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April 2, 2019 – Published in Design & Decor Spring 2019 issue

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Comfort and Style

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A thoughtful renovation to create the ultimate dream home.

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Words Andrea Christians  Photography Nikki Arnett

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Sometimes you really have to live with something to know what you want – and this was certainly the case with this featured property that is located in one of Malta’s most sought after residential locations. Situated in an elevated position, it was purchased by the owners five years ago but originally had a different layout to the spacious and airy home that we now see.

Designed along traditional lines, the then interior had a separate sitting and dining room and was considerably smaller. In the last 18 months, the house has undergone extensive renovation including the removal of interior walls, extending the living space and creating what is effectively a wall of glass to take full advantage of the view. In the nine months that it took for the permits to arrive the owners had time to further fine tune the interior detail.

The end result is a combination that is both stylish and practical with a contemporary style open plan living dining and kitchen area with three bedrooms and bathrooms, of which two are ensuite, along with a garage, pool, outside bathroom and dining area.

When it came to flooring, underfloor heating was installed with the added advantage that it can be individually controlled in each area of the house. A Gres tile that is the same both inside and out was chosen with the outside having the extra attribute of having a non slip surface.

The base colour scheme is essentially neutral with accent colours and featured pieces to create visual appeal. Certain furniture items original to the house and family heirlooms have also been incorporated into the overall plan – the mahogany dining suite that belonged to the owner’s mother being a good example of the past melding with the present.

In the sitting area the owners opted for mushroom leather sofas from Satariano with  a mustard/ green shade in the scatter cushions adding an accent colour that is also repeated in the armchair that  was reupholstered to match the new look. The deep textured rug adds further warmth to the room. The gas fire place is a particularly attractive feature here and is interesting as it has a dual  role of acting as a form of separe between the kitchen and sitting area.

As already mentioned the dining area provides something of a contrast with the mahogany style dining suite and vetrinas that once  belonged to the owner’s mother. The coloured chandelier above the dining table was sourced in Italy and matches the side lights in the Sitting room.

The mahogany theme is repeated in the kitchen with the elevated surface of the breakfast bar. The kitchen was sourced at Oxford House and features a glass inset extractor fan, integrated appliances, a Corian work surface and white sprayed wood finish cupboards.

All three bedrooms have an essentially quiet theme that reflects an ambience of tranquillity and relaxation in a modern context. The master bedroom has a simple contrast of grey and white with a textured rug underfoot and a silver grey wall paper behind the bed. The ladies chair is original to the house and was reupholstered to match the primary colours of the room. The adjacent walk in wardrobe was originally a small hallway that accessed other rooms but in the remodelling process now provides precious storage space as well as access to the ensuite bathroom – a clever optimization of space.

A Gres tile and white furniture give the en suite something of a monochromatic theme that reflects that of the adjacent bedroom.

The second bedroom has veneered wood furniture and is again simple in design with the rattan chair and candle holders bringing a certain rustic element to the surroundings . The ensuite bathroom again has a quiet colour scheme with grey line effect tiles on the wall making a subtle style signature.

The third bedroom has a white sofa bed and has an adjacent bathroom that can double as a guest bathroom. It also acts as a utility room with the utilities concealed behind the wardrobe doors against the far wall.

Outside, the villa has a spacious leisure area with sun loungers and an infinity pool with an integrated seating area and jacuzzi, whilst the outdoor BBQ and dining area can accommodate up to 12 people. The terraced gardens to the rear are original to the property and have a variety of mature plants and shrubs with over a thousand bulbs planted that provide an array of colour throughout the year.

In conclusion, opportune thought and consideration in the planning stage have resulted in a home that totally fulfils the owner’s needs whilst at the same time being stylish and comfortable.

The villa is on the market for sale and anyone interested can contact us on 9925 7665 or email evearnettdepasquale@gmail.com

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