Stumbling across heaven at the BSL showroom

BSL Lifestyles have been brewing a quiet storm. As pioneers of importing and manufacturing minimalist, stylish furniture in Malta, they constantly strive to stay one step ahead of the pack.

Doimo is the newest addition to their prestigious lines. It is an Italian giant in the world of furniture manufacturing, the umbrella name for an astounding 27 companies. BSL are very excited about the infinite possibilities that lie ahead with this new name under their established roof.

The paint on the showroom walls in San Gwann is still fresh, and a long generous leather sofa beckons invitingly in the show window.

Claire Arrigo, a director of the company, encourages me to collapse into the deep leather heaven, and I sigh, tempted to put my feet up on the Ligne Roset glass table in front of me. It is time to move into our new house and I simply have no time to do it.

Holding down a job and ferrying my children from ballet to basketball meant looking for a one-stop-shop where I could find all I needed to make my house feel like a home before Christmas.

I have a habit of setting myself impossible tasks and my demands are high. I need to furnish three bedrooms, a kitchen, a den, a dining room, and even an office to be able to work from home.

After a quick coffee and a chat, showing her the layout, telling her about my ideas and then the constraints of my budget, Claire shows me to the kitchen area - to get my most difficult mission out of the way.

The only tricky thing is keeping my eyes off the tactile marble that runs through one of the designs. "Doimo provide the marble with the kitchen," she tells me, "in fact they do everything, accessories even, but the marble kitchen is obviously at the top end of the market, and with Doimo we now have a range of kitchens to fit all pockets.

"The finish on each one is impeccable as our priority is to give you a kitchen of optimal quality regardless of your budget."

I quickly step away from the sumptuous marble surfaces and head for a cherry ensemble that catches my eye, but the real beauty lies hidden behind the wood and sand blasted glass.

For the ingenuity of the design is astounding. Slim doors open to deep sliding shelves so you have instant access to all your ingredients (one way to never let anything past its expiry date like it would sitting in a dark corner of a static cupboard), large comfortable drawers pull out for access to cutlery and appliances, and corners are not wasted, but fitted with fold-out doors so you can use all the space.

"An intelligent kitchen gets used more, what Doimo does is give you a kitchen that looks beautiful and inviting."

From stainless steel to vibrant red, from minimalist white to subtle cream and warm woods, Doimo has created such a versatile line of kitchens you can create your own unique combinations. Once you've chosen your kitchen sit back and smile - at BSL you can choose from a range of Calligaris chairs and tables or Smeg appliances (a gas hob, an electric multifunction oven and sink) that come free when you purchase a Doimo kitchen for Lm1,600, and if you have a more generous budget they will throw in a state-of-the-art stainless steel microwave.

Riding a wave of optimism after the relative ease in which we choose my kitchen and Calligaris dining table and chairs, I decide I'm feeling brave enough to choose my bedroom. Claire takes me upstairs and into a room that has just been finished. "Try that mattress," she says, "it's so comfortable."

A sliding door glides silently on its roller. A built-in wardrobe has been installed to illustrate yet another Doimo way for more storage and less clutter.

There is a classic feel to this lovely room and I am tempted to say "I'll take it as is", but I know there are plenty more to see, don't want to fall in love with all of them. I am still torn between two styles when Claire directs me towards another set up.

"We've always strongly supported local manufacturers, and these are the bedrooms we produce locally. The advantage is two-fold, putting money back into local economy and offering a range of very affordable and stylish pieces."

This way I can spend that little bit extra for my bedroom and furnish the other two without going out of budget. Now I'm practically on the phone to my mother with excitement. Suddenly my mission has turned into an adventure. And the best was yet to come.

The last of the living room pieces had just been put in place. One grey sofa is big enough to accommodate post-Sunday lunch repose with the in-laws.

Warm fleece rugs lie piled in loose heaps among the burnt orange cushions, one has been thrown down in one corner, a lamp in the other - the room is taking shape and my imagination is taking flight - I'm still eyeing the leather one wistfully.

"A lifetime investment makes sense," says Claire. On the other hand the covers on all these sofas are removable and washable so the thought or chocolate hands all over them doesn't send me into a spin.

"Take your time," says Claire, "we can have any sofa you like shipped and delivered to your door in no time at all. Look at the space that you have and we'll cozy it up accordingly." But I can't get too comfortable, I have one more hurdle to tackle - the office.

BSL specialise in office furniture and the selection is quite astounding. The German Vitra and Wilkhahn and the Italian Alea are the predominant lines on offer, together with a mix of eclectic bits and pieces for more personal style. I explore the 'ergonomics' of each piece with the amazement of a child.

Tables and chairs that fold away into neat corners, partitions that can be raised to your needs, I want to own an empire just so I can deck it out with everything I see.

Thankfully I only have a three-bedroomed house to furnish, and my whirl around the BSL showroom has turned my prospective nightmare into a tangible dream.

BSL will take a load off your back, at prices that won't break it. I might not even have to work at my Wilkhahn desk for a few months.

This time next month I'll be sitting on my new Doimo sofa, dozing peacefully with not a thought in the world - except maybe scheming up a new daunting task for BSL - my mother in law.