How do you give character to a new apartment? And how do you inject a bit of you into a property that previously belonged to someone else? Three home owners share their secrets with Veronica Stivala.

A new beginning

Anna Maria and Andrew Portelli moved into their new Attard home in late 2012 after they got married. Andrew had originally bought the apartment as an investment with the thought of turning it into a bachelor pad. After he met Anna Maria things changed and together they started converting it into a home for them both.

“The most important factors were budget, location, size and layout,” Andrew says when explaining how he went about choosing a property. “I wanted an apartment with a square layout, preferably a corner apartment with lots of natural light, and an appealing location. I was not looking for a large apartment, but one in which I would be comfortable.”

Having bought the apartment in advanced shell state, the work started with determining the layout of the rooms so electrical points and plumbing could be installed where needed. Next he started shopping around for tiles and bathrooms while ensuring the plumbing and electrical works were completed.

Anna Maria explained how the two designed their apartment in a contemporary style, with function and practicality in mind and also doing their best to maximise storage space without making it feel cluttered.

“We chose neutral colours to give a sense of warmth, with cushions, curtains, appliances and other ornaments or soft furnishings having accent colours to give each room more character.”

A custom-made unit, sofa and armchair for the living area meant they could fit their measurements perfectly while keeping in synch with their style. Glass tables meant they did not reduce the sense of space, considering that the apartment is not large.

“We finally gave the apartment our personal touch by displaying paintings, pictures, photos and other ornaments that have sentimental value, bearing our style in mind,” says Anna Maria.

The most difficult part was coordinating the work between the workers and suppliers.

Both enjoyed designing the apartment and looking for furniture, soft furnishings, appliances, electronics, ornaments and other accessories.

“Although this was often tiring and sometimes disappointing, because you’d spend days looking for something particular with no success, it was extremely rewarding when we saw everything coming together and our apartment feeling more like a home,” says Anna Maria.

Anna Maria and Andrew’s tips

• Decide what you want out of your property. List your priorities, the must-haves and the nice-to-haves. Keep in mind that it is very hard to find something that will tick all the right boxes.

• The larger the property, the more cleaning and maintenance it requires. Look at pictures in magazines, newspapers, websites and watch interior design shows to get a good idea of the styles that appeal to you.

• Visit showrooms to see what is available and consider getting furniture and other items custom-made or shipped from abroad if you are not satisfied with what you find in Malta.

• Share your ideas with your friends and family and seek their advice – they may come up with some original ideas.

• Exhibit items you cherish – these are the things that will make a property truly yours.

Manipulating space

Alan Galea, an architect at Grech&Vinci Architecture and Design, initially looked at both old and new properties, but found it hard to find a brand new place that captured his imagination within his initial budget.

“I decided to try a different route and actually lowered my budget in order to have money to manipulate a space to suit my needs and not the other way round,” he explains.

By chance and with some luck, a good friend heard of a place that was for sale. Within three days of seeing it, Alan agreed to buy his first home. Being an architect meant Alan knew the tricks of the trade and managed, most importantly, to get hold of workmen for when he needed them.

The property is a fifth floor, two-bedroom, turned into a one-bedroom, apartment in Sliema with 65m2 of internal space and two balconies. It forms part of a block of 11 apartments built in 2001.

Besides the location, one of the best things about the apartment is the amount of light it gets in the morning. It has a square layout so there are no corridors.

To maximise the space, Alan dropped all the internal walls and inserted a custom piece of furniture which divides the sleeping area from the living area, and at the same time gives the place warmth and creates some textural interest.

He laid a monolithic micro-cement floor over the existing tiles, set up LED light fittings, installed a new bathroom and doors and replastered and repainted the whole place.

“Perhaps my most popular addition is a large blackboard wall which is ever changing as all my guests leave me little notes and signatures on their way out,” he says.

This process took just under four months to complete.

Decisions and time were the most difficult part of renovating his place.

“Thankfully, I have a supportive girlfriend who gave up her time when I needed it,” he says. Alan was also very careful to choose workmen he trusted so he would go on site early in the morning, give all necessary instructions and see the outcome early next day.

“The whole process was enjoyable, from signing the final contract of sale, to designing the apartment, to going on site and seeing my apartment take shape, to spending my first night in the apartment. I still enjoy the space every time I walk through the door,” he says.

Alan’s tips

• Know what you want out of renovating a property – whether it’s for resale purposes, for rental or to increase your quality of life.

• Establish a budget to invest in the project – it is important to understand that the value of a property does not necessarily increase proportionally to the amount invested in its renovation.

• An architect or designer should be brought in to help with the progression of works. This will save you time and money and will result in a higher quality job.