A senior high-tech couple had envisioned a life in Jaffa, but circumstances led them and their four daughters to one of the cities in the Sharon region instead. Determined to infuse their new surroundings with character, they enlisted a designer to create the atmosphere of a Jaffa and European home.
Sami Shalom Knafo, an interior designer, architect and artist who lived in Jaffa for years before relocating to northern Israel nine years ago, was chosen for the task. He specializes in residential renovations.
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A 300-sqm. private home in the Sharon built on a 700-sqm lot
(Photo: Suzie Levinson)
“My clients are a talented couple in their 50s who work in high-tech and are parents to four grown daughters,” Knafo said. “We were working with a 700-sqm (7,535 sqft) plot to build their home. The couple was drawn to the simplicity and subtlety of my designs. The homeowner even consulted me on selecting the lot.”
Demolition and rebuilding
An aging house once stood on the lot, but it did not suit the family’s style and its systems were worn out. “We completely dismantled the existing structure and rebuilt everything from scratch, adapting the dream of Jaffa and Neve Tzedek style to the location while preserving the required authenticity,” Knafo said.
Planning took several months, and construction was completed within a year, in collaboration with architect Jonathan Kish. The finished home spans 300 sqm (3,230 sqft) over four floors.
“In addition to the spacious ground floor, there is a designed basement level with a sunken courtyard on both sides, a bedroom floor and a rooftop level,” Knafo said.
The ground floor includes a large living room, kitchen and the parents’ bedroom, allowing them to function as if in a single-story home. The entrance level opens to a yard and pool, alongside a patio with a pergola and greenery. The daughters’ four bedrooms are located on the second floor, offering privacy and views of the yard.
“In the central space, the concept was to create a pampering and practical solution for a couple who work hard, often at unconventional hours due to overseas commitments,” Knafo said. “We wanted everything they needed to be within reach. There is even an outdoor meditation area.”
The flooring is reclaimed parquet sourced from a specialty company. The kitchen, by Touchwood, is designed in a rural yet modern style. The windows, by Noga, are wooden models typical of eclectic homes, and steel windows were incorporated into the living room. The steel window frames were crafted by Achim Bahu metalworks, landscaping was designed by Amir Maimoni, and project planning and management were handled by Avi Cohen alongside Knafo.
The homeowners brought select furniture from their previous residence, including a sofa by designer Arik Ben Simhon. Knafo sourced additional items, primarily from flea markets. He designed the large bookcase that lends the living room a colorful, inviting look.
“At the center of the bookcase is a rare fireplace, the last one available,” he said. “It was white, and I painted it black so it would correspond with the shelving and the steel windows.” Two spacious Vitra armchairs face it. The light blue sofa was reupholstered with newly made cushions, and the coffee table also came from the previous home.
Outdoor furniture, kitchen fittings and lighting were purchased specifically for the new house. The curtains were specially ordered from a renowned company in France, and the rods were custom-built. “Together, all the elements create a warm, harmonious home with vintage touches, including old railings and doors we found at the Jaffa flea market,” he said.
The kitchen features an island that doubles as a bar for daily meals and a dining area. A red vintage sideboard immediately draws guests’ attention.
“It was an artist’s piece used in a studio,” Knafo said. “We integrated it into the dining area and turned it into a drawer unit for storing dishes and cutlery.”
The kitchen combines Scandinavian and retro elements with exclusively lower cabinetry. “It has a handmade feel, as if a human touch shaped the solid wood cabinets, which are tinted in a grayish light blue,” he said. White and wooden windows flood the space with natural light and greenery, and all lighting fixtures are vintage. “The lines are clean, proportions are precise, and the homeowner has a strong understanding of design. She is highly efficient, and the collaboration with her was smooth throughout."
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The couple’s bedroom. A large wall-to-wall closet lines one side
(Photo: Suzie Levinson)
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The couple’s bathroom. The walls are finished in Moroccan tadelakt
(Photo: Suzie Levinson)
A light fixture made from a trombone
The couple’s bedroom is also located on the entrance level and faces the pool, thanks to two double doors positioned opposite the bed. The parquet flooring continues here, and all furniture was custom-designed and built.
“The ceiling height is enormous and creates a sense of infinity, so we had to adjust the proportions accordingly,” Knafo said.
A large, light-colored wall closet lines one side of the room, which opens to the pool area. “The exterior was meticulously planned to maximize every meter,” he said. “The area near the house is paved in a European style, and beside it is the pool, built with natural, soft materials.”
The en-suite bathroom has a distinct look from the rest of the house, with Moroccan tadelakt wall finishes, a dense 8-millimeter plaster material, and glossy Moroccan clay herringbone flooring. Custom carpentry, along with a shower and bathtub at the couple’s request, completes the space.
The basement includes a central family room with a home theater system, a designed office, a gym and an additional guest room. The space is illuminated from both sides, with light entering through the gym windows on one end and the office windows on the other.
“The basement lamps were salvaged from dismantled ships, and there is a unique light fixture created from a trombone,” Knafo said. “We incorporated special elements found at flea markets, and plants were placed throughout to bring life and atmosphere.”
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The daughters are close friends, and a pocket door connects their rooms
(Photo: Suzie Levinson)
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The spacious rooftop, which the family also uses for entertaining
(Photo: Suzie Levinson)
Up a staircase that shifts from light to dark tones, the second floor houses the daughters’ four bedrooms. “They are close friends, so there is a connecting pocket door that can be opened or closed as they wish,” Knafo said. One room even features a swing. “The designs are soft and delicate. They each have style, and that is reflected in every room.”
Another flight of stairs leads to a spacious rooftop terrace, where the family hosts friends and spends time together.