The penthouse was purchased as a bare shell, giving the designer complete freedom to decide on the architectural layout, ceiling heights, flooring, wall coverings, and even the swimming pool design. The project was planned so that all the home’s entertainment areas, including the entire kitchen, face the sea. Anyone working in the kitchen enjoys a direct view of the sea as well as of those swimming in the pool or sunbathing nearby.
The home is divided into two distinct zones: the private living quarters, which are separated by a hidden door located inside the kitchen, and the entertainment area, which includes the living room, kitchen, and dining area. The hidden door leads to a long corridor connecting all the bedrooms and, at its end, the master suite complex.
The house features a unique design concept that repeats itself in different forms throughout the spaces: slightly silver iron rods, broken into various segments, with each rod breaking in a different place.
The designer chose to craft the kitchen from oak veneer wood, stained black, with a deep sandblast finish. This wild and textured look gives the Semel kitchen a very luxurious character. The black-stained oak veneer covers all the tall kitchen cabinets, as well as the entrance door and surrounding areas. The kitchen is built in an L-shape, with one full wall designed as a long illuminated glass-fronted display cabinet, showcasing numerous glassware pieces and creating beautiful reflections.
All the appliances are hidden and integrated, with the only visible one being a wine fridge by Gaggenau. Other appliances were selected from Miele, featuring stunning handleless black glass designs.
The island body is made from premium stainless steel by Tutachni, seamlessly tying in with the silver iron rod motif above the fireplace in the dining area. The island, like the rest of the kitchen, is completely handleless, topped with a unique natural stone surface with a rugged finish, perfectly complementing the kitchen’s style. Hidden within the island are several concealed appliances, including a retractable TV, a built-in pop-up extractor hood, and a pop-up power socket station. Floating above the island is a dining surface crafted from oak veneer in a gray tone.
The house overall follows a monochromatic palette, with pops of color introduced through a massive wall painting by Yam Amrani, decorative throw pillows, and, of course, the striking blue sea reflected in the background.
Photo: Oded Smadar
