White is one of the most beloved and widely used colors in interior design. It fits almost any space, flatters any piece of furniture, and brings with it light, cleanliness, and tranquility. But within all that beauty lies a challenge: how to make it interesting rather than flat, deep rather than cold, emotional rather than predictable. In honor of Shavuot, three exceptionally talented architects, Amit Biton, Liad Twena and Shlomi Levin, shared with us the philosophies, practices, and projects that turn white into something completely different. Each in their own way, through projects that are a celebration of precision and sophistication, reveals the magic hidden in the quietest of colors.

 

Amit Biton

An architect and gifted designer who navigates between material and texture, concept and nature, Amit Biton brings a rich language and a sensitive aesthetic to every project. For Amit, white is not emptiness but rather a void full of infinite potential, a moment after collapse, a breath before creation. “When I think of a white space, the first thing that comes to mind is an open field, not emptiness, but a beginning. White is a fresh start, a color composed of all colors, functioning both as a backdrop and a form, as a nothingness that contains everything.”

This approach was fully expressed in his extraordinary project in Caesarea, “The House on the Dune,” located just steps from the sea and blending into the sandy landscape. The entire house was built in white, not as a sterile concept, but as an intentional, meaningful choice. Every detail was considered, every material carefully selected, with the aim of creating a space that is calm but never boring.

“The way is not through adding noise, but through refinement. A white space is like a long breath, quiet, open, full of potential. Its interest doesn’t come from bold colors or dramatic gestures, but from texture, from light, from shadow, from the way it changes throughout the day. A single element, a rough wall, a natural wood shelf, the sound of a footstep on stone, the splash of water, becomes meaningful. The space remains quiet, but awareness sharpens. It’s not about adding, but about charging the existing with meaning.”

Amit adds, “White is like the responsible adult in the room, not shouting, not drawing attention to itself, but always present when needed. It doesn’t steal the show, but it holds it together.”

In the public area of the house, Biton used Lotus armchairs, Rocket sofas, and a custom-made amorphous Renan ottoman, all in light tones. All the bedrooms were custom-designed according to Biton’s plans, with precise adaptations to the space and its users.

We asked Amit if there’s one material that makes all the difference in light spaces: “Natural wood with a raw finish, especially solid oak, is the perfect choice. Oak carries color, texture, depth, and emotional warmth, without taking over. It creates a soft contrast with white and responds beautifully to light: in the morning it’s almost pale, by noon it’s warm, and in the evening, rich and deep. To the touch, it reminds the body it belongs in the space. In its presence, it always maintains quiet, but it’s never invisible. It’s like a responsible adult, not loud, not trying to shine, but always there when you need to feel.”

The house was inspired by Moroccan Riad structures, traditional buildings organized around a quiet inner courtyard, with a deep connection to light and nature. “Silence is a raw material. White is not just a color, it’s a state of mind. It spreads across the walls, the ceilings, the moments between heartbeats.”

Amit emphasizes, “Every detail in this house, even if it seems quiet, holds a layer of depth that responds to its surroundings. The precise selection of natural materials, combined with soft lighting, allows the white space to become a living, breathing environment.”

According to him, the experience in the house isn’t one of ‘white,’ but of the rhythm that white enables. When the space is quiet, attention sharpens. Every item becomes significant, every choice matters. And white, it’s the most accurate canvas for that story.

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Liad Twena

An interior designer and architect with a sensitive eye and the ability to craft emotionally resonant spaces from meticulously chosen elements, Liad Twena knows how to turn any apartment into a stage for feeling. With extensive experience in large-scale projects, she leads complex designs with a delicate and precise hand. “White, for me, is purity. Like a wedding dress. There’s something very clean, emotional, and primal about it,” says Twena, while making it clear that white requires responsibility. “Precisely because it’s so beautiful, it’s also risky.”

As a designer, she speaks of white as a color that invites introspection. “It’s like a blank page. It doesn’t dictate, it listens. But if you don’t know what you’re doing, it will remain flat.” Her work with white involves a carefully considered hierarchy of tones, textures, and transitions. “Just like there are fifty shades of gray, there are also fifty shades of white, and each one feels different under changing light. It’s important to pay attention to proportions, to depth, and to how elements connect.”

Twena shares one of her most special projects, an apartment in the heart of Jerusalem that’s nearing completion and is set to be one of the largest she’s designed to date. She says she’s very proud of it, not just because of its size, but because of the sensitivity required in planning and assembling each detail. “We wanted to create purity, but not sterility. We used natural wood with a soft presence, rugs with evolving textures, soft fabrics in warm hues, and hand-crafted leather items. Each layer adds another dimension of feeling.”

One way to avoid flat white, she says, is to work with layers of material. “Don’t settle for just one shade. Think about combining fabrics with depth, wood that brings softness, lighting that breaks the cold. Sometimes a simple carpentry piece can be the one that anchors the entire composition.”

Her inspiration also comes from gentle sources. “Sometimes a memory, a landscape, or a raw material sets the direction. I start with the feeling. Only then do I bring in the white.”

According to her, Shavuot aligns perfectly with this approach. “It’s a holiday of beginnings, of acceptance, of clarity. It carries both serenity and celebration. When you design with white, that’s exactly the space you’re in, simplifying without giving up emotion.”

Shlomi Levin

An exceptional architect and interior designer, Shlomi Levin has a sharp eye and a deep understanding of where the story of each space lies. With a love for detail and a gift for crafting calm yet striking interiors, Levin knows how to create quiet worlds that still speak volumes. “The challenge,” he says, “is not to get bored inside all that silence.”

Levin, who designed the apartment of event producer Irit Rahamim in the ‘Blue’ project in northern Tel Aviv, describes white as a color that evokes duality. “On one hand, it’s peace, light, purity. On the other, there’s the fear of a space without depth, without personality.”

In this apartment, which is nearly ninety-five percent white, Levin used layers of texture and depth to break the banality. “It starts with the small details. One armchair in white leather, next to another chair upholstered in a pixel-textured fabric in a soft, warm shade. The sofa is covered in white bouclé, soft and amorphous, balancing the firmness of the leather. The coffee table is clad in white leather, and a pale rug ties it all together.”

He adds that even in the kitchen, which wasn’t remodeled, he integrated white lamps with crumpled texture, and in the dining area, a standing lamp at an unexpected height. “It’s all white, but every piece has its own tone, depth, shadow. These are the things the eye doesn’t immediately register, but when they’re present, you feel embraced.”

According to Levin, designing with white forces you to be precise. “There’s nowhere to hide. Every line matters. Every choice stands out. White demands planning, a broad vision, and a gentle touch.”

He explains that luxury materials in refined finishes make the difference. “Natural stone with an unexpected finish, leather with special stitching, brass that reflects light in interesting ways, each adds depth. When they come together, white becomes a celebration of sensation.”

He believes it’s the contrast between materials that brings life to the space. “The smoothness of stone and leather against the texture of bouclé and rug, that’s where the magic happens. Each material enhances the other, and every contrast creates interest for the eye and the senses.”

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Shavuot is a holiday of light, reflection, and moments that ask us to pause. White, more than any other color, connects us to those exact values. It invites quiet, but calls for precision. It appears simple, but requires complex thought. White, like Shavuot itself, touches both light and earth, purity and material. And if it isn’t given a stage, it simply fades, because that’s how white behaves.

In interior design, just like in tradition, choosing white is a chance to listen to what’s happening beneath the surface. At Niso, through daily collaboration with architects, designers, and clients, we see just how much this shade demands nuance, attentiveness, and the ability to distill beauty from quiet. It doesn’t need to shout to be present. On the contrary, it holds its poise.

The three architects we met here showed us that white is not just a tool, but a complete language. A language that can tell a story, create depth, and stir emotion with subtlety. And like anything truly meaningful, it requires courage, honesty, and a keen eye for the small details. And yes, a bit of good taste, because with white, every mistake is visible, and every success shines.

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