A new home nestled in a northern kibbutz near Yokneam tells a story of a future, hope and renewal for one couple of retirees. Built on the same plot where their original home once stood, and where they raised their children, the new house replaces a water-damaged structure that had forced them to move out a decade ago.
Since then, they bounced between temporary homes within the kibbutz. Now, having regained possession of the half-dunam (roughly 0.12-acre) lot, the septuagenarian couple have created a spacious, single-story home tailored to their needs and to hosting their extended family.
The couple commissioned Hagar Lushi, an architect and interior designer, to design a 160-sqm (1,720-sqf) home on the beloved plot. Parents of four and grandparents to 12, they asked for a bright, welcoming space that fulfilled dreams they had put on hold for years.
"Their old home stood here until recently," said Lushi. "But after severe water damage made it uninhabitable, they had no choice but to leave. The years of moving from one temporary home to another were hard on them." After navigating kibbutz bureaucracy and changes in local policy, they regained the plot and turned to Lushi, who had just completed a renovation for their daughter.
They originally considered rebuilding a two-story, 220-square-meter home, but eventually they opted for a single-level layout of 160 square meters with high, sloped ceilings and a loft area designed entirely for their 12 grandchildren."
Easy maintenance, family input
"The final layout was chosen for several reasons, primarily to simplify daily living and home maintenance," said Lushi. "As they considered a large two-story house, they quickly realized it wasn’t practical at their age." Budget constraints also impacted the design. Along the way, their four children, who wanted the best for their parents, contributed many suggestions, some of which led to significant changes and adjustments."
A harmonious blend of styles
Designing the home was meant to balance the different aesthetic visions of the couple. "He leans toward clean, modern lines while she loves detail-rich rustic style," said Lushi. "We aimed for a middle ground and landed on what I’d describe as classic-rustic."
One of the wife’s requests was a dramatic, sloped ceiling and indeed, in the main living area - the kitchen, dining area and living room – there are sloped ceilings soaring to six meters at their peak. This allowed for a dynamic, open loft space with play areas, a TV corner and cozy nooks for the grandchildren. A minimalist metal railing separates the loft from the main level below, and access is via a steep and narrow staircase."
The outdoor design was also carefully planned. To prevent future water damage, the new house sits about 30 centimeters above ground level, surrounded by planted terraces that also ensure privacy from the street. "We created a lush garden with a large lawn for the grandchildren, shaded seating areas at the entrance and backyard and even a swing," said Lushi.
"Exterior walls are partially clad in rustic brick, extending into the living room’s feature wall, which also houses a fireplace and a thin floating, handle-less custom cabinetry unit.
Balancing drama and serenity
The home's entrance opens to a six-meter-high feature wall separating private quarters from shared spaces. It carries the roof structure and includes a window that looks down from the loft. "We softened the visual mass with a subtle-textured plaster finish that gives it a wallpaper-like elegance," said Lushi.
Throughout the home, materials and colors strike a balance between rustic charm and modern edge and between dramatic dark to light colors.
7 View gallery
Blue-and-white kitchen features country-style carpentry with classic elements
(Photo: Samantha Kretzmer)
The designers and homeowners chose warm, darkened oak parquet flooring in a herringbone pattern that complements the dramatic entry wall and the adjacent brick wall.
"In the sloped ceilings and lighting scheme, I aimed to strike a balance between calm and drama," said Lushi. "We installed heavy, prominent wooden beams over white-painted wood paneling, which highlights the beams while preserving a sense of height."
She added, "We combined custom-designed rustic wall lighting with clean, modern and functional technical lighting. These contrasts between rustic and contemporary styles repeat throughout the house, in the cabinetry and furnishings. For example, the blue-and-white kitchen features country-style carpentry with classic elements like Carrara marble alongside modern touches."
The heart of the home is a spacious 90-square-meter central living area, which is suitable to host the extended family. It includes a large utility room with washer, dryer, extra storage and a second refrigerator.
The private wing features a generous 30-square-meter primary bedroom for the couple, guest rooms for visiting family, a well-equipped bathroom for the grandchildren and a reinforced safe room (required in Israeli homes).
"We made it a priority to design the couple's master bedroom to be both practical and comfortable, with future needs in mind," Lushi said. "The bed, upholstered in salmon-pink fabric, is framed by wallpaper featuring golden autumn leaves. We clad the nearby window in oak, creating a warm, romantic atmosphere that evokes the feel of Tuscany."
"We designed custom carpentry throughout," Lushi added, "and made sure the couple could go about their routines without disturbing each other. For that purpose, I created a glass pocket door separating the sleeping area from the walk-in closet, while another door leads to the suite bathroom."
The bathroom's wet area was clad in extra-large, ultra-thin tiles with minimal grout lines to reduce cleaning and maintenance. The design includes a wide, accessible shower with a built-in bench, along with a stylish and inviting vanity unit.