Why her home office is Keren Milman’s favourite room

After serving in the Israeli army, Keren Milman, a Haifa native who divides her time between Tel Aviv and Toronto, travelled to Japan to study as a multidisciplinary artist. Her metier is wood, which she uses for furniture pieces sold in Israel, Europe and now Canada through her home-renovation and interior-design company, Simply White Design. Milman launched the business in 2000 inside her Tel Aviv apartment, which is located on fashionable Shenkin Street. "There is so much energy," she says of the area. Today, Milman runs the one-stop shop with her carpenter husband, Shafrir, a Canadian citizen. He created the scrubbed-down, vintage-looking wood flooring in Milman's comfy workspace and is now reproducing it for clients. "It is a home office but it is also what I call my inspiration room," she says. "Even looking out the window, I am inspired."

The sofa

"I started off making children's furniture. Then adults asked me why I didn't do bigger pieces such as sofas, so this is what I produced. It now sells very well in many different countries. It's covered in Hermès velvet and, depending on where you stand in the room, it looks either grey or green. It's very comfortable and big enough to put your feet up on it, as my middle child is doing here."

The curtains

"I really hate blinds, which almost every house in Toronto has. I am hoping to change that, starting with my own home. These curtains are sheers and I had them custom-made. I like curtains that flow and so I design them to hang very high and fall down, sometimes draping over furniture. I think it's a romantic look."

The print

"I bought this on a trip to Tuscany. This is the motif I use when designing a kitchen or a bathroom – an 18th century, baroque design."

The tray

"I got this from a flea market in Paris. I go frequently to the home shows in Paris and Milan and on weekends shop for myself in the smaller outdoor markets. Usually, I look for something small, something I can pack in my suitcase. It's all a source of inspiration for me."

The chairs

"They are Louis XVI chairs, a French style I love. They are a lot more attractive than regular chairs. You can cover them with fabric and change the colours and have fun with them."

The table

"I specialize in round dining tables. I am trying to get everyone to get rid of their rectangle ones. Round is soft and open; there are no sharp edges. According to feng shui, it is the shape that best allows for a flow of energy among the people sitting round it."

The flowers

"I always have them. White is my logo. White is a concept. It's a way of life. I love, love, love white flowers. But if I need some colour, I choose pink. It means happiness and peace. Everybody has a colour that speaks to them. This one is mine. It makes me feel good."