Enlisting the services of an interior designer can spell the difference between bland interiors and a beautiful home. Greta Apap Bologna tells Ramona Depares what it takes to create a client’s idea of the perfect property.

Interior designer Greta Apap Bologna.

When a young Greta Apap Bologna announced her intention to study interior design in Italy, it certainly didn’t come as a surprise to her parents. Not when, since the age of 10, she had been busy discussing alternative layouts and designs for the family home.

“I would be lying on the sofa at home, or on my bed, analysing the layout of the room and wondering why those specific items of furniture were placed just so, as opposed to a different position. I would then bounce off and discuss my ideas about a possible change of layout with my father, and he, in turn, would then reason it through with me,” she remembers.

Sometimes, Greta’s suggestions made a lot of sense and her father would congratulate her. At other times, he would explain the logistics of certain items having to be positioned in a certain way – such as the toilet in the bathroom, requiring close access to the shaft and so forth.

“My interest continued growing when I went to Florence on holiday when I was about 13 years old. I fell in love with the city and what it had to offer. There and then, I decided that I had to find a reasonable excuse to live in such a wonderful place, combining my love of interiors with the art all around me, provided by Florence itself.”

This season brings with it a massive interest in large wall panels; it is the next step forward from wallpaper and coverings

Greta returned to Malta a different person, deciding that she had to take what she discovered in Italy very seriously if she was ever going to be able to study and qualify in interior design in that country. And that is exactly what happened...

How long have you been doing this professionally?

I came back to Malta when I was 22 years old. I had just graduated and I joined Demicoli & Associates’ practice immediately, working there for approximately six years. I left Ray Demicoli only to set up my own office – Greta Design, which has been up and running for a further eight years now.

What can a client expect from an interior designer?

I suppose that depends on who the interior designer is! A client should be able to expect that the collaboration will result in translating the house/property of his dreams into reality. But for this to happen, it is important for the client to be straightforward and to confide any likes or dislikes. Unless there is full confidence in the designer’s capabilities to project the combined ideas into a reality, the partnership won’t work. The relationship between the designer and the client must be based on honesty.

How do you describe your style of design?

I like to mix old with new, whether with respect to furniture, or even artwork, gilt mirrors etc... I put the priority on elegance and functionality, and I also have a fondness for using contrasting textures in finishing materials and soft furnishings. I find that contrasts add interest to the whole design, and in turn, these items contribute to the sense of touch.

Can you update us with current design trends?

This season brings with it a massive interest in large wall panels; it is the next step forward from wallpaper and coverings. These are large-scale prints that can be applied to one wall or more, from floor to ceiling, depending on the nature of the print or image.

With regards to the latest colours for 2013, there is a strong inclination towards soothing, pale, pastel hues. This is a stark contrast to previous years, which have seen darker, rich, saturated colours prevail on furniture, walls and accessories. We’re talking backgrounds of cool neutrals like alyssum white and beechnut green, contrasted with warmer tones of violets and orchids, liquid pink and deep mahogany, all set against accents of champagne beige and silver. The palette puts a fresh spin on old-world elegance, with decorative pieces that layer texture. It’s refined and sophisticated, with just the right amount of understated drama.

To get your home looking great you need to spend a lot of money – agree or disagree?

I tend to disagree. You can easily obtain a great-looking homewithout breaking the bank. Of course, this would involve a lotof planning in advance and carefully analysing of what the money is going to be spent on and in what proportion. For instance, you can spend more money on the actual finishes and then hold back on the free-standing furniture, light fittings, soft furnishings etc... Yes, this can be achieved if you choose wisely. Playing around with paint colour and wallpaper can transform a room without requiring a big budget too.

What are the most importantelements to consider when deciding on the style, colour, furniture and accessories for a room?

Primarily, there are a few questions you have to ask yourself before any design works kick off. How is this room/space going to be used? Will children, pets, or adults be using it most? Is there a substantial amount of natural light that will allow you to go darker with the furniture, or the colour scheme? Ultimately, the choice in the layout, finishing materials, accessories and so forth can only be confirmed once the above type of questions have been answered.

Which projects hold a special place in your heart?

I make it a point to work on both commercial and residential projects simultaneously. I would never be able to give one of them up entirely, as I enjoy them both equally. They require being treated with totally different parameters. I have just completed the new Virtu Ferries terminal, which I am extremely proud of as it was a great project to be involved in. I have also done a series of small gaming outlets scattered all over the island, besides corporate offices such as the Lotteries and Gaming Authority, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and others that all contribute to my portfolio.

With regards to the residential projects, there are so many places that I am proud of... penthouses at Midi, Portomas­o, Forth Mansions, Pretty Bay, Madliena.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had to face so far?

Without any doubt this is ensuring that the client walks away from the completed project fully satisfied by the design service that I have rendered. If there are any issues that the client isn’t happy about, I will persevere to make sure that these items are rectified as soon as possible. A completed project is worthless to me if the client is not fully satisfied with the outcome. Customer satisfaction is of the utmost importance.