Penthouse reno surprises with vibrant boho décor bottom to top

When a young family decided to leave Tel Aviv for the suburb of Ramat Hasharon, where the parents both grew up, it was for a penthouse apartment home in an older building with big square feet and rooftop access. And with the help of a savvy architect and experienced stylist, they proceeded to bring this new space into the 21st century with some bright and fun boho love.

Although the building itself is older, they saw the potential of a 650-square-feet rooftop terrace as an outdoor play area for their two young girls, as well as a terrific place to entertain. That said, nearly 1,100 square feet on the lower level and 270 square feet of second-level indoor living space needed some work. Architect Gideon Timor redesigned the apartment layout to accommodate the family’s needs and stylist Gili Ungar worked with homeowners to dress the space.

Shiran Carmel

The direction of the stairs changed, and a few walls moved along the way. The space originally had a bit of a rustic-industrial look, given that some interior walls were brick, but those soon wore three coats of bright white paint. Some of the heavier pieces of furniture—the media center and bookshelves seen in this photo, for instance, got the same white treatment—and the sofa chosen was a light greige.

Then the layers of color went on, and how—pop, Pop, POP!!

Shiran Carmel

The colorful kilim rug in the living room was a flea market find. The chair is vintage midcentury and wears a canvas upholstery that serves as a bridge between the chevron rug in the entry and the more stylized kilim.

Gili Ungar Home Styling

Pillows, art, flowers and accessories do the rest to give this home its 70s boho edge. Gallery wall art all came from the homeowner's collection. The two larger prints at right are by graphic artist Genis Carreras.

Gili Ungar Home Styling

Gerbera daisies are the perfect choice—so pretty and so 70s mid-mod, in eye-popping orange and yellow! 

More boho pops of color enliven eating areas

Shiran Carmel

The kitchen is small but well-appointed, uber-functional, and full of natural light. How about that bar cabinet made from an old radio console? I also love those lime green, Danish modern barstools. 

Gili Ungar Home Styling

Ungar had the colorful kitchen pendant light constructed from shades bought at a flea market, repainted yellow.

Shiran Carmel

The homeowners had plenty of quirky art and accessories to fill the walls and tabletops. I have a serious crush on that multi-colored chandelier, as well as the bouquet of sunflowers beneath it.

Gili Ungar Home Styling

Ungar even utilized oft-wasted space under the stairs with a period desk and chair. But he made it smirk a little by dousing the chair in the same lime green as the bar stools and adding a cool copper and matte black desk lamp and a funky planter.

Going up? Because, after all, that’s what you’ve been dying to see, right?

Me? I can’t help but hear strains of Carole King crooning, “Up on the roooooooof, oh baby now…”

When this old world starts getting me down and people are just too much for me to face,
I climb way up to the top of the stairs and all my cares just drift right into space.
On the roof it's as peaceful as can be, and there the world below can't bother me,
Let me tell you now-- 

When I come home feelin' tired and beat I go up where the air is fresh and sweet.
I get away from the hustling crowds and all that rat race noise down in the street
Up on the roof...

You hear it, too? Now I don’t feel quite so crazy.

Terrace access is from a hallway at the top of the stairs, but first let’s turn right and check out the master suite, with terrace views on two sides.

Gili Ungar Home Styling

The bathroom is all about the whimsical legs on the cabinet—like something out of Alice in Wonderland. Ungar says the homeowners weren’t sure they liked them at first, but he encouraged them to wait until all finishes were in before they deciding the legs were out. 

Gili Ungar Home Styling

His strategy worked. Those curvy gams were made for the ochre mosaic tile, which picks up on the gorgeous Moroccan jar lamps in the bedroom. What a cheery bathroom to start the day in!

Gili Ungar Home Styling

Don’t leave without a closer look at that gorgeous embroidered coverlet.

Shiran Carmel

And, of course, what you came to see in the first place, the equally wonderful boho-styled terrace, though there’s only a peek, I’m sorry to say. 

But there's that song again...

On the roof's the only place I know
where you just have to wish to make it so
Oh, lets' go up on the roof. 

At night the stars put on a show for free,
and darling, you can share it all with me.
I keep a-telling you, right smack dab in the middle of town
I found a paradise that's trouble-proof, up on the roof...

I think this penthouse spoke to me because the décor, though much more sophisticated, reminds me so much of my teenage bedroom (in the 1970s, of course). I actually had a bar-stool in that bedroom that I painted lime green like the ones here. I wish I could say I sat on it to strum Carole King songs on my guitar but, alas, it only collected schoolbooks and dirty clothes. But I did work out my angst singing along to a good many records in its presence, including this one...

So if this world starts getting you down
there's room enough for two, up on the roof
Up on the roof, everything is all right
Up on the roof, oh, come on, baby
Up on the roof, up on the roof...

Try looking back at this boho home again, serenaded by Carole King and James Taylor, live at the Troubadour, or better yet, sing along...

See more photos of this boho home at Xnet and at Gili Ungar Home Styling, and follow my blog with Bloglovin.