For Justine Bartolo, founder of Lillie Helena Design House, working with a shell of a property is hugely exciting. ‘As interior designers, we are able to live out our most creative ideas and execute a space that is fully planned out, from the floor up,’ she says. This was certainly the case with this elegant, waterfront Sliema penthouse that enjoys panoramic views of Marsamxett Harbour and the old city fortifications, as well as of Manoel Island. A blank canvas when she first saw it, Justine was able to start from scratch to design a home that combines luxury and functionality, creating a classically elegant style within a contemporary framework; it recently won the ‘Best Residential Property’ in the European Property Awards 2020 – 2021. The south-facing penthouse is 160m2 internally and 200m2 externally. ‘As it’s a compact space, we focused on how to make it feel ample and spacious,’ says Justine, who founded Lillie Helena Design House in 2016. The first step was making a decision about the placement of internal structures to create living and kitchen rooms as well as the three bedrooms and four bathrooms that the client requested. To avoid long corridors and dark spaces, Justine created a large open-plan main living space which is connected, at one end, via a short corridor to the more private rooms. To retain the light and add a design element, the division between the larger living space and the corridor is an open bookcase. ‘At Lillie Helena, we love the idea of creating furniture pieces that are both functional and pleasing to the eye,’ explains Justine. ‘Here, we wanted to extend the TV unit, add a different element to it as well as solve the problem of having a corridor without closing off the open-plan living space. After many sketches, we finally came up with this.’ An interior background palette of subdued, neutral colours was chosen, creating a calm space that is airy and bright, allowing the eye to fall on the elegant details and textures of the custom-designed pieces and soft furnishings which is where bold colour has been introduced – the apartment pops with emerald green headboards, blue dining chairs, fluid brass light fittings, and a pink ‘art wall’, all of which add an extra layer to the design work. Many of the penthouse’s main pieces – the kitchen, sofa, armchairs, walk-in closet, wardrobes and bathroom vanities – were made bespoke. ‘Giving clients a one-off piece made especially for them makes the design more personal,’ says Justine. ‘We also love having full control over a piece, where we choose the form, colours and material to create something we feel is beautiful, functional and perfectly suited to the space.’ The end result is a unique home with a personal, organic feel. ‘Being able to plan furniture layouts and go through the technical phase allowed us to make sure that everything was catered for beforehand,’ says Justine. ‘It eliminated the need for corrections during the process and made everything go much more quickly and smoothly.’
The bespoke bookcase in the open-plan living space cordons off the corridor leading to the private rooms without taking away light from either side
LIVING
The background palette is of subdued, neutral shades, creating a calm space that is airy and bright. The herringbone flooring that gives a real sense of warmth is actually a tile
LIVING
Keeping things contemporary, a long fireplace, modern in style, sits in a long wall that also contains the television
LIVING
The soft furnishings were mostly selected at Zara Home, with the artworks from the Design House
LIVING
A corner sofa is an easy and effective way to zone a living room area in an open-plan space
LIVING
A mix of lighting, from inserts to track, pendant and floor lamps help create the right ambience whatever the time of day
LIVING
With floor-to-ceiling windows, the open-plan space is filled with light. Beyond is a terrace that wraps around much of the apartment with space and amenities for outdoor entertaining
KITCHEN / DINING
On the left side of the kitchen sits a custom floor to ceiling kitchen pantry, with push pull doors, as well as an open shelving unit that the homeowner uses to display dishware. This is backlit and illuminates the kitchen in the evenings
KITCHEN / DINING
Against the neutral background palette, pops of bold colour have been introduced such as with these bright blue dining chairs
KITCHEN
The kitchen has a luxurious feel both in its size and the materials used
KITCHEN
The central island is the focal point of the kitchen, allowing for more workspace; it also acts as an informal breakfast bar
KITCHEN
A floating marble shelf on top of the countertops is a witty flourish
HALLWAY TO BEDROOMS
The bookshelf cleverly breaks up the space yet allows for light and a view into the main living areas, creating separation but also a sense of depth
MAIN BEDROOM
In the main bedroom, a glass door leads to the walk-in bathroom, creating a seamless sanctuary for relaxation and pampering. On either side, bespoke wardrobes seamlessly integrate into the bedroom space
MASTER ENSUITE
Grey marbles and porcelain create a tranquil space. Round mirrors and basins soften the lines
MASTER ENSUITE
Planters placed just out the windows allow a touch of nature to be seen indoors for an organic, botanical feel
SECOND BEDROOM
Pops of blue, found elsewhere in the home, feature in the second bedroom, tying the apartment's look together
SECOND BEDROOM
Cushions on a bed give it a chic, boutique hotel type feel
SECOND ENSUITE
A glass partition in the spare bedroom acts as a shower wall for the ensuite bathroom. The large windows in all the bathrooms give the illusion of a larger space
SPARE BEDROOM
Like the others, the spare bedroom is also light and airy
MAIN BATHROOM
Nero marquina marble creates a real style statement and gives the room a luxurious feel
MAIN BATHROOM
The marble is a contrast to the highly gextured triangular tiles, the extra design element creating a more visually interesting room
MAIN BATHROOM
A deep bathtub with brass fittings is perfectly positioned by the window
ENTRANCE HALL
The entrance hall is made interesting with an arresting piece of artwork