Big on small spaces

This month’s edition of Homeworks magazine is showcasing two compact apartments to inspire readers with their clever layouts as smaller homes become more sought after.

In the magazine, out this weekend with The Sunday Times, Martin Xuereb redesigned a Sliema flat that he had actually designed himself 30 years ago.

The layout and décor are chic and up-to-date, and Mr Xuereb takes readers through his techniques for maximising light, facilitating comfortable living and making the place seem bigger.

Meanwhile, Daniel Scerri created a bachelor pad in a very small space by focusing on the vertical volumes.

The stories behind these two homes give an insight into the architects’ minds and offer many practical techniques that can be emulated.

On the other end of the apartment scale, in the luxury of space at Tigné Point, Duo Designers focused on incorporating the clients’ colour choices and ensuring children had ample room to play.

In an exclusive interview, Lisa Borain catches up with design guru Giorgio Armani to talk about the launch of his latest Armani Casa outlet.

The feature pages focus on the trends that are taking the concept of a feature wall to new heights. Innovations in technology are allowing solid surface materials to be made thinner and in larger panels, so that they become eminently suitable to cover a vertical surface.

Walls are taking centre stage in contemporary interiors and the magazine looks at several ways to create a custom wall that speaks volumes.

Homeworks cuisine pages offer welcome relief from the heat: cold dishes that are easy to prepare and perfect for summer entertaining. The gardening pages remind readers of the time to water, prune and sow for flowering plants and vegetables.