80s House Transformed Into a Village Resort
Translated & summarized from Walla by baba
Interior designer Yafit Rotem transformed a late 1980s house in Kochav Yair into a "village resort" for a family of five. The 230-square-meter home was reconfigured to open up spaces, improve flow, and connect with the surrounding nature. Key changes included lowering floor levels, expanding the kitchen, and creating a master suite resembling a cabin. The renovation also added a safe room, updated all systems, and enhanced the home's connection to its garden.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Interior designer Yafit Rotem renovated a 1980s house in Kochav Yair into a "village resort."
- The 230-square-meter home was reconfigured to create more open spaces and better flow.
- Floor levels were adjusted, and structural elements were modified to increase ceiling height in key areas.
- The kitchen was nearly doubled in size, and a safe room was added.
- The master suite was redesigned to feel like a private retreat with a connection to nature.
- The renovation included updated systems, new windows, and doors.
An interior designer has renovated a house in Kochav Yair, originally built in the late 1980s, to create a "village resort" feel for a family of five. The 230-square-meter home on a 960-square-meter lot was previously divided into cramped spaces, lacking the functionality for the family's needs, which included hosting guests, working from home, and spending quality time together while also having private spaces.
Interior designer Yafit Rotem, who had previously worked with the couple, tackled the challenge of opening up the space and improving its flow. A significant obstacle was the uneven ceiling heights, with the entrance and kitchen area at only 2.46 meters, compared to 2.80 meters in the living and dining areas, separated by steps and supporting columns. To address this, the floor level of the entrance and kitchen was lowered, and the access path was adjusted accordingly. Structural changes included removing two supporting columns, replacing them with steel reinforcements, and reducing the size of another. These modifications were overseen by engineer Isk Kaiserman, who also managed licensing and the addition of a safe room.
The kitchen area was nearly doubled in size by demolishing a small, adjacent shelter and relocating the safe room. The new kitchen features rift oak fronts, porcelain surfaces, and a large island with seating for five. Green accents in the kitchen tie it to the garden view. The living room boasts a custom-built wall with a fireplace, wooden platform, stone cladding, and iron bookshelves. The dining area, positioned opposite the entrance, features a large window with a built-in bench for seating and storage, a convertible table, and a piano.
The master suite was redesigned as a private retreat with a bedroom, walk-in closet, bathroom, and balcony. A small window was enlarged into a glass-fronted door leading to the balcony, enhancing the connection to the surrounding greenery. The high, sloped ceiling was accentuated with thick wooden beams to create a cozy, luxurious cabin ambiance. All five bathrooms were also renovated with distinct material and color palettes, including terrazzo tiles and geometric patterns.
Practical needs were also met with solutions like an entrance closet designed to organize shoes, bags, and coats, and a built-in space for a robotic vacuum cleaner. The safe room was repurposed as a daily family room. The renovation also included upgrades to the electrical, plumbing, and air conditioning systems, as well as new windows and doors, resulting in a home with more space, light, and a stronger connection to the outdoors.