When done right, black and white design shines as an excellent concept

• The Property: A 3-room, 90-square-meter apartment in the Blue project, Tel Aviv
• Owner: A bachelor in his 30s
• Design and Planning: Dikla Vaturi of Vaturi Design, in collaboration with interior designer Michal Gurion
• Photography: Itay Banit

Welcome to the Tel Aviv apartment of a man in the iron industry, a residence that, despite being purchased in its advanced construction stages, has been transformed into a sophisticated and lively living environment thanks to the dedicated work of interior designers Dikla Vaturi and Michal Gurion. "The client is from the north and frequently travels to the center for work. He wanted a second apartment where he could relax after busy days of meetings and enjoy weekends, holidays, and vacations. The apartment, located in the prestigious Blue project, was purchased from another buyer when it was already in advanced construction stages. Thus, some elements—such as the internal layout, marble and parquet flooring, and the luxurious kitchen—were predetermined at the start of the process," says Dikla Vaturi, owner of Vaturi Design.

"The new owner wanted to create an apartment with a tailored character, featuring monochromatic colors—a living space that would evoke the feel of a luxury hotel suite. For us, this provided the opportunity to develop a unique concept that, despite the seemingly limited color palette, creates a warm, inviting, and European-inspired atmosphere with modern Art Deco touches."

"We incorporated textures and textiles that add a layered, rich look. As part of the process, it was important for us to analyze the views from every angle and create thoughtfully designed spaces that integrate materials, elements, and artworks, each playing a crucial role in the final composition. To achieve this, we chose to work with patterns in various textures that highlight areas and connect different parts of the apartment. We meticulously incorporated them in precise amounts, creating geometric and graphic layers and volume, enhancing the warmth of the space. Examples include the tiles selected for the bathrooms, the woven bar stools on the kitchen island, and the fabric chosen for the living room sofa."

The entrance wall is undeniably one of the standout elements contributing to this ambiance: "As mentioned, the client works in the iron industry, and we harnessed the raw material in various forms for the interior design. On the wall that extends from the apartment's entrance through the public space, we embedded a geometric square pattern created from metal plates cut with a CNC machine. For this purpose, we designed a metal grid divided into modules of squares in different sizes, creating a dynamic, three-dimensional appearance. The inspiration for this motif came from the Art Deco style, and like it, the dominant pattern elevates the public space, while maintaining a refined and balanced feel. It adds to and enhances the space without detracting from the surrounding elements. In the lower third of the wall, we designed a narrow, floating dark cabinet that wraps around two sides. Visible from the entrance hall, it serves as a storage unit, continuing to function as a multimedia cabinet where audio-visual equipment is concealed."

To the right of the entrance door stands a bar, and upon opening the door, the geometric accent wall embracing the foyer and extending into the public space is revealed. On the left, an intimate corridor leads to the reinforced room (Mamad), converted into a walk-in closet with two entrances: one from the corridor and another directly from the master bedroom. Another corridor leads to the bedroom wing (the owner's bedroom and an additional room that serves as a guest room). Along this axis, an abstract artwork created by Vaturi and Gurion for the project is hung, providing a splash of color in the otherwise monochromatic space. It is also reflected in a mirror hung opposite, making it clearly visible upon entering the apartment.

"The marble tiles used to floor the public space were chosen by the previous owners, and we opted to polish them to soften the dominant beige pigment, instead emphasizing the lighter tone that matches the monochromatic palette of the space," says Vaturi. "The walls were painted a soft gray that greatly enhances the final appearance, and since the public space is neither wide nor large, we designed a precisely proportioned chaise lounge sofa, upholstered in a textured fabric with an interesting dark gray pattern."

"The coffee table was also custom-designed for the project and, along with the sofa, rests on a gray wool rug woven in a crisscross pattern. Art plays an essential role in the overall design, and in addition to the colorful abstract piece in the corridor, two more works I created are hung in the public space: one is a photograph of a crane, hung near the entrance and reinforcing the urban theme, and the other is an abstract painting hung near the island, matching the color scheme."

The light tiles originally chosen for the guest bathroom were replaced by the designers with new tiles in shades of white and green, creating a grid pattern. The sink cabinet was painted dark green, blending seamlessly with the color scheme.

In the master bedroom, a dominant television wall was designed opposite the bed, painted entirely black: "We created a dark shelving unit along this axis, with a lower cabinet underneath that serves as general storage and also conceals audio-visual equipment. The shelves were adorned with dark accessories that contribute to the dramatic, powerful look. The intimate seating area located at the opposite end of the wall, near the large window, breaks the dark mass and adds a dimension of softness."

"The bed was custom-made for the project, with a dark wood headboard and matching shelves on either side. For the wall, we chose wallpaper made from natural materials in black and white shades, on which two custom-made brass light fixtures were also hung. Additionally, we deliberately designed the entrance wall with perfect symmetry in three fields: on the left, the entrance door; in the center, a niche with a floor-to-ceiling mirror that reflects light and creates an illusion of space; and on the right, the entrance to the bathroom, where, when the door is open, the porcelain tile cladding resembling fabric and the dark bathroom cabinet that complements the wallpaper and bed in the bedroom are clearly visible."

"At the opposite end of the bathroom, there is another door leading to the walk-in closet. Since it is relatively narrow, we chose to create doorless furniture for easy access to the clothes. Like the public space, we also incorporated an original artwork of mine in this area."