- Interior Design and Home Styling: Moran Rozenberg
- Photography: Shiran Carmel
After years of living in contractor-built apartments, a family finally purchased an old private home from the early 1990s, located on a half-dunam plot in Tzur Hadassah, near Jerusalem. The house, spanning 250 square meters and surrounded by a spacious garden with mature fruit trees, had never been renovated and appeared dark and outdated. They hired designer Moran Rozenberg to bring new life to their home and usher in a fresh lifestyle.
The house, built over four levels, includes an entry floor with a living room, kitchen, and dining area. A half-floor up is the master bedroom suite, with the top floor housing a bathroom and children's rooms. The lower floor contains a safe room, guest toilet, and a small unit with a separate entrance.
The family wanted a home that invited coziness and family gatherings, providing personal corners for each member. They requested a complete renewal, including replacing all infrastructures, maximizing natural light, and creating a large kitchen as the heart of the home. The design aimed to blend the house into its Jerusalem surroundings, maintaining elegance while being inviting and intimate.
At the entrance, a small foyer was designed with classic black and white octagon tiles to mark the transition from outside to inside. "We expanded the doorway to fit a restored antique door that harmonizes with the overall look," Rozenberg explains. A tall storage unit for bags and coats was also added to the foyer.
Stepping into the public space, the expansive kitchen immediately comes into view, followed by a dining area in a bright patio nook enclosed with glass windows. Initially, there was a debate about where and how much space to allocate for the kitchen, originally small and off to the side. Given the owners' love for cooking together and their collection of culinary gadgets, it was decided to prioritize and expand the kitchen significantly.
The kitchen, designed in an 'H' shape, features a 2.7-meter-long island with storage and seating. The original narrow windows were replaced with wider ones to match the new layout. A wide bay window near the stove brings in ample natural light and extends outward, creating an ideal spot for growing herbs and plants.
The dining area underwent a major transformation, with old stone cladding removed and narrow windows replaced by large glass panes surrounding the seating area. Exposed and repainted beams of the original tile roof contribute to the spacious feel. A round oak dining table and a vintage Indonesian copper chandelier were added for charm.
Between the kitchen and dining area, a wooden library was built for decoration, featuring two charcoal sketches and lighting fixtures.
Belgian iron profiles were chosen for the windows to enhance the walls' delicacy and maximize natural light. The elegant graphite frames outline the windows without overwhelming the visual space.
Opposite the entrance is the living room. Since the house's elevation does not allow direct garden access, a large window facing the fruit trees was installed instead of a planned balcony. A wide linen sofa and an ethnic rug were chosen for the living room, which also features a built-in library framing the window with a focus-catching charcoal gray color.
The guest toilet on the lower floor features a wall clad in natural marble in delicate powder shades and a wooden cabinet with carved legs. The marble also extends to the floor, creating a "carpet" effect.
Going upstairs leads to two levels. The first level houses the master suite, which underwent significant changes, including structural reinforcements. The large suite features a sleeping area, walk-in closet, and spacious bathroom, separated by a wide carpentry unit. A high mirror and makeup corner are integrated into the closet. An oak bed and brass-glass lighting fixtures complete the bedroom.
The parents' bathroom is styled in a classic black and white, inspired by European boutique hotels, with natural marble tiles on the floor and matching porcelain tiles on the walls.
The top floor includes the daughters' bedrooms, a laundry room, and a general bathroom. The younger daughter's room now features a large window with a bench, perfect for lounging and reading.
The general bathroom was also enlarged, with tiles in soft gray and white tones with black accents. Thoughtfully designed woodwork includes a vanity with carved legs and recessed niches.
"The major challenge was maximizing natural light through new and expanded openings, which required finding structural solutions. The exterior stone cladding typical of Tzur Hadassah homes also needed adjustment, impacting the renovation timeline," Rozenberg shares.
"In every home I design, I aim to leave a unique mark with original carpentry works that enhance the interior architecture. Unlike store-bought furniture, custom carpentry is a long-term investment, defining areas and integrating with other infrastructure like lighting and air conditioning."
"The overall color palette was based on natural, soft hues, with dominant oak tones adding warmth and intimacy. The woodwork colors ranged from light grays, creating a calming ambiance, to darker charcoal accents for drama and interest."
In many homes, owners prioritize public spaces over the master bedroom, but this family wanted a luxurious, well-designed bedroom. The master suite now feels like a retreat, featuring clean finishes, parquet flooring, and a corner window overlooking the garden trees.
"This home renovation was particularly meaningful for the clients, marking a significant personal turning point. Seeing the positive impact on their living experience was incredibly rewarding for me," Rozenberg concludes.
About the designerMoran Rosenburg, aged 44, an interior designer, resides in Moshavah Mezkeret Batya, where her studio is also located. She specializes in interior design and planning for private homes, villas in Nahalal, and apartments undergoing renovation or construction stages.
"I started in interior design about 9 years ago as a second career, after many years working as a fashion designer for Ronen Chen. My connection to the world of interior design began with the construction of my own private home; delving into the process and all its components led me to a sense of meaning and satisfaction, and an understanding that designing homes and influencing people's living experiences and comfort - that's what I want to do."
"My signature style blends a rustic Israeli aesthetic with a mix of old and new, alongside subtle modern connections in color and texture. I love homes that exude warmth and intimacy, placing great importance on small details in comprehensive planning because they complete the overall picture and affect the comfort and atmosphere of a home. I strive to steer clear of temporary trends, sticking to classic materials and elements. The home's color palette tends to be clean, natural, and unobtrusive to withstand the test of time. Color accents mainly come through layers like textiles, a standout vintage piece, or wall art."
SuppliersGeneral Contractor: Ronko - Ronen CohenEngineering Oversight: Yoni MarcusHVAC: Gama Systems - Guy BuskilaFlooring: Parquet Ad HaBayitLighting Fixtures: Gideon KlassCurtains: Dina PirronComplementary Furniture and Accessories: Yaakov Twina Furniture Gallery