Project: Private Ground-Level Home in Bat Hen SettlementArea: 220 sqmResidents: Third-Age CoupleInterior Design: Elinor GvilyPhotography: Moshi Gitelis
At the heart of the communal settlement of Bat Hen, lies a uniquely special home. Until a few years ago, the couple resided here with their children. However, when the nest emptied, they were left with a large house, unused spaces, and a sense of "tiredness" and staleness. Their dream was a home that would elegantly integrate their art collection and vintage finds without creating a sense of clutter. They turned to interior designer Elinor Gvily, giving her a free hand, but with a foresight: that their character would be reflected in the home's design.
"When I first arrived, I saw a large house, surrounded by a huge yard with fruit trees, filled with artworks and beautiful items. The potential was immense, but due to the overload of colors and items, it was impossible to admire the beauty, and a sense of heaviness and clutter prevailed. I wanted to reveal the inherent beauty in the items and the home by creating a space where each item would receive a place of honor," recounts Gvily.
The house spans 220 square meters and comprises two floors. "We're not a young couple," notes Gvily, "and over the years, climbing stairs to the parents' bedroom on the upper floor became difficult." Therefore, at the beginning of the project, Gvily redesigned the space distribution in the home. She relocated the parents' bedroom to the first floor, granting the couple a veritable kingdom: ample storage spaces, a king-size bed, and a bathroom that incorporates a laundry area. She added windows to the new bedroom, allowing the vibrant greenery from the yard to penetrate into the room.
The color palette chosen for the project is a combination of monochromatic colors with bolder ones, like the green of the entrance door, which complements the black doors installed on the staircase. Additional colors that broke the clean and delicate line were expressed in the redesign of the living room and the deliberate placement of the residents' items: vintage blue armchairs with textured metal blend with the cushions placed on the sofa, a collection of porcelain dishes in blue and white displayed in a vitrine, and illuminate the space. Art pieces are given a place of honor in carefully chosen spots, accompanied by appropriate lighting that accentuates their beauty and uniqueness.
The children's room, which hasn't functioned as such for years, was converted into a workspace featuring a luxurious library and a work desk incorporating ample storage. The kitchen, which was very old and lacked storage spaces, was replaced with a new kitchen with a clean and elegant look. To maximize natural light, the window was enlarged.
In the parents' bedroom, which includes a bathroom, the designer encountered a challenge: the entrance door to the room and the bathroom door collided with each other. The perfect solution was found: pocket doors (sliding doors) by Pandor, allowing easy movement in the space, and maximizing storage space in the compartments.
"This project is a real success story," says Gvily. "I'm glad I managed to integrate the special world of items from the past with the new and modern, in a way that reflects the character and uniqueness of the residents, without creating a sense of clutter. The result is pleasant and precise," she concludes.