A duplex in Tel Aviv with sweeping views of Yarkon Park isn’t easy to give up. But when her family expanded, the owner realized the layout of her two-story apartment no longer met their needs. Instead of moving, she decided to transform the 90-square-meter space from the ground up.
Before renovations, the top floor housed a master suite with a private bathroom, while the lower level contained a small living area and two compact bedrooms. The design, the owner felt, was flawed: the living room had no access to the large upper terrace, and her young daughter’s room was separated from hers by an entire staircase.
To reimagine the space, she turned to interior designer Maayan Rahav—whom she already knew—and together with architect Nili Rishin, they completely restructured the duplex. “We did an in-depth review of zoning rules and planned carefully to avoid future changes,” Rishin said.
The living room moves upstairs
In the new design, the main entrance was relocated to the upper floor, now a bright, open space with a living room, a compact but well-planned kitchen, and a terrace overlooking the park.
The lower level now features a master bedroom with en-suite bathroom, a children’s bedroom, and a reinforced safe room that doubles as a home office—and can later be divided between the daughter and her baby brother, born shortly after renovations were completed.
Because of the apartment’s modest size, the front door opens directly into the living area, where a dark gray sectional sofa and a wooden coffee table face a wood console with golden legs. Oak-style laminate flooring runs throughout, connecting the living room to a small dining nook and into the pastel pink kitchen, which is detailed with rose-gold handles and Italian porcelain counters that climb the backsplash.
From the kitchen and living area, glass doors open onto the large terrace, which Rahav calls “the true living room of the home.” Outfitted with geometric-print poufs, string lights, and views of the park, it serves as the family’s main gathering spot.
Light and flow replace heavy walls
A previously solid staircase wall was replaced with a slim metal railing painted to match the walls, paired with smoked oak treads. Original glass-block tiles above the stairs—once considered outdated—were preserved for their natural light and atmosphere.
A practical lower floor
Downstairs, a custom-built wall unit lines the hallway, hiding a laundry area and providing storage while leading to the master suite. Cleverly concealed doors blend into the cabinetry, while open wooden shelves break up the long corridor.
The master bedroom, formerly the apartment’s living room, now includes access to a private terrace. Narrow and elongated, it features a large window framing the park. The en-suite bathroom combines gray stone-like porcelain tiles with bamboo-style porcelain in the shower. A blush-pink vanity—one of the owner’s favorite colors—is paired with brass fixtures.
The children’s wing includes a nursery decorated with low wooden furniture and playful wall stickers, along with a shared bathroom featuring terrazzo tiles in a cheerful, kid-friendly palette.
Rahav describes the redesign as a balance of function and warmth: “It was about creating flow, comfort, and a home that could evolve with the family without losing its character.”