Anyone who is involved in planning, design, and spatial creation will say that materials are an essential tool in creating an atmosphere and defining a style. The same walls, elements, and rooms will look and feel completely different depending on the choice of finishing materials, their shades, and textures. Hence, in order to create a home that suits us and the style we want to create, we must and must become familiar with the finishing materials available on the market and decide which ones to use and in what way.

Ofri Paz | Stanley Home

This Jerusalem duplex apartment, measuring approximately 150 square meters, demonstrates creative use of materials and creates interesting combinations between old and new and between different design styles. The old building, the sacred surroundings, and the family’s lifestyle led planners Sarah and Nirit Frankel to choose natural, warm tones and a clean yet characterful look.

Natural finish wood

Natural wood is one of the prominent materials in this house and is the first we are exposed to through the front door, which incorporates glass openings, providing a glimpse inside. In the public space, the original wooden beams were left and wooden furniture was incorporated, such as the dining table, which is made of two connected oak slabs and surrounded by wooden chairs with braided seats. The kitchen incorporated tall units with wooden fronts in a refined rustic style.

Stainless steel

If you’re already looking at the kitchen, then let’s talk for a moment about a key material that complements the rustic touch of the wood. Stainless steel, also known as “stainless steel.” Strong, light and durable and used for a wide variety of products. Stainless steel’s resistance to stains and rust has made it the best material for industrial kitchens and has gradually become a favorite material for home kitchens. A religious family lives in this apartment, and for them the kitchen is the center of family activity. The appliances, the central island and the shelf above it are all made of stainless steel, adding an industrial and modern nod to the warm tones.

Bricks

From the entrance to the apartment, a brick wall stands out, providing a backdrop for the spacious living room. The nod to the Jerusalem environment and the choice of brown and earth tones enrich the spacious space with character and texture. Another wall in the kitchen is also covered in brick to create continuity between the spaces.

Resina

Meet resin cladding, made from a mixture of resin and water (sometimes with epoxy) and applied in layers to create a homogeneous and continuous coating. In this apartment, the floor is covered with warm gray resin and provides a neutral backdrop for the other textures, furniture, book collections and artwork of the family members. Resin also covers the wall in the couple’s bathroom, for which a moving mirror on a rail was designed and an illustrated floor was chosen.

White painted wood

Neutral and light colors, primarily white, are often used to balance the darker, more dominant tones. Take, for example, the large bookcase in the living room, which meets the couple’s request to incorporate white into the home’s design. It is used to store Torah and art books, and despite its size, it is airy and does not create a feeling of heaviness. Its lower part is closed and hides various systems, and its open shelves, which were painted white, are divided by wooden partitions in a natural shade. In the master bedroom, white-painted wood was also used for the headboard of the bed, which is carved in an uneven rhythm, and the sloping wooden beams, which, unlike the choice to leave them in a natural shade in the living room, were painted here for a more minimalist and calm look.

stone

We’ve already talked about the brick wall, but there are a few other stone elements in this apartment that caught our eye. Don’t miss the desk in the living room and the dresser between the living room and the kitchen and dining area. Both are made of travertine stone in a light, warm shade that adds a subtle texture to the space.

textile

We really love wood and stone, but to get a cozy, warm and homely atmosphere you need to balance them with different types of fabrics. Alongside rugs, curtains and decorative pillows, this apartment also incorporated less obvious textile items, such as dominant light fixtures in the dining area made of linen. The use of natural textiles such as linen, leather and cotton continues the line of home design and creates warm and soft spaces.

steel

One of the beautiful and interesting things about materials is that it is possible to use the same material to create an impressive and dominant look on the one hand, and a light and minimalist look on the other. Iron and steel, for example, can be used for heavy elements in an industrial style, but in this case they are used to achieve airiness and flow. Iron was used here for all the doors and windows, and polished steel combined with leather was used for the delicate bar stools.

Architecture and Interior Design: Sarah and Nirit Frankel

Photo: Itay Banit