The Last Forever Home | Eyal Apple

Architecture and interior design: Eyal and Alona Apple

Location: Central Israel

Residents: A couple

Plot: approximately an acre

Photography: Elad Gonen

A lot of couples reach the point where their children have left the nest and they need to make a decision around moving to a more suitable property. Many choose to downsize, but on this occasion, the couple decided the exact opposite. “What this couple planned was, in essence, their ‘final home’”, Says interior designer Alona Apple who, along with her life partner, architect Eyal Apple, was responsible for the rollout of this project.

“The couple wanted a property that would feel like a holiday home but one that is lived-in and comfortable enough for entertaining their children when they visit on the weekends”, she adds.

The property is modern with warm touches. “We used beiges, browns and grays,” explains Apple. “We wanted a warm color palette that is different to the whites and grays considered trendier these days. The design is very serene and minimalist as it was important for the couple to have an airy uncluttered living space”.

The space’s exceptionally high ceiling posed a significant challenge when it came to creating a cozy warm home. “Because we knew that most of the day-to-day activities will be carried out on one level, we wanted to create something unique. We wanted the ground floor to be powerful and we achieved this with the high ceiling and large openings that surround the property. The clients really liked this idea. The property doesn't seem overwhelmingly big upon entry because we managed to create a familiar and welcoming feel through the use of warm colors and materials. When you walk through the door it feels like a cozy space”.

At first glance, before entering the property, one might accidentally assume that the interior is standard based on the unassuming structure of the property that almost pales in comparison to the rest of the properties in this luxurious area. However, when you step inside you realize just how striking and unusual the space is, with its incredible headroom, the garden, and the large pool that extends across the back of the property. The outdoor space is fully visible from the entrance. “The entrance to the property is very wide and we used natural materials for the floors to help create a better sense of space. The very large entrance door, through which you can see the entire property all the way through to the outdoor pool, helps open up the whole space. We wanted to emphasize the main living area, and as mentioned, the clients really liked the idea of the large openings as they seamlessly integrate the outdoors with the indoors. There is hardly any visible partitioning between the interior of the property and its surrounding space, which was an important part of the design process”, states the designer. This was emphasized even more with the construction of a six-meter-high pergola, aligned with the six-meter-high ceiling, which adds a sense of continuity throughout.

“The pergola embraces the property almost like the wing of a bird”, says the Architect. “It unites all the areas of the property into one central point. This area has been turned into a cozy seating area that can be enjoyed regardless of the weather. This shaded spot is protected from the elements and is an extension of the indoors, creating an inviting space. We fitted a ceiling fan that cools the space down during the hot summer months and the space has turned out to be the most utilized area in the property - whether guests are present or whether the couple is home alone. In addition, the swimming pool area, which is noisier, was separated from the seating area to ensure it remains quiet, intimate, and calm. The pergola also adds a unique geometric look to the property overall. It appears to be very light and almost detached from the main structure. Under the pergola we fitted floor to ceiling windows, making the pergola appear as though it extends over the main house mass rather than continuing it, giving the space a lighter feel. This spot brings all the parts of the property together in a clean and understated way. But it wasn’t without its challenges, a major one being a structural engineering challenge that came from the fact that some of the openings in the main space are higher than eight meters. However, with the support of Orly Arma, structural engineer, we managed to resolve this”, he adds.

The master suite, which is fitted with a shower and a free-standing bath, is located on the ground floor overlooking the swimming pool.

Another en-suite bedroom is also located on the ground floor and is used on weekends by the children when they come to visit. The second floor has two spacious en-suite bedrooms with a living room and kitchenette that is suitable for weekend entertaining. Granite porcelain floor tiles were fitted across the space and the staircase wall was coated with a dark plaster that adds warmth and emphasizes the floating wooden stairs, which perfectly match the rest of the carpentry in the lounge. We used a variety of shades in the kitchen that create a warm-cool contrast and fitted light fixtures with touches of gold around the property, which the clients love very much”, summarizes the designer.