area. A glass door combined with sliding curtains separates them, allowing for privacy and adding refined European chic. The use of a dark shade and the contrast between it and the light family area create a sense of depth and draw the eye in. The shade was used for the joinery and walls, and a terracotta-colored sofa was matched to it, a complementary shade that creates a great contrast and adds warmth to the room.

The bedroom

The colors and details for the master bedroom were chosen to give the couple a sense of well-being and detachment from their busy everyday lives. Keren kept her promise to create a room for them like in a boutique hotel with wallpaper from the world of nature, which serves as a backdrop for a bed upholstered in a deep green shade with a delicate texture. A bright bedspread and a collection of decorative pillows in warm tones were placed on it, and in front of it is a seating and storage bench, also upholstered in green. The neutral tones of the wall cabinet, which is decorated with frames and mirror fronts with a soft curtain, the chests of drawers and the carpet balance the rich wallpaper. The gray roller blind was adapted to the romantic atmosphere and connects to the motifs of the wallpaper. Note that quite a few different textures and prints were incorporated here. Formulating a precise color palette that repeats itself in the various details allows them to blend together, thus creating a unique look.

The boys’ room

When we talk about a room that will accompany the children for years, this is what we mean. Keren went with neutral colors but gave them an interesting twist through diamond-patterned wallpaper that sets the tone. Down the road, the family will be able to adapt additional items to it, for example when the children grow up a bit and need a desk. These wooden beds, combined with graphite gray, also provide interest and a light neutral rug was placed between them.

The girls’ room

In this room too, the center of attention is the wallpaper, which the client chose in advance – “She had saved a story I had previously posted with this wallpaper, a wallpaper that was a fairy tale, and we knew it would be the main theme in the room,” says the designer. The wallpaper influenced all the other choices in the room in terms of style and color, and velvet curtains with bow tie details, bedspreads, pillows, and a rug were coordinated with it.

Guest services

We made the unconventional choice of covering part of the guest bathroom walls with refreshing lemon wallpaper. To balance its dominant presence, the lower part of the walls is covered with white tiles and for the floor, a marble-like tile with a refined texture was chosen. The green shade chosen for the cabinet highlights the wallpaper and makes its bold colors pop, creating a complete and impressive look.

Design: Keren Gross Home Designer

Website –https://www.kerengross.co.il/

Instagram –https://www.instagram.com/keren.gross/?hl=en

Photo: Karin Ravenna