In a fairly standard contractor-built apartment in Rishon LeZion, a young couple with two daughters set out to turn a generic space into a home that truly felt like theirs. They wanted a warm, natural and welcoming place, but also carefully planned down to the smallest detail. To lead the transformation, they enlisted interior designer Liat Zelig, who translated the family’s character into a cohesive design language combining Scandinavian calm with contemporary Israeli warmth, a look that feels natural and remains relevant over time.
“Today I do not stick to a single style,” Zelig says. “I create a design language tailored to the people themselves, their character, habits and pace of life. In this home, the style that emerged is clean and natural, with a sense of warmth.”
The apartment spans about 150 square meters and includes six rooms: a master bedroom, a guest room, a music and work room, a bedroom for the daughters and a separate playroom. There is also an open-plan living area that combines the living room, kitchen and dining space. “The clients came with general inspirations of clean, bright design,” Zelig recalls. “But they trusted me completely in the process. That allowed me to take the concept further and create a design that has both calm and character.”
The couple’s main request was to turn the apartment into a functional, pleasant home with a strong sense of flow. As a result, the planning stage focused on generous storage, an open and airy feel and consistent materials that connect all the rooms.
“This was a typical contractor apartment, with white walls, a generic layout and many underused spaces,” Zelig explains. “The goal was to create a sense of space and light without actually increasing the size, and to maintain a balance between practicality and aesthetics.”
The color palette conveys calm and simplicity, with sand tones, natural wood, warm white and greige, a blend of gray and beige. “This combination creates the perfect balance between cleanliness and softness,” she says. “Oak wood, natural veneer, soft textiles and fabrics in beige and light stone shades give the home a sense of serenity and harmony.
"These are materials that stay beautiful over time without being overly trendy.” The more dramatic elements were reserved for the distinctive work and music room and the playroom.
The daughters' kingdom
The daughters’ spaces, one for sleeping and one for play, were designed with their development in mind, so they would continue to serve them as they grow. That is why the couple chose to separate the functions into two rooms, with the girls sharing a space for sleeping and dressing.
“The bedroom was designed with a calm and gentle atmosphere, using delicate shades of pink and cream combined with soft textiles that create a sense of serenity and security,” Zelig says. “In contrast, the playroom has a freer, more dynamic language, a place where it is allowed to jump, climb and create, all set against soft, enveloping colors.”
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Oak wood, natural veneer, soft textiles and fabrics in beige and light stone tones in the living room and kitchen
(Photo: Yonatan Tamir)
The play and leisure space includes custom rounded cabinetry, storage areas that hide everything away at the end of the day and a dedicated climbing area designed especially for the girls and adapted to the size of the room.
“I wanted the space to be experiential and inviting, but also pleasing to the eye,” Zelig explains. “Everything is made of durable materials and washable fabrics, so even as the girls grow up, the room remains relevant.”
A professional home music studio
While most of the home is designed in light, soft tones, especially in the shared living area, the workroom that also serves as a music studio creates an entirely different world. “This is the father’s retreat,” Zelig says. “It is a space where he disconnects from routine, creates and works, and connects to a world that is both a hobby and a profession.”
Unlike the bright and calm language of the rest of the home, this room features a deeper, more enveloping atmosphere, combining darker shades with focused lighting that highlights the equipment and creates intimacy.
According to Zelig, the challenge was finding the right balance between a technological work environment, with computers, sound equipment and lighting, and a warm design. “In the end, we created a space that feels both professional and personal, one that allows inner quiet and free creativity,” she says.
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A shared bedroom for the two daughters, with low-profile furniture and calm tones
(Photo: Yonatan Tamir)
Zelig points to one detail she is particularly proud of: a custom carpentry element designed for the entrance hall, featuring a curved bench that connects the dining area with the entryway.
“On one side it integrates as part of the dining area, and on the other it creates a smart organizing zone with space for coats and bags, storage and comfortable seating,” she explains. “This element connects the spaces intelligently and creates a harmonious flow throughout the home.”
The couple did not hide their excitement at the end of the project. “I admit I was skeptical at first when my wife decided to hire an interior designer,” the homeowner says. “But Liat led us to a perfect result and to the home we truly dreamed of.”
Asked what defines good design in her view, Zelig answers simply: “Not creating homes that are perfect for the camera, but homes that people can truly live in. Homes that are adapted to the residents’ lifestyle and provide a genuine sense of well-being.”
For her, this Rishon LeZion project captures the essence of contemporary design. “Order, calm and beauty without drama, achieved through precise planning and real attentiveness to needs,” she says. “When I see my clients enjoying their home, using every space and feeling that it serves them, I know I have achieved my goal.”