Just over three years ago, a couple — parents to a son and daughter, both now IDF soldiers — purchased a 500-square-meter (roughly 5,400-square-foot) plot in Tel Aviv with an aging house on it. They initially planned only a modest renovation, but as architect Ayelet Perry Sharon puts it: “Things evolved, and in the end, we were left with just the ceiling, the floor, and part of the original structure’s columns.”
The new 220-square-meter (2,370-square-foot) home was designed as a personal, luxurious resort, with natural materials and earthy tones bringing the vision to life.
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220 square meters on half a dunam for a couple with two children in the army
(Photo: Itay Banit)
An entrance that prioritizes privacy
The front of the house opens to an internal foyer, with guest restrooms to the left, accessed through a private, secondary vestibule. The entire home is covered in a light resin — a seamless modern finish made from synthetic resins, natural stone and polymers — complemented by similarly plastered walls and ceilings for a cohesive natural look.
In the guest restroom, three types of stone are combined: one carved to form the sink, another framing the mirror with an organic, free-form shape, and a third incorporated into the lighting fixture. Wooden shelves and a large woven basket complete the earthy aesthetic.
Open central space blending indoors and outdoors
The central area opens to the garden through large glass doors. The kitchen features two rows of tall cabinetry — one on each side of the room — in a sandy tone that matches the floor. Hidden within one wall of cabinets are a storage room, pantry and laundry area. A wood-lined niche with a countertop sits within the cabinetry, followed by glass-fronted cabinets for displaying elegant dishware that reflect the garden-facing windows.
At the heart of the kitchen is a large island clad in copper-toned metal and topped with Taj Mahal marble, which includes an integrated trough-style sink. A dark oak wooden slab set atop the island doubles as a bar table.
Two prominent design elements frame the island: a structural metal beam on one side replaces a column that obstructed the original layout, while on the other side stands one of two original support columns that couldn’t be removed. “We debated what to do with them. We even began plastering and smoothing them, but it didn’t feel right,” says Perry Sharon. “These weren’t clean, polished concrete columns — they had a rough, weathered look, and I actually thought that contrasted beautifully with the clean flooring.” The island was purposefully placed away from the column to maintain breathing space between materials.
Dining and living: Textural harmony
Beyond the island is a round wooden dining table from designer Arik Ben Simhon’s studio, paired with De Padova chairs from Da Box. A decorative light fixture hangs above, anchoring the space.
The living room is spacious, with two distinct seating areas created by a double-sided sofa — one side facing the TV, the other the fireplace. The sofa, also from Ben Simhon, features leather-wrapped metal armrests that double as display shelves. Alongside it are dark wood round coffee tables with textured surfaces and a long travertine stone bench that houses the fireplace, offering a rich mix of materials and textures.
That stone bench extends outdoors beyond the glass doors, becoming a favorite seating spot overlooking the garden. “The homeowners say it’s their favorite place to sit,” Perry Sharon notes.
It feels like an outdoor resort
The outdoor space features three seating areas: a dining area, an outdoor lounge, and a pair of loungers behind the pool. The pool is coated in tadelakt plaster, with a slatted pergola and abundant greenery enhancing the resort-like vibe. A large public park behind the property adds dense greenery, making it easy to forget this is a private home in the city.
The staircase begins on a small raised resin platform and consists of rusted metal stringers with dark smoked oak treads, giving it a raw aesthetic. Like the kitchen column, it is detached from the wall for spatial breathing room. Above, three oversized pendant lights made from spheres of varying sizes emphasize the double-height ceiling.
The staircase railing, made of the same rusted metal, continues upstairs. “It was important to me that every post emerge from the resin floor,” says Perry Sharon — a small detail that required careful execution but has a big visual impact.
Upper floor: Family zone and private suites
A large wooden cabinet with travertine display shelves marks the entry to the upper floor, leading to an open family lounge with a plush sofa, TV and workspace. The space can be closed off via a wood-framed sliding door with woven cane mesh to create a guest room when needed. The sliding track is hidden within a wooden ceiling element that blends with the overall design.
On one side are two large bedrooms for the children, each with its own en-suite bathroom. The opposite side houses the primary suite, entered through a hallway lined with plaster-finished wardrobes that match the walls and ceiling for a seamless look.
The farthest wardrobe doubles as a headboard, made from oak with a built-in travertine niche. Opposite the bed, a large wooden-decked terrace with a glass railing overlooks the garden and pool. It includes two lounge chairs and a fire pit for cozy evenings.
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The double bathroom is separated by a uniquely designed accordion door
(Photo: Itay Banit)
To the left of the bedroom, a folding door similar to the one in the family area separates the sleeping area from the bathroom — a creative solution prompted by the presence of another immovable structural column.
Inside the bathroom, the plaster gives way to resin that climbs the walls and ceiling. A freestanding bathtub sits beside a large window, flooding the space with light. The vanity — made of wood and topped with silver travertine — holds two sunken sinks. The shower and toilet each have their own private enclosures, maintaining the calm, spa-like atmosphere. “It signals that there's no rush — that you can actually enjoy the space, just like on vacation,” says Perry Sharon.