Between Japan and Scandinavia: How a developer apartment in Ra’anana became a calm family home

A six-room developer apartment that initially looked like just another standard template underwent a quiet and precise transformation and became an organized, bright, and warm family home. A young couple who had just started a family asked designer Noa Kuperman to create their first home, one that would accompany them over time and remain pleasant and orderly even as life itself becomes more intense.

The apartment, measuring approximately 140 square meters with a 25-square-meter balcony, was purchased at the planning stage. The original layout included six relatively small and crowded rooms, but from the very beginning it was decided to give up quantity in favor of quality. Kuperman changed the program: One room was eliminated to expand the living room and allow more openness to light, and another room was converted to enlarge the parents’ suite. At the end of the process, a balanced layout was created that includes two children’s rooms, a dedicated half-room for laundry, and a spacious public area that is comfortable for everyday use.

During the planning and construction period, the couple had two children, which further sharpened the need for smart planning, generous storage, and a clear flow between the different areas of the home.

One of the key moves in the design is the carpentry wall in the living room, stretching approximately eight meters and serving as both a functional and design anchor. Behind a unified and calm façade are a fireplace and television, storage solutions for toys, a hosting cabinet, concealed air-conditioning systems, and an entry zone that includes a shoe bench, a mirror, and a solution for the electrical cabinet.

The choice to paint the carpentry in the same tone as the walls allows the wall to “disappear” into the space, without giving up its impressive capacity. This is a guiding principle throughout the entire project: Storage that is planned in advance, serves daily life, yet does not take over the visual appearance.

The dining area, located within a rectangular space, features a round table that softens the geometry and creates a natural sense of flow. Wood cladding on the wall adds warmth and defines the area, and within it an additional concealed storage cabinet is integrated, an efficient solution that does not compromise visual cleanliness.

The living room is defined by a large rug that creates the feeling of a separate island within the space. Behind it, a sculptural shelving unit was placed, designed especially for the home, combining wood, metal, and concealed lighting. The shelving unit serves as a stage for personal items such as books, objects, and photographs, adding a personal and lively layer to the home.

The kitchen was designed with modern, minimalist lines, while maintaining a sense of height and airiness through the concealment of air-conditioning systems above the tall cabinets. Another unique element is the custom carpentry shelves suspended from the ceiling with thin iron rods, featuring built-in LED lighting that adds depth and texture.

The decision to combine two types of work surfaces, one light and smooth and the other more dominant on the island, creates a clear distinction between work zones and the gathering area. The island serves not only for cooking, but also as a daily social hub.

The balcony was designed as a natural extension of the living room, with perimeter greenery and concealed lighting that creates an intimate atmosphere in the evening hours. The feeling is of a green and quiet corner within the urban environment.

The guest bathroom includes a Corian trough sink and a practical shelf, and the laundry room was planned as a particularly efficient workspace, with precise storage solutions for every stage of the process.

In the corridor leading to the bedrooms, an additional cabinet was planned, combining drawers for shoes and shelves for family photographs, a solution intended to reduce the load on other storage areas.

The parents’ suite was designed with inspiration from a calm hotel atmosphere. The sink area is open to the bedroom, while the shower and toilet are separated by glass doors. The vanity integrates smart carpentry with a lift-up mirror, lighting, and dedicated storage.

The entire home is designed in the spirit of the Japandi style, a meeting point between Japanese minimalism and Scandinavian warmth. The use of natural wood, soft colors, pleasant materials, and balanced light creates a quiet, precise, and unpretentious home, one that allows the family simply to live well within it.