Better Late by Dorit Sela
Description
This flat, located in one of the most iconic and luxurious residential complexes in the north of Tel-Aviv, was purchased by a couple after many years during which it stood empty. Architect Dorit Sela’s meticulously planned renovation redefines and refreshes the flow between the main living space and the bedrooms and combines straight geometric elements with smooth curved silhouettes, to create a harmonious living experience.
Apartments with a panoramic view and a short walking distance from the beach are considered a rare commodity in the Tel-Aviv area. This apartment, approximately 200 sqm, is owned by a couple in their 40’s and their three children. After several years of standing empty in its skeletal form, the couple purchased it from owners that had originally bought the property as an investment and proceeded to renovate it into a family property that would meet their needs and design aesthetic preferences.
The couple approached Dorit Sela, owner of an architect and interior design studio specializing in the planning and design of luxury apartments and private properties. Sela has a long-standing relationship with the family, and this was the fifth house she had planned for them. According to Sela, the clients have long become family.
“The apartment underwent a complete transformation in order to create an optimal flow of space, a wide opening facing the coastline and a clean separation between the main living space and the bedrooms”, explains Sela. “To achieve this, we carried out an unusual process in which we changed the location of the main entrance, subject of course to all the necessary planning approvals”.
In this process, concrete walls were removed, and the main door was moved – as a result the main living space completely opened up. The optimal separation between the bedrooms and the main living space was created by erecting a power wall made of steel profile, teak, and steel panels. The power wall was divided into three sections each fitted with a door; one sliding door opens to a corridor that leads to the bedrooms, another leads to a guest toilet and a third door conceals a coat closet.
In order to break the straight lines and the rectangle mass, Sela chose to combine curved pieces that soften the space, for example with the use of the dining chairs and the bubble sofa in the seating area. She also chose to combine a monochromatic palette with warm elements and textures that add richness to the space, as well as layers and character. In contrast to the kitchen, which was designed in ultra-modern clean straight lines and two-tone Nano-Formica laminate, Sela placed a dominant couch in rich brown natural leather.
The balcony that overlooks the wild sea view, is frequently used by the family. Sela chose to use pale soft shades to not distract from the view itself. To create privacy between the apartment and the neighboring property, Sela replaced the existing glass balcony partition with an impressive green wall fitted onto a metal construction.
The bedrooms were designed to allow each of the family members as much privacy and space as possible. Sela designed a minimalist TV corner along the corridor, with a cozy iconic jersey-fabric bubble sofa designed by French Serbian designer Sacha Lakic. A thin TV was fitted seamlessly against the wall, allowing free movement past it, along the corridor.
The master suite, 30 sqm in size, is large and well-lit and was meticulously planned to make the most of the space. In the center of the room is an impressive free-standing bed, at a distance from the wall, allowing for more storage space around it. A wardrobe was discreetly fitted behind reflective glass doors that become transparent once the lights are turned on. The floor of the en-suite bathroom was fitted with stone tiles and parquet in a diagonal pattern creating the illusion of more space. a Corian basin countertop and a smokey glass mirror that conceals the cupboard drawers were chosen by Sela to create a clean and minimalist look.
Photography by Uri Ackerman
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- by Matt Watts
