No Cutting Corners: The 10 functions of a ‘Pinat Mishpacha’ in a home in Israel
Posted on 26. Jan, 2010 by buyitinisrael in Interior Design
Pinat Mishpacha in Home in Israel ©iStockphoto.com/Chris Price
By Zev Shalev
In the past twenty years or so, Israeli builders (Kablanim) have discovered what they call a ‘pinat mishpacha’. This is their version of what was invented in North America as the family room. However, something was lost in the translation. A pinat mishpacha literally means a ‘family corner’. The fact is that most of these are just that – a place where a small family can stand together in a corner and be more intimate with one another than is normally acceptable. Many of these spaces are the result of having homes which are semi-detached (called du-mishpachti in Israel) meaning that a small area outside of the bedrooms, which might otherwise be an additional small room, has no window and is therefore marketed as an open area to watch T.V. When the builder presents plans indicating such a space, most potential buyers of new homes in Israel feel that they’re getting a chance to replicate a North American life style in an Israeli home.
However, most family rooms in America are adjacent to the kitchen or breakfast room, which works well as an everyday informal living space for the family. Having a space for this function in the bedroom area may not be so practical so let’s think about what this space can do for us:
- Computer – Now that computers are as prevalent as they are, a pinat mishpacha is an ideal location for a computer, printer and other hardware. Many parents actually prefer to have the computer situated in an area where they can keep an eye on what the kids are doing, what games they are playing, and where on the Web they are surfing. This is a perfect spot for that.
- Reading – People often ask me where to keep books in their home in Israel. An entire floor-to-ceiling wall of books in the living room or dining room takes up a tremendous amount of visual space and when you analyze things, you realize that not all of your books need to be in the same location. Also, another benefit of keeping books in the pinat mishpacha is that you’re getting them out of the bedrooms (books, in most cases, equal dust- not great in bedrooms) but they’re still nearby.
- Linen Closet - An unused space outside of the bedroom area can turn a ho-hum home into something that works well. My clients are always crying to me about storage – there is never enough. If the pinat mishpacha is located in the bedroom area, which is usually the case, this is the most natural area for a linen closet.
- Laundry - Many homes have the laundry area located downstairs or adjacent to the kitchen which is what some people prefer. But the laundry is generally generated from the bedrooms and has to go back to the bedrooms which makes the pinat mishpacha a perfect place for the washer and dryer. (There are ways of insulating the noise generated by the machines from the bedrooms.) And their proximity to the bathroom allows the use of existing plumbing lines without re-engineering the house.
- Work Space - Rather than spreading out your bank statements on the kitchen table, you can utilize the pinat mishpacha to create an organized space for home files, records, homework, study, etc.
- Television - If, after considering all of the alternatives, you still want to have a T.V. in the pinat mishpacha, you can benefit from the advantages of a flat screen T.V. by planning the space so that the T.V. hangs on the wall like a picture and doesn’t need to sit on an obtrusive piece of furniture. But, as is the case with any T.V. in the home, make sure that the screen size is appropriate to the distance you will be sitting from the screen. The proximity to the staircase also creates opportunities to have a larger screen than we might have thought possible- depending on the actual layout of the space, it is often possible to locate a flat screen T.V. on a far wall of the stairwell above the steps opposite the viewing area.
- Sitting Area – Another function that the pinat mishpacha can give you is a quiet sitting area. The pinat mishpacha may not be large enough for a massive sectional sofa but if you furnish it with one (or maybe even two) comfortable recliners, well planned lighting and storage for your favorite books or hobby gear (stamp collecting, needlepoint, reading, music, etc), this can easily become your favorite corner of the house. It’s also an area where you can be more daring with wall coverings and colors.
- Extra Bedroom Space - When you look at the plans presented by the builder, you will often find that by integrating the space allocated to the pinat mishpacha into one (or more) of the adjacent bedrooms can be just what you need to get that extra space in the bedroom.
- Spare bedroom – In a pinch, a pinat mishpacha can serve as an additional bedroom. To improve ventilation in a windowless space, you might consider building a wall up to doorway height, leaving space for air flow from this height to the ceiling. A skylight will also improve the quality of light and space.
- General Storage - If your home does not have a basement or storage room (machsan), the pinat mishpacha can be the perfect location for suitcases, out of season clothing, Pesach dishes, vacation gear, etc. Enclosing one wall with a storage system can be just the solution.
As in all issues of home design and space utilization, the way to avoid frustration and achieve great results in your new home in Israel is to have realistic expectations and to respect the space.
The writer is a freelance interior designer and space planner with more than 20 years experience with the English-speaking community across Israel. Zev can be contacted by telephone +972 523-834-208 or by email at zev@shalevdesign.com.
The contents of this article are designed to provide the reader with general information and not to serve as legal or other professional advice for a particular transaction. Readers are advised to obtain advice from qualified professionals prior to entering into any transaction.
© Copyright 2010. Buy-It In Israel – bringing you Israel real estate like never before.
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