The owners of this luxurious resort villa approached designer Yehudit Schneider, the owner of an Architecture and Interior Design studio by the same name, to plan and design the project from start to finish, located in a village in the Upper Galilee.

This luxury resort villa is located on an attractive plot of land in the north of Israel and is a true gem in the heart of its surrounding nature. The plot borders a nature reserve, and as such, it is abundant in large openings that overlook the reserve. The unique topography of the plot, and the fact that there are no neighboring properties in sight, allow the villa to embrace the surrounding views. The structure’s northeastern facade is open onto the horizon, and once a neighboring property is developed on the west, it would be done at a comfortable enough distance from the villa to avoid restricting the views.
The surrounding nature embraces the villa in all its glory, creating a calmness of a resort or international boutique hotel. The nearby valley and the mountains surrounding Carmiel, all visible from the property, create a sense of serene intimacy that can be felt upon entering the villa.

The sizable two-level property includes large pampering family spaces and six fully equipped boutique-style suites. The designer masterfully planned four-meter-high glass windows that run from the floor on the ground level, through to the ceiling on the top level, visually blurring any partition between the indoors and surrounding nature, creating a light, airy and spacious feel. With the intent of maximizing ceiling height, Schneider created a split level that adds extra headroom to the lounge and dining area.
The property was designed in a minimalist style in terms of materials and color scheme, providing a neutral backdrop to the breathtaking view. The clients asked Schneider to create a clean and bright property, in shades of gray and white, combined with wooden materials. The monochrome colors contribute to a minimalist look that sets the stage for the vibrant colors of the nature surrounding the property.

The ground level includes a lounge, kitchen, and dining area. A floating ceiling creates a clean look and adds visual richness along with the lighting fixtures that surround the ceiling and create a halo effect.
The kitchen combines oak and charcoal nano, also used for the island. The countertop is a delicately veined granite porcelain that incorporates a spacious island, which can accommodate six diners. It was cleverly designed to be practical for events as well as social gatherings. A large extending table was positioned in the adjacent dining area, for easy entertaining. Its color scheme continues that of the kitchen and the island.

The family space includes an electric fireplace that adds a romantic and cozy touch, and a very large plasma screen tv, all surrounded by glass windows overlooking the view. A wide lounging sofa, with pale-blue scatter cushions, was positioned in the lounge area, alongside a rug in colors that correspond with the blue of the pool reflecting through the windows.
The sculptural staircase emphasizes the wall that connects the levels. The stairs were designed in gray granite stone, a tone darker than the floors, to draw attention to the custom-made banister designed by a local artist. The banister is made of iron poles that were colored and fitted according to the space dimensions and continue the theme of a clean design.

1x1 m exposed concrete-style tiles were used for flooring. Schneider, an ex-dancer, injects influences from the world of dance into the properties she designs. These are manifested in the combination of architecture and movement. Like a dancer that creates lines in space - so does the designer, with the architectural elements. The dominant banister creates lines in the space that resemble light strings that delicately stretch ad infinitum.

Photography  Oded Smadar
Architecture & Interior Design  Yehudit Schneider