Design Story
Designer: David Haugh
Designer: Bezalel Binyamin, Photographer: Daniel Zairi
Two Projects Highlight the Uniqueness of 502 Sleet
Located 70 kilometers apart, two apartments showcase Caesarstone’s 502 Sleet Porcelain surface, bringing ambitious design visions to life.
Recently, two leading interior design studios completed two vastly different projects with one thing in common: a smart and creative use of 502 Sleet Porcelain surface in household environments. Bezalel Studio, which is owned by interior designer Bezalel Binyamin, designed an enchanting apartment in the city of Beit Shemesh, while Studio Bazelet, which is owned by architects and designers Shira Dromi and Anouk Ron, transformed a duplex apartment in the city of Raanana into an inviting, light-filled space.
Cool and warmth, connected
When a young couple with two daughters purchased an apartment in Beit Shemesh, they sought to upgrade their future home with the help of a talented interior designer. Although the apartment was new – and the couple chose the flooring and other basic design elements in advance – they decided to forgo the existing kitchen design and conduct a redesign according to their specific tastes. Therefore, the couple partnered with interior designer Bezalel Binyamin, who helped establish a design vision for the kitchen and living room.
“The apartment’s focal point was the grey flooring,” recalls Binyamin. “When we started designing the kitchen, my clients disclosed that they like Caesarstone’s 502 Sleet Porcelain surface. It was clear from the get-go that we wanted a porcelain surface, and Sleet’s aesthetic qualities really resonated with them. My challenge – and it certainly was challenging – was to create a setting that could accommodate cool flooring with a warm off-white surface.”
502 Sleet, which is known for its creamy tones and golden-brown streaks, was selected as the “L” shaped kitchen countertop and splashback. Binyamin’s goal was to offer design solutions that could connect 502 Sleet’s inviting warmth with the flooring’s modern cool. His choices were nothing short of genius: neutral Kashmir colored kitchen cabinets, beige bar stools and a black “toe kick” that creates a separation between the floor tiles and the kitchen. In addition to creating a balance, Binyamin sought to enhance 502 Sleet’s trademark warmth – therefore incorporating a walnut-colored hanging kitchen cabinet and gold-colored faucet. The lighting fixtures, also golden-colored, correspond perfectly with the prominent faucet.
Binyamin’s design scheme is also evident in the living room, where the family likes to spend a majority of its time. In the end, the goal was achieved: the new apartment is filled with human warmth and sophisticated design, with attention to every small detail. It is a home that feels great to live in.
“These days, I always recommend porcelain surfaces to my clients, because it is thin and the color selection is enormous,” concludes Binyamin. “Working with Caesarstone is fun, because it is a seasoned global company that offers quality surfaces.”
Wood and porcelain light up the home
The city of Raanana is located approximately 70 kilometers from Beit Shemesh. It is there, in a pleasant duplex apartment owned by a couple with three children, that architect and designer Shira Dromi from Bazelet Studio set out to fulfill her ambitious design vision.
Designer: Shira Dromi & Anouk Ron, Photographer: Elad Gonen
“The apartment has just finished a gut renovation, and we figured out pretty quickly that the top floor would be dedicated for work and play, while the bottom floor would function as the living quarters,” shares Dromi. “The family loves to host, and that is why we chose to light up the apartment with warm and inviting design elements.”
Dromi and the family decided to install a parquet floor made of natural wood, along with many other wooden elements. In the living room, a large natural wood display cabinet provides added lighting via sophisticated LED light strips. The kitchen, which is adjacent to the living room, features an island and a wide countertop – which sparked a debate on the appropriate surface.
“We searched for a porcelain surface with warm notes and a gentle ambiance,” recalls Dromi. “We knew we wanted porcelain due to properties such as strength, durability, thinness and stain resistance. Aesthetically, we looked for a surface that would accommodate the family’s hosting aspirations, and would look great when adorned with fruit baskets and fresh pastries. When we came across 502 Sleet, we knew we found what we were looking for.”
The kitchen and living room form a wide and modern open space. Since the kitchen’s design influences the overall atmosphere in the apartment’s living quarters, it was essential to select every design element with careful precision. Kitchen cabinets placed under the countertop and island were painted a neutral white that gives off a sense of elegant calm. The star of the kitchen is undoubtedly the 502 Sleet Porcelain surface, which enhances the warmth that emanates from the dominant wooden flooring and majestic display cabinet. An impressive lighting fixture made of glass and black metal was placed above the island, illuminating its gentle vein structure.
“This was the first time I worked with Caesarstone’s 502 Sleet surface,” says Dromi. “It is a white surface that can adapt to any design style. We were able to create a pleasant atmosphere that invites you to take your shoes off, sit on the wooden floor and relax. 502 Sleet plays a huge role in what we created. It is a super-classic color and I am pleased we chose it.”
502 Sleet
Porcelain
Prominent slanted bands of whites and off-whites interplay over a mist of graphite-grey lines dominated by slightly thicker golden-brown streaks that stretch across the surface, quietly building a minimal design in layers of elegant simplicity.
A minimalistic look for maximum design impact
502 Sleet is a porcelain surface that emits a pleasant minimalistic glow, thanks to a creamy off-white base and gentle grey and brown lines and streaks. The apartments in Beit Shemesh and Raanana exemplify how 502 Sleet fits into just about every scenario. This surface provides architects and interior designers with ample versatility and freedom, as they strive to make their clients’ dreams come true. In addition to its impressive aesthetic qualities, characteristics such as strength and stain resistance turn 502 Sleet into an asset for every home and kitchen.
Designer: Cristina Casanas – Judd & General; Judd of Me & General Design
Designer: Michelle Gage Interiors, Photographer: Rebecca McAlpin