Israeli Homes, Decorated With A Shopping Spree In China

Adi Asulin lives in a fabulous apartment on the top floor of a seven-story building in the Israeli town of Ra'anana, north of Tel Aviv. The entry hall is long and light. Windows open onto an enormous balcony, which wraps around three sides of her home. The decor is fresh and white.

"It's all made in China," Asulin says.

Not just made in China. Nearly everything the floors, the lighting, the furniture she bought in China on a 10-day shopping spree.

The day after Asulin and her husband got keys to the place, she got on a plane to Guangzhou, in southern China.

"An adventure!" she says.

The big appeal was the price.

"Forty, sometimes 50 percent off the prices in Israel," Asulin says.

The savings add up the bigger the job. Her new apartment had been a rental and needed a lot of fixing. But buying plus remodeling seemed beyond the family budget.

From a friend, Asulin heard about Israeli companies that arrange trips for individuals to buy directly from Chinese factories. She signed up, getting tickets and booking hotel rooms for herself, an architect and her dad for advice.

Once on the ground in Guangzhou, the trio were guided by the owner of the Israeli company and local staff. Their first stop was a flooring factory bigger than Asulin had ever seen half the size of her city, she says.

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Israeli Homes, Decorated With A Shopping Spree In China