We all have favourites. Favourite books, favourite songs, favourites nephews… It’s something that really expresses who we are as people and that helps us feel more ‘at home’ when we want to tuck into our comfort zones. At home – probably more than anywhere else – it’s particularly crucial to have such a place, because it truly turns a house of brick and mortar into a safe haven full of memories.

We’ve been invited into lives and homes of six creative individuals who tell us all about their favourite areas and just what makes them so special.

Charles and Ron in their living/dining room. Photo: Carlton AgiusCharles and Ron in their living/dining room. Photo: Carlton Agius

Fashion designers Charles and Ron

“We both love our living-slash-dining room,” say designer duo Charles and Ron, who have lived together for 22 years. “It’s the room where we get to relax after long days at work, but, ironically, it’s also the room where we come up with a lot of our design ideas.

We’ve adorned it with a couple of Barbara Streisand paintings, and for anyone wondering, these are a must in a Charles&Ron living room

“Besides relaxing on the sofa, which is probably what most people do in their living rooms, we also love to have dinner parties in this room. The style of the room really lends itself to it, as it’s quite clean and modern, and it also has large windows as we like a room to have a lot of natural lighting.

“We’ve adorned it with a couple of Barbara Streisand paintings, and for anyone wondering, these are a must in a Charles&Ron living room! We also have an antique cocktail cabinet, which used to belong to Charles’s aunt. This was given to us by Charles’s cousin, and brings back many memories to Charles!”

David Camilleri and his father on their new roof garden. Photo: David CamilleriDavid Camilleri and his father on their new roof garden. Photo: David Camilleri

Architect David Camilleri

“My father and I have just spent a whole summer’s worth of weekends and after-work hours converting our plain roof into a welcoming roof garden,” says David Camilleri, a recently-graduated architect who lives with his father and sister. “It has truly become a place I love to use for entertaining – be it for catching up with friends over a glass of wine, hosting a barbecue, or simply to sit and watch fireworks.

“Most of the roof garden is made up of recycled materials, however the coming together of the various, unusual DIY components took a lot of thought and design to arrive at the stage they are in now.

Most of the roof garden is made up of recycled materials

“On top of that, I would have to say that my favourite item is the red, brick barbecue that we built ourselves. And while there aren’t many cherished memories connected to it as we’ve only just finished it, it’s definitely setting the stage for future ones.”

Kurt and Caroline Paris in their courtyard. Photo: Kurt ParisKurt and Caroline Paris in their courtyard. Photo: Kurt Paris

Photographer Kurt Paris and stylist and journalist Caroline Paris

“Our favourite area would definitely have to be the courtyard,” say fashion photographer Kurt Paris and fashion stylist and journalist Caroline Paris, who have been married for almost four years. “It is an outdoor space, but at the same time it feels just like another room. It is also very quiet as outdoor noise doesn’t seem to travel into the courtyard, so it’s the perfect place to simply sit down and enjoy a glass of wine.

“The area also has some funny memories connected to it, like a dinner which was recently cooked by Kurt.

We’ve added some Maltese antiques and ceramics into the mix

“Due to our professions, we’re both very busy and Kurt often laments about not having enough time to cook for me so we planned a date. On that day, Kurt went home early from work, excited to begin cooking and, half way through, the infamous power cut happened. Somehow, he managed to pull it off by borrowing a portable gas stove and we still got our date night in the courtyard!

“The décor of the space is mostly made up of the actual walls, which were put together 400 years ago. Nevertheless, we’ve added some Maltese antiques and ceramics into the mix, like a large, ceramic sun that we bought from Caltagirone while on a trip in Sicily. That took us a year to put up, but as they say: better late than never!”

Errol Sammut in his living room. Photo: Tonio LombardiErrol Sammut in his living room. Photo: Tonio Lombardi

Singer Errol Sammut

“My favourite area is definitely the room where I have all my tech stuff wired to the main screen,” says Airport Impressions frontman Errol Sammut. “I’m a huge movie and videogame fan, and it’s been set up simply to accommodate just that. And, just in case anyone’s wondering, I can assure you that this room kind of set its own ways with regards to the decorations.

“The living room, from my point of view, has to be easily accessible, peaceful, a chill-zone – and anything that ruins that should be thrown away or hidden.

“Most of my favourite items are also in this room, including an Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe wall art, thanks to my amazing sister Lexy, of Boo and Co. This, for me, has so many underlying factors, such as its depiction of the obvious rebellion, freedom and coolness, but also a harking back to an era in which stars were born and not made.

Some songs in the album took their first form in this particular living room

“This room has also seen many online team-ups for games like Destiny and World of Warcraft, and countless movie nights. On top of that, some songs in the album Mariette, like Star Signs, If You Abandon Me and Hymns Of June took their first form in this particular living room, right here on the sofa.”

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