Architect Designs Colorful, Vintage-Filled Home Contrasting Her Functional Work

Lili Rafael, a seasoned architectural engineer with Gordon Architects, specializes in public building design, including several major train stations in and around Haifa. However, her personal living space in Haifa's Wadi Salib, shared with her husband Simon, a registered nurse, presents a starkly different aesthetic: a warm, colorful, and eclectic interior that contrasts sharply with the modern, functional style of her professional work.

Rafael, who has been in the architecture field for 30 years, describes her passion for interior design as something she prioritizes, even over other expenses. Her husband, Simon, is an active participant and supporter of her design endeavors. Recently, Rafael completed a home styling course, focusing primarily on redesigning her home's main living area. The transformation emphasized wall and ceiling colors, integrating a green kitchen wall with leaf-patterned wallpaper in the living room, a blue dining area wall extending into the hallway, and a green living room wall, all chosen to create a cohesive connection she had envisioned.

The apartment's entrance, a small space opening into the main area, is painted orange, a color Rafael particularly favors. The eclectic style is evident immediately, with a mix of IKEA mirrors, flea market finds like an old wooden dresser, vintage artwork, and a DIY electrical panel cover. The dining area and kitchen feature custom-made furniture, including a large dining table crafted from a century-old door and railway ties, and cabinets with old shutter doors, created in collaboration with a local carpenter. A lighting fixture made from 'grandmother's glass' and a vintage 'Maskit' rug add further character.

The living room is framed by walls adorned with wallpaper, dark green and lighter green paint, and a wall dedicated to a large collection of vintage vases, candle holders, and decorative items. Seating includes a reupholstered sofa from the flea market, an Eames chair replica, and a British Arkell sofa. The space is unified by a large 1970s-style rug in orange, brown, and yellow tones. The kitchen, described as functional and active, displays Rafael's collection of enamel cups, vases, and jugs, reflecting her design philosophy of emotional connection rather than strict style adherence.

A long, wide hallway serves as a display area for art books, medical books, and more vintage items on narrow shelves. The couple's bedroom is described as Rafael's sanctuary, featuring a wooden bed, a vintage dresser, and a window covered by a curtain originally intended for wedding dresses. The walls are decorated with portraits of women, and the room combines new and old elements, including a metal rack from a Japanese furniture importer and an old shutter-fronted wardrobe.