In every renovation, one central and essential question arises, affecting every layer of the project and the process – how much and what of the existing do we choose to keep and preserve? When we are faced with a renovation project, we actually mark all the walls, built elements, finishing materials and existing furniture with a question mark, and we need to decide where we are on the scale between “complete” demolition of all interior spaces and spotty and minimal changes. In many cases, we decide to preserve some of the existing elements and renovate, upgrade, replace and change other elements around them. Then a new question arises – how do we combine these things?

Ofri Paz | Stanley Home

In this apartment in Herzliya, where a couple and their two adult daughters live, interior designer Ofir Assulin understood the potential and value inherent in what was there – “I understood from the first meeting that there was a lot to preserve in the house. This is a family with an artistic touch, who loves to travel the world and collect special items. From here, we almost automatically established the concept of ‘between old and new.'” Accordingly, she left special elements such as the beams in the ceiling and the flooring in the kitchen, created a worthy place for the family’s collections and chose elements that connect with the family’s character and existing items while at the same time creating a modern and new design language.

Preservation of the existing

The most striking example of preserving an existing element in the house is the flooring in the kitchen, which the family brought especially from a trip abroad. Its authentic and warm style matched the style that Ofir had in mind. Therefore, she decided to leave it as it is and re-cover the floor around it with natural wood parquet. The kitchen itself was completely renovated, including demolishing walls to create a more open and spacious space, but the flooring served as a kind of anchor around which the new kitchen was designed.

Update existing

In contrast to the flooring, which was perfect as is, other elements in the house required an update to match the updated style and color palette that the designer had formulated. Take, for example, the beams in the living room, which were there before but their wood color did not match the chosen parquet. Therefore, it was decided to spray paint them, thus preserving some of the original color in combination with a bright and refreshing color. The result is a slightly rough look, not meticulous or overly polished, that blends in wonderfully with the warm colors of the living room.

What’s new?

In addition to the flooring, a completely new kitchen and a dining area were needed – “The kitchen was outdated and in terms of human engineering they had to bend over a lot, cook and store in an uncomfortable and incorrect way,” explains Ofir. Also, even though this was a host family, the existing dining area was only suitable for four diners, without opening or extending the table. To meet the functional needs of the family members, the kitchen was redesigned exactly according to their needs. “We opened drawers in their house, checked what was there and what was missing, and the kitchen was tailored to them precisely.” A new island was designed that added necessary storage spaces and everyday seating, allowing the head of the house who cooked to interact with the family. In addition, a pleasant and peaceful dining area was defined, surrounded by wide display cases that bring the plants inside.

New item for existing collections

“Although the family is an art lover and had many decorative objects and books, there was no place to display or store them in an aesthetically pleasing and orderly manner,” says the designer. So she designed a bookcase made by a carpenter, which brings the character and collections of the family to the public space while maintaining a pleasant, neat and organized appearance. She combined bleached oak with Galina glass, and designed both open shelves and closed storage to create a balance between what is visible and what is hidden. In the center of the bookcase, she left a large shelf where the homeowner places and changes pictures that she creates herself.

Temporary materials

Using natural materials, Ofir created a harmonious and pleasant look and managed to combine existing elements with new and innovative ones. She combined wood tones, linen curtains, natural stone marble in the kitchen and solid brass, which can be seen, for example, in the lighting fixtures that were created with personal design. The sharp-eyed among you will also notice brass in the refined railing at the front of the open shelves in the kitchen and in the handles of the refrigerator. In this case, the designer explains that “the natural materials meet the taste of the family members and characterize them very much. They are authentic and rooted people who are connected to travel and nature.”

The styles meet in the middle

To successfully connect the existing elements with the new design, you need to find the balance between the styles. This is how the special style of this apartment was created, which is a bit modern and Scandinavian and a bit rustic with a taste of the past. Take, for example, the kitchen design. To meet the concept of ‘between old and new’, thick frames were incorporated, obtained by disconnecting the units. The upper part looks like part of the frame, but it actually serves as a handle. The tall cabinets have been integrated with a push-opener, and the integral refrigerator allows for the creation of continuity and a uniform and aesthetic facade towards the public space.

Interior Design: Ofir Assulin

Photo: Maya Abgar