Spinola penthouse was our second commission for this client. Working on their home in Madliena gave us the experience essential for the success of this new, smaller, home in St. Julians. This substantial downsize set-out a clear brief for the efficient use of the available space.
Our approach was to design everything, in detail, starting from the spatial arrangements down to the handles on the bespoke joinery. This was a home interior design project aspiring to be a super yacht design project!
The requirements were for a practical living space with flexible entertaining possibilities, maximising the connection to the south facing terrace, a large master suite, a private study and two guest bedrooms.
The format of the living space and terrace made designing the layout relatively easy; an open plan Kitchen, Dining and Sitting-room arrangement fronting the terrace, with a Butler's Pantry behind the Kitchen and Study, behind the Sitting-room. The deep lintel over the terrace opening and the limited internal height posed the main design challenges. The ceiling design, also accommodating the air-conditioning, was crucial to achieving the right volumetric proportions of the spaces.
The aperture connecting the living area and terrace was subdivided into equal panels, sliding on three tracks. The double mullions were aligned with the edges of the rosewood-clad Bar and champagne-bronze coloured slim profiles matching the table legs were used. This allows for various options of opening the living area to the terrace, depending on the function, an elegant diner party for 10 or a casual evening tp watch the St.Julians' fireworks with up to 40 guests. The frame of the aperture itself was inset into the floor, ceiling and walls making it as sleek as possible.
The kitchen is located opposite the living room; the TV sized so that it is easily viewable from the kitchen. All joinery in the Kitchen and Pantry is bespoke, each drawer and cupboard sized for their intended contents. Brushed black granite, chosen for its tactile quality and hard wearing surfa, matched the vertically book-matched ebony wood.
The Study is tucked away behind the Sitting-room, screened with sliding glass partitions. A slit window integrates with the bookcase, finished with mirrored glass, allowing a glimpse of the living space and terrace beyond, while maintaining privacy.
The Sitting-room furniture incorporates a gas fireplace below the bookcase, also concealing the television and sound equipment. The joinery detailing includes 45-degree mitre joints, a technique used throughout the apartment where materials are intended to flow seamlessly into each other. Shadow gaps are used where we intended to create a break between different materials.
A Bar backs the central Dining-room, detailed with the same ebony veneer and brushed black granite. Rosewood wall panelling, the most dominant material in the scheme, flanks the bar, horizontally book-matched with full height doors which seamlessly disappear into the wall panelling.
The Master Suite is configured around a central marble wall dividing the bathroom and the sleeping area. Alcantara leather walls contrast sliding glass partitions. The full height door frame disappears into the walls and ceiling, looking good both open and closed.
The Guest Bathroom combines materials used throughout the penthouse. The back-lit onyx vanity top is designed to glow from below the bespoke sculptured basin and textured tiles. Made from the same black stone they seem warm and soft to the touch.
