This small but very chic apartment is a very good example which shows that inspiration and beauty know no boundaries. The apartment is located in Tel Aviv, Israel. It was designed by Mayan Studio in collaboration with Michael Tchwella & Amir Navon.

Mayan Studio’s designers focus on modern interior design with a Japanese touch. The studio’s ultimate goal is to capture the beauty, harmony and tranquility of Japanese interior design and to apply to projects in different parts of the world.

This apartment measures an area of 67 square meters which is around 721 square feet. It’s not a particularly spacious apartment. In fact, some would even call it small. However, the design strategy used for the interior allow it to look and feel spacious and airy.

The fact that the apartment has an open balcony helps enhance its spaciousness even more. To highlight the views and to bring more natural light into the living space, the designer chose to separate the balcony from the interior volume with sliding glass doors. At the same time, the balcony has a zen look, featuring a concrete floor platform with an embedded planter.

The overall layout of the apartment is open and bright. By eliminating the barriers between the various internal spaces, the designers managed to maximize the floor space. Some of the walls were completely eliminated and glass panels and doors took their place.

The living area, kitchen, dining space and one of the bedrooms are all connected, forming an open floor plan that lets light travel freely from one space to another. The living room sofa acts as a divider between the lounge area and the bedroom. These spaces are also differentiated by a slightly different floor level.

The kitchen has an island with an extension attached to the wall, forming a compact dining area. This sort of kitchen island with seating is practical and efficient in small spaces. The kitchen cabinetry, walls and ceiling are white, another way to emphasize the spaciousness of the apartment. The element that adds warmth to the entire area is the wooden floor. Such combinations and contrasts are characteristic to Japanese interior design.

The kitchen is connected to the second bedroom through an opening in the cabinet wall. This opening brings all the rooms in the apartment together allowing them to be interconnected and to dialogue with each other. The only enclosed space remains the bathroom.

In the space between the kitchen and the balcony, a pipe shelving unit was created, offering the space and subtle hint of industrial charm. In addition to that a floor-to-ceiling metal post acts as a flexible support for the TV, allowing its angle to be adjusted so it can be viewed from the kitchen or from the lounge space.

The bedroom situated behind the living room sofa is raised on a platform, the floor matching the balcony. This volume is small, hence the need to open it up for increased light. All the storage is integrated into a minimalist wall unit with sleek recessed which offer it a puzzle-like look.

A rough-finished exposed brick wall adds texture and character to the bedroom, contrasting with the sleek and minimalist wall unit. The wooden headboard harmonizes the space while also giving it a warm and comfortable feel.

The second bedroom is adjacent to the bathroom. Its design is also simple, featuring a black and white décor infused with subtle industrial hints in the form of lighting fixtures and other small details. The wall unit is similar to that found in the first bedroom but this time it has a gray finish and prominent hardware.