Meet the Cohen Family
Real Homes » The Cohen Family
THE CHALLENGE
LARGE FAMILY / SMALL SPACE
The Cohen family lives in the heart of Geulah in Yerushalayim, in their 120 sq meter home, with their (KAH) 15 children. Mrs. Cohen approached me with the biggest organizational challenge in the house: “The Everything Room”. Here in this modest Geulah apartment, was a medium-sized room in the center of all of the small bedrooms. And like its name it was meant to manage, well EVERYTHING. Homework, toys, sewing projects, guests, laundry, think of any activity that goes on in your home- this was the place it happened. Did I forget to mention the extra fridge and deep freezer? And what could we do with the dysfunctional area under the stairs? For many years the main storage solution in this room was re-purposed cabinets from an old kitchen! But the time had come to say goodbye to the balagan, the eyesores, and the display of overflowing laundry baskets, and create an organized and calm space for the family to enjoy. This was my kinda fun. An opportunity to create a functional and thriving home for a growing Jewish family!
Let’s fix this!
MY ASSESSMENT
Difficult but possible. In order for so many needs to be served comfortably by one room, we needed to define clear zones for each activity. I also wanted to make sure that all the services the room provided could be hidden behind closed doors to keep the room looking neat. We needed a light color scheme to keep the small busy room looking bright and cheery.
THE DESIGN SOLUTION
I took detailed measurements, lots of pictures, and asked lots questions about how the Cohen family lived in the space. Back at my desk, the fun began. I mapped out the space in my 3D modeling program, labeling each area with its belongings and purpose as I worked. After a few weeks of meetings and revisions we struck the perfect balance and created both a highly functional and aesthetic environment. A homework zone which doubled as a sewing desk, with ample place for the sewing machine, supplies and notebooks. A storage space for mattresses, blankets, and linens (for visiting married children), a guest corner, a toy closet, and an all-encompassing laundry system for 17 people, all behind closed doors making sure that the room was an enjoyable space to be in. Next up is their kitchen!
