My Houzz: Playful Style in a Renovated Tel Aviv Apartment
Geometric patterns and eye-catching DIY touches come together in this designer couple’s 970-square-foot space
“The view of the woodland through the windows is what sold us on this apartment,” Dana Gutman says of the 1950s fixer-upper she bought with her husband, Rotem Solarchik, in 2015. They spent two months collecting furnishings and designing the home, then followed that up with four months of intense renovations that included a full gut of the interior.
“We put our soul into the design,” Solarchik says. Every detail was planned and meticulous instructions were given to their suppliers; the hands-on couple also did some of the work themselves. They used the white walls as their canvas and filled the now bright and airy apartment with a modern and eclectic mix of furniture and decor pieces.
“We put our soul into the design,” Solarchik says. Every detail was planned and meticulous instructions were given to their suppliers; the hands-on couple also did some of the work themselves. They used the white walls as their canvas and filled the now bright and airy apartment with a modern and eclectic mix of furniture and decor pieces.
BEFORE: The apartment was built for new immigrants in the 1950s and had never been updated. The long hallways and dark, small rooms were the first things to go when the couple purchased it.
They couldn’t actually tell how many columns were in the space because many were covered by walls. It turned out to be a lot more than they expected.
“Slowly we realized we needed to squeeze lemonade from this lemon,” Gutman says. They decided to turn the columns into creative points around the home. Most were left exposed for an industrial edge.
They couldn’t actually tell how many columns were in the space because many were covered by walls. It turned out to be a lot more than they expected.
“Slowly we realized we needed to squeeze lemonade from this lemon,” Gutman says. They decided to turn the columns into creative points around the home. Most were left exposed for an industrial edge.
An arched column was turned into a shelf unit that opens to the living room. The unit was designed to look like a sideways city skyline.
Just past the front door, a second door led to a corridor with two bedrooms and a bathroom. The couple opened that space up and created a home office and master bedroom and bath. The beam seen here is a vestige of the original corridor.
Solarchik collects posters and other marketing items he finds on the street, with plans to use them for a project someday. For now, they remain rolled up in a basket at the entrance to the apartment.
Solarchik collects posters and other marketing items he finds on the street, with plans to use them for a project someday. For now, they remain rolled up in a basket at the entrance to the apartment.
A custom locker-style closet was built to hold coats and, in Gutman’s words, “keep their mess hidden.”
Instead of going the traditional route of adding drywall, they had a carpenter build a glass and pine unit to divide the home office from the rest of the space. “We want our clients to see the mix of materials as soon as they enter our home,” Solarchik says.
“This is our candy shop,” Gutman adds. “We have all our materials on display and we use it to interact with clients.”
Instead of going the traditional route of adding drywall, they had a carpenter build a glass and pine unit to divide the home office from the rest of the space. “We want our clients to see the mix of materials as soon as they enter our home,” Solarchik says.
“This is our candy shop,” Gutman adds. “We have all our materials on display and we use it to interact with clients.”
The glass and wood unit allows them to work interrupted while keeping an eye on their 2-year-old daughter, Olivia. A further privacy option is available in the form of a drop-down curtain on the back of the door. When the door is shut, the room is soundproof.
The pine, a wood not commonly found in Israel, was imported from Finland. The couple left it unfinished without any lacquer for a natural look.
The pine, a wood not commonly found in Israel, was imported from Finland. The couple left it unfinished without any lacquer for a natural look.
Because of when the apartment was built, the couple were sure they’d find brick somewhere. They did, and were delighted to expose it in their office space.
Solarchik, pictured, stores his “dressed” surfboards in a niche to the right of his desk.
Solarchik, pictured, stores his “dressed” surfboards in a niche to the right of his desk.
A large, brightly colored poster graces the wall leading to the master suite. This was another of Solarchik’s scouting finds. Upon close inspection you can see the masking tape used to repair it. The only cost shelled out for the art was for the frame.
A tall piece of glass provides a view from the master bedroom into the living area. “We believe in an open space,” Solarchik says. “Every room that you are in has a view to the open space.”
A small room to the left of the dining area that was empty and unusable was split into a bathroom, laundry room and walk-in closet accessible from the master bedroom. The door fits perfectly into the adjoining wall, creating a clean line.
To the left of the laundry and bathroom is Olivia’s room.
A tall piece of glass provides a view from the master bedroom into the living area. “We believe in an open space,” Solarchik says. “Every room that you are in has a view to the open space.”
A small room to the left of the dining area that was empty and unusable was split into a bathroom, laundry room and walk-in closet accessible from the master bedroom. The door fits perfectly into the adjoining wall, creating a clean line.
To the left of the laundry and bathroom is Olivia’s room.
“We take simple things and make them different,” Solarchik says of the 6-by-6-inch colored tiles that cover a wall in one of the bathrooms.
The couple measured each tile and gave the installer precise instructions on how to create the effect they wanted. They worked hard to get it perfect —and the installer quit on them halfway through the project.
“We challenge the materials and have to convince the tile cutters to keep to our design,” Gutman says.
The couple measured each tile and gave the installer precise instructions on how to create the effect they wanted. They worked hard to get it perfect —and the installer quit on them halfway through the project.
“We challenge the materials and have to convince the tile cutters to keep to our design,” Gutman says.
Areas in the house with different functions are divided by floor colors. The main area is white epoxy. The couple modeled the design in 3-D to create the perfect layout.
A surfboard made by the couple using a parquetry technique leans on the wall in a corner of their bedroom. This piece was made for an exhibition and then covered with epoxy to seal the design.
The couple built their bedroom closet as an inexpensive storage solution. The wood adds warmth to the room.
The master bathroom also includes a tile composition, which continues onto the ceiling. They call it the “3-D building.”
The medicine cabinet is from Ikea and the industrial-style vanity is custom.
The medicine cabinet is from Ikea and the industrial-style vanity is custom.
AFTER: A wall was added to create a buffer between the entrance to the apartment and the kitchen.
A box that hides electrical and TV wiring doubles as a backsplash for the kitchen. Farther to the right, a gas stove is set in a stretch of countertop that opens onto the living room and includes seating for three.
A box that hides electrical and TV wiring doubles as a backsplash for the kitchen. Farther to the right, a gas stove is set in a stretch of countertop that opens onto the living room and includes seating for three.
The couple used copper handles for all the kitchen cabinetry. “We like to choose materials that age well,” Solarchik says.
The bench is pine printed with graphics that depict a forest. (The couple are often commissioned to create graphics for homeowners.) Originally made for an exhibition that featured recycled items, the bench fit perfectly in this space, and Olivia now enjoys sitting on it while her parents cook.
The bench is pine printed with graphics that depict a forest. (The couple are often commissioned to create graphics for homeowners.) Originally made for an exhibition that featured recycled items, the bench fit perfectly in this space, and Olivia now enjoys sitting on it while her parents cook.
The backsplash unit also offers storage.
AFTER: The unit conceals the frequently used kitchen appliances. To the right is open space, handy for entertaining or interacting with those in the living room.
Plus signs and hearts are among the couple’s favorite shapes and can be found on items throughout their home, such as these custom bar stools.
Some of the furniture was brought from the couple’s last apartment, and the rest was purchased or repurposed.
The couch, which was custom-made for their last home, had to be taken apart, put through the window and reassembled.
The couch, which was custom-made for their last home, had to be taken apart, put through the window and reassembled.
An eclectic array of furnishings fills the small but cozy dining area. The light was purchased in London for about $10.
Three of the dining chairs are painted, their legs dipped in a contrasting color. The other chair is from Denmark and was used by Gutman as a child.
Metal art on the wall was purchased from art students in Holon, Israel, during a graduation exhibition.
The art on the column is by Guy Pitchon, a well-known Tel Aviv street artist and friend of the couple.
Three of the dining chairs are painted, their legs dipped in a contrasting color. The other chair is from Denmark and was used by Gutman as a child.
Metal art on the wall was purchased from art students in Holon, Israel, during a graduation exhibition.
The art on the column is by Guy Pitchon, a well-known Tel Aviv street artist and friend of the couple.
This display case originally belonged to Gutman’s grandmother. The couple painted the exterior and collaged the inside with carpentry magazines from the 1920s.
They added their own artistic touch to Olivia’s Ikea dresser by having graphics printed on the wood before assembling it.
Their favorite heart shape appears above their daughter’s bed.
Their favorite heart shape appears above their daughter’s bed.
“We want design to be fun,” says Solarchik, pictured here with Gutman. “We don’t take it too seriously.”
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Who lives here: Rotem Solarchik and Dana Gutman, founders of Studio37 interior design, and their 2-year-old daughter, Olivia
Location: Tel Aviv, Israel
Size: 970 square feet (90 square meters); two bedrooms, two bathrooms, plus a home office
When built: 1950s
Many of the items in the couple’s home were salvaged from the side of the road and refinished, such as the Wassily chair that had been thrown out because of its worn leather. The couple had the leather replaced, giving the chair a design rebirth.