In central Tel Aviv, on one of the streets leading to the sea, a couple in their 50s has merged two garden apartments into one expansive residence — approximately 380 square meters across two floors, with an additional 230 square meters of garden space. Their goal: to host their extended family for weekends and holidays throughout the year. The couple, who describe themselves as traditional and observant of Shabbat, live in the home with their teenage son, who also frequently hosts friends.
Wanting to indulge at this stage of life, they envisioned a home that could accommodate overnight stays for the entire family, regardless of the season. To bring their vision to life, they hired architects Rivka Amar and Sigal Tserfati of the firm Tserfati-Amar Architecture and Interior Design. The year-long renovation resulted in six luxurious suites — each with its own bedroom and en-suite bathroom.
The basement now includes a family room, a sophisticated wine room, a home office, a laundry area, and four of the six suites (one for each of their children), each with a private English courtyard and a reinforced security room that doubles as a walk-in closet. On the ground floor, there is a spacious primary suite with a makeup vanity, another guest suite, a double kitchen (meat and dairy), a hand-washing station, a living room, and a dining area. The hallway connecting the main space to the rooms features custom carpentry that provides extensive storage and conceals systems such as communications, plumbing, and air conditioning.
"The homeowners wanted a luxurious apartment with a classic Dubai-inspired aesthetic," say Amar and Tserfati. “They envisioned a polished home reflecting the wife’s style, complete with generous storage. The double kosher kitchen and hand-washing station were essential for their lifestyle. Even the home office isn’t a typical one — it’s meant for Torah study and hosting religious figures.”
Bringing a rural feel to an urban space
To soften the city’s intensity, all the aluminum-framed windows were replaced with Belgian-style frames, offering a more rustic vibe and framing the lush courtyard. A custom living room unit hides the television, allowing the family to focus on conversation and shared experiences. The unit also conceals an air conditioning system and combines wood veneer, natural stone, and Formica.
Nearly every wall in the home is clad in carpentry — about 98% of them — with vertical grooves that establish a visual rhythm. This design motif continues into a natural stone feature wall spanning the entrance and staircase area. The dramatic staircase wall, more than 6.5 meters high, is covered in different-sized stones arranged in alternating directions, interspersed with iron profiles and LED strips.
The natural stone “cube” extends to wrap the entrance wall and houses the stone-built hand-washing station. The kitchen, partially set within the building’s reinforced core, features two sinks, two ovens, and two refrigerators. Separate workspaces for meat and dairy are hidden from the main space, offering privacy for frequent cooking. A recessed pantry includes four cabinets and a wine fridge. “The owners entertain often and wanted a discreet, efficient kitchen that still allows for connection with the garden and living area,” the designers explain.
The cabinet doors are finished in dark khaki glass that changes appearance throughout the day based on the natural light. The aluminum-trimmed fronts offer both aesthetic depth and durability. “The kitchen is at the center of everything — it faces the main living space, links to the hallway, provides garden access, and is closest to the front door,” say the designers.
Hotel-level suites, each with its own character
The hallway leads to several uniquely styled suites, each defined by its own color palette. Textile elements — from wallpaper to custom bedding designed with Ella Shlomov of ELLA DÉCOR — enhance each room. Colors for linens were matched to the wallpaper and headboard fabrics chosen for each suite. “The textiles add softness, richness, and another layer of design,” say the designers. The double curtains in the living and dining rooms serve both aesthetic and blackout purposes, and cushions are scattered throughout the home — in the basement, living room, and garden seating areas.
The couple’s master bedroom is also located on the ground floor. “The wife wanted a glamorous, feminine space with a luxurious feel. Her chic personality and eye for detail inspired the design,” the architects explain.
The suite includes a makeup vanity with built-in lighting and storage for jewelry and cosmetics. The bed’s oversized headboard features hidden lighting for a soft, moody ambiance, complemented by a shimmering wallpaper that adds texture. “Working with Shlomov allowed us to harmonize color and fabric choices throughout the room,” the designers note.
A retractable ceiling-mounted TV disappears at the touch of a button to maintain a clean design. A custom carpentry wall with integrated doors hides additional storage. The golden accents and rhythmic grid design echo details found in the hallway cabinetry. The parquet flooring is outlined with thin brass inlays, creating a unique border with elegant corner details.
The walk-in closet includes reflective glass doors with aluminum trim, integrated lighting, and thoughtful organization for easy access. The en-suite bathroom continues the suite’s luxurious tone, inspired by a five-star hotel in Dubai. Soft sandy hues convey calm and cleanliness, accented by brushed gold fixtures. The integrated sink is built from the same tiles that cover the wall. A glass partition separates the toilet, and the flush door is clad in thin porcelain panels that blend seamlessly into the surrounding carpentry and walls.
A garden that feels like a private oasis
“The garden is the heart of the home,” say the designers. The flooring is paved with large tiles in a custom pattern, incorporating brass details. A discreet drainage system runs along a narrow one-centimeter slit, balancing function with a clean look.
To enhance the beachside vibe, an outdoor shower was installed next to a green marble-covered kitchen. The marble was chosen to match the surrounding foliage, creating visual continuity. Aluminum pergolas with built-in fans and adjustable slats allow precise control of sun and shade throughout the day. Hidden lighting softly illuminates the garden at night, and an integrated outdoor audio system provides music throughout the space.
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Two English courtyards also allow natural light and fresh air into the basement. Some are covered in aluminum slats for ventilation, others in glass for maximum daylight, resulting in a bright, well-aired lower level.
A Torah study and a space for spirits
The basement home office was designed as a Torah study space and a quiet, focused retreat for religious learning and hosting. Two custom bookcases made from wood veneer, natural stone, and copper-toned Formica hold a large collection of religious texts, with integrated lighting highlighting the materials and contents.
At the center sits a custom-designed desk with an eye-catching leg and a floating glass element for a lighter look. The room includes everything for daily use — a computer nook, mini-fridge, printer, coffee machine, and even whiskey storage. “This room is far more than a typical home office. It invites deep focus and respects the spiritual purpose it serves,” say the designers.
Also in the basement is a glass-enclosed wine room that stores and displays wine, whiskey, and cigars. “Though the space is compact, it reflects the homeowners’ passion for fine details and the world of wine,” the designers explain. Two professional wine fridges are set flush with the cabinetry, which includes custom-built shelves backed with stone and lit with hidden lighting to highlight the bottles.
On the opposite wall, more cabinets feature reflective glass doors and iron framing, backed with stone and fitted with slim metal shelves for storing premium whiskeys, accessories, and cigars. Glass doors offer full visibility into the space, while mirrors on the ceiling and walls enhance the sense of space and create a dramatic effect of depth and continuity.