Before beginning the design of a private Jerusalem home for a well-known Haredi family, interior designer Keren Atlas Dror, of Keren Atlas Studio, researched materials and discovered aspects of religious life she had not previously encountered.
Tasked with designing a home for a devout family in the holy city, she produced results impressive enough for the home to be featured in “Inside Homes Jerusalem” over two weekends (Oct. 30–Nov. 1 and Nov. 6–8).
Inside a prominent Haredi Jerusalem home
(Video: Gideon Levin, Keren Atlas Dror)
Dror, an experienced designer from Tel Aviv with a master’s in urban design from the Bezalel Academy, was likely chosen for her ability to bridge secular and religious design sensibilities. “My specialty is telling the story of people from every sector and style, which requires learning a new way of life for each project, including work I’ve done in New York, Italy, and Greece,” she says. She met with the family, who wished to maintain their privacy.
“They are in their 60s; he is a businessman and philanthropist, and she is a trained caregiver. They have a large family, with most children married and living independently, except for one son who still lives at home. The house, which they’ve owned for years, was renovated to accommodate the couple, their son, and visiting children and grandchildren. Suites with en-suite bathrooms were created for the grandchildren, ensuring comfort for extended family visits. The house now has nine bedrooms and seven bathrooms,” Dror explains.
From two floors to four
Originally a two-story home, it now spans four floors. “We excavated a basement and added an attic level to create perfect accommodations for married children and their kids. Each has its own space,” she says. The ground floor includes a living room, dining area, kitchen, and garden. The basement features a children’s lounge and the family’s office with separate yard entrances.
The upper two floors house the bedrooms, including the master suite, and a family seating area. “The house is well-maintained and clean, but the design is understated,” Dror notes. “The family wanted a home that doesn’t draw attention. They are modest people, so we maintained a classic yet innovative and surprising style.”
To create a sense of light and space in the living room, Dror maximized openings, chose bright furniture, and installed bleached yet warm parquet floors, with sand-colored walls. “The couple wanted a spacious living room with multiple seating areas for family gatherings without crowding.
We rearranged furniture to ensure this experience. The three-dimensional walls wrapping the living room are actually storage cabinets. There’s ample storage throughout the home for albums, books, and personal items. Essential books are displayed openly while the rest are hidden,” she says. Cabinetry was crafted by Egoz and Nimer workshops.
Adjacent to the living room, two wooden stools serve as multifunctional seating and a decorative area. A bench by the window provides additional seating and hidden storage. The dining area, connected to the kitchen, includes an open library that also functions as the staircase railing, designed by Argas Studio.
The library’s design mirrors the bright colors and materials of the living room and can accommodate up to 30 guests when extended. The dining table features a dark iron frame contrasting with the rest of the space, with complementary chairs and a central display piece topped by a light fixture, creating visual interest. Non-traditional materials uncommon in Haredi homes, such as iron tables and wooden floors on the entry level, were incorporated with full creative freedom.
Dual kitchen for kosher living
The living room parquet continues into the kitchen, creating a loft-like, open, and airy feel. For the observant family, the kitchen includes separate areas for meat and dairy preparation, with dual stovetops, ovens, and refrigerators. Double sets of utensils are stored in custom cabinets. The kitchen is entirely white with wooden accents matching the parquet and includes additional niches and cupboards integrating natural materials. A hidden door leads to a separate Passover kitchen, used only seasonally, maintaining design continuity with the main kitchen.
A handwashing station, important in religious homes, was created within a cabinet niche made of stone, with lighting matching the guest bathroom. The floor features four landscaped gardens used for family gatherings, particularly with grandchildren.
Family favorite spaces
The staircase walls are clad in custom concrete tiles from Avni Tal, blending Utah and lace textures. The master bedroom continues the bright, airy aesthetic with ample storage, a shoe bench, and a makeup area. Burgundy light fixtures add elegance while maintaining cohesion across the home. Lighting throughout was sourced from Kimchi Lighting and Val Plus.
The master bathroom mirrors the bedroom’s style, with travertine tiles, oak cabinetry, and brushed bronze fixtures. Children’s suite bathrooms feature darker, more practical finishes, including granite porcelain floors, graphite gray cabinets, black sinks, and custom concrete wall tiles. Dror notes that concrete tiles in wet areas require sealant layers for protection against moisture and stains.
A favorite family area is the upper-floor family lounge, created from a corridor with doors. A curved oak wall with hidden doors and a recessed TV creates a cozy, inviting space. Air vents were integrated seamlessly into the design.
Torah study and children’s lounge
The basement includes a colorful children’s lounge and bathroom. The home also houses a Torah study room and the husband’s office. To maintain privacy, a separate entrance from the yard was built. The office’s design matches the rest of the home, with bright, warm colors and a large central table surrounded by seating for study. A lightweight, modern bookshelf with bronze columns and wooden shelves keeps the space airy compared with traditional heavy, dark Torah bookcases. Wooden floors add warmth, and a round rug with an iconic Ray and Charles Eames lounge chair completes the seating area.
