Design Story
Designer: David Haugh
Designer: Revital Marciano, Photographer: Ido Ganor
Bright in Jerusalem: 504 Lumena Helps Create a Warm and Calm Family Space
The 504 Lumena Porcelain surface is one of the main attractions in an expertly designed apartment located in Jerusalem’s Malha neighborhood, showcasing a bright, clean and modern home aesthetic.
A young married couple with children from Jerusalem, who had just purchased a new apartment in Malha, dreamed of a calm and inviting home that would radiate gentle warmth. To realize their dream, the couple commissioned interior designer Revital Marciano to create a design filled with quiet modern chic. The apartment, which was purchased brand-new, came with light grey flooring chosen by the designer and additional elements the couple did not wish to remove. From the onset of the project, it was clear that most of the interior design would center around the living room and adjacent kitchen.
In the original set-up, the living room and kitchen were separated by a wall. Marciano and the couple decided to tear down the wall in order to create a large central space that would optimize the apartment’s energy flow. Still interested in creating a light separation between the two rooms, Marciano designed an island made entirely from Caesarstone’s 504 Lumena porcelain surface. This unique island uses 504 Lumena for its waterfall edges, while also cladding part of the TV unit located on the corner of the Island and facing the living room.
“As opposed to other rooms in the apartment, I had complete and utter freedom to design the kitchen from A to Z,” says Marciano. “We selected a porcelain surface for practical reasons, since it was important for the family to place warm pots on the surface while also not worrying about scratches. When we began exploring colors, we discovered 504 Lumena – a white matte surface with grey veins, which correspond perfectly with the floor tile veins. It was a perfect match.”
The smart use of white and bright colors makes a lasting impression on every guest visiting the apartment. The light grey flooring is joined by matching grey sofa and carpet, kitchen cabinets with a light color finish, white curtains and 504 Lumena – a pearl-white porcelain surface crisscrossed with dark grey veins that is used not only as a prominent island, but also as the kitchen countertop and backsplash. Marciano was able to balance the bright monochromatic aesthetic with a gentle touch of black-colored elements – a dark flowerpot near the entrance door, tall bar seats, a coffee table next to the sofa, a dark sofa pillow, AC slats, a chic black kitchen table and more.
Relying on her interior design savvy, Marciano infused the central space with warm touches. For starters, she created a walnut-colored niche under the TV unit, which delivers a warm aura. The niche is joined by a small brass-colored lamp and twin paintings hanging on the living room wall, which display the range of the apartment’s colors and hues in a few abstract brush strokes.
“All the elements were chosen simultaneously, in order to create an ambiance that is equally rich and minimalistic,” says Marciano. “Our goal was to design a cohesive space that exceeds the sum of its parts. The apartment’s calming effect is the ultimate testament to our success.”
Gallery
Uncovering new possibilities with bright design
Bright colors can work their unique magic in almost any space. The apartment in Malha is a great example of the power of inspired design, which is capable of expressing depth via minimalistic statements. Therefore, it is not surprising that 504 Lumena is such an important piece in the design’s overall fabric. A pearl-white basis, grey veins and hints of blushed undertones provide the calm warmth so coveted by the home’s owners.
“504 Lumena blends wonderfully in our design vision because it has calmness,” sums up Marciano. “Its tones are low-key and pleasant. Alongside high functionality, this is exactly what the homeowners wanted their new home to convey.”
504 Lumena
Porcelain
A pearl-white backdrop crisscrossed with crackling dark grey veins that rush over the illuminated shell-like surface with its blushed undertones, imprinting a dynamic dimension heightened by the Honed finish in a unique design that is truly innovative.
Designer: Cristina Casanas – Judd & General; Judd of Me & General Design
Designer: Michelle Gage Interiors, Photographer: Rebecca McAlpin