Design & Décor autumn 2002

It always gives the greatest pleasure to be asked to review Design & Décor, without a doubt our leading House magazine.

The real text begins this time out with "Collectors Notepad", a preliminary look at Glass and its collectability. This fascinating piece is written by author, collector Derek Stoneham, a foreign admirer of "things Maltese".

This is followed by well-known designer Michelle Clements taking time out to write about a major redesign that was, by very careful planning, completed in a six-week schedule.

"The use of frosted glass and brushed steel offer a perfect contrast with the warm tones of gold chosen for the silk fabric of the curtains and brushed gold on the lights." This is imaginative and contemporary designing at its best.

We always look forward to the houses and apartments, and this issue is no exception, with the bias this time out on modern homes, including an extensive and most interesting look at one of the desirable Portomaso units - probably the closest most of us will ever get to these remarkably exclusive residences.

"This Town House" is however very old, very interesting and, so the magazine says, for sale. It really is a masterly reconstruction and a most envious home to own.

D&D is never simply about homes; it always delves more deeply into houses, gardens, furnishings, food and sometimes even cars.

This time Robert Degabriele, R.I.Dipl., looks into "Aspects of Interior Design". Matthew Calascione talks at length about the use of wood as a suitable material for floors in Malta and Gozo.

The new Ayurveda Centre at the Kempinski San Lawrence Hotel features. Designing with Feng Shui shows how professional Nikita Arnett has become in her subject.

Oliver Friggieri, who needs no introduction, talks about Gozitan artist George Apap and the reproductions in this magazine simply whet the appetite to actually own a few of these delightful 'works'.

As if all this was not enough Dr Adrian Zammit has a most interesting garden profile, "Creation of a new garden", and the whole lot is really rounded off with a couple of articles on food and drink.

We are usually impressed with the way advertising becomes feature length and interesting; The Barcelo Riviera Resort & Spa. Big Ben Interiors have a couple of pages of interesting facts. Ajax, not just a single object, but a range manufactured by Colgate Palmolive. Then there are the Witex products, lots of laminates, with underlay, profile sections, skirting and cleaning products as well.

A new look at Wedding lists completes the list of more unusual 'cameos', but in this magazine all the advertisers are carefully selected for their professionalism and skills.