Style Magazine - Spring Edition 2018

STYLE HOME 67

The House on Old Mill Street

Bliss magazine editor and head of content at Content House, Sarah Micallef, and her partner, Switch CEO Richard Muscat Azzopardi, have lovingly converted this historic house in Mosta – and the results are nothing short of incredible. Here they share this mesmerising journey of transformation.

Interview by Jo Caruana Photography by Alan Carville Flowers by Alistair Floral Design

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have followed the transformation of Sarah and Richard’s house with great interest since the day they bought it – mostly through Instagram snippets (@onoldmillstreet) and quick chats in-between magazine planning or photoshoot organisation. Even from the side-lines it’s been a fascinating process, as the couple took a very detail-oriented and creative approach to turning a run down house-of-character into their home.

Now, as we sit eating Sarah’s delicious homemade banana and carrot cake in their kitchen, I am eager to hear all about it.

“To start with, Richard and I were looking for very different things,” Sarah smiles. “I always wanted an old house to renovate but Rik was after something more modern. Thankfully, he was open to the idea and, as our property search gained momentum a few years ago, we found ourselves keen on three different old houses – two in Mosta, and one in Żebbuġ.”

The couple quickly narrowed their choice down because (ironically) they thought this one needed less work – but also because Richard had history with the house. “Two

friends of mine actually rented it a few years back, so I had been inside and liked it,” he explains. “Plus, it’s something of a landmark in the area – I’ve always known it as the house with the red doors – so I liked the idea of transforming it back to its former glory.”

While the house had clearly seen better days, both Richard and Sarah could see its potential. At first, they considered sticking purely to cosmetic changes and doing as little work as possible but, having assessed the possibilities of what structural works could add to the house, they went for it.

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“We took possession of the keys in March 2015 and the first step was to design the space and decide on the layout. There were a few key questions, such as whether we wanted to build an extra floor and how we were going to increase the natural light downstairs, so we tackled those immediately with our architect, Kurt Vella from MMK Studio.”

Downstairs, some of the biggest changes included pulling down a wall that separated the two front rooms and creating much larger windows in the kitchen. The results were transformative and, instantly, made the space so much larger and more practical.

Upstairs they added a staircase and new floor, which now serves as a second living room and spare bedroom when they have guests, a bathroom and washroom. All of the structural changes took around two months to complete, and they then moved on to the finishes.

“That’s when the fun really began for me,” smiles Sarah, who was eager to get to the more creative parts of the project. “I was so excited and had all sorts of ideas, so it fell to Richard to rein me in, both for logistical and budgeting reasons!”

Today, they describe the finished style of the house as an eclectic mix of their tastes. “I have always loved interiors and I enjoy spending hours poring through interiors magazines and Pinterest boards to find styles I like.

Unfortunately, I quickly discovered that, with a few exceptions, most shops in Malta didn’t really have many things that suited our tastes and budget, so we ended up looking overseas.”

That’s when the couple decided to book a short stint in France, where they could explore shops and markets looking for pieces that

would suit their style perfectly. “We actually discovered what fun it is to shop at French antiques markets a few years ago, when we were in Lyon on holiday,” Sarah explains. “I love to collect knick knacks from our travels, so we look for markets and antiques shops everywhere we go. Lyon was no different, except for the fact that I discovered Les Puces

du Canal – the second largest antiques market in France, after the famous one in Paris – and fell in love. There were so many beautiful unique pieces in exactly the style I wanted, and I was so frustrated that we didn’t have anything like it in Malta. That’s when we decided to return officially a year later – with a plan of action and a list of pieces we needed for the house. Rik was brilliant at organising it all (he now admits that he preferred the idea of 10 days solid shopping in France versus endless Saturday mornings in home shops here!) and it was a fantastic experience. We got everything we wanted – from our sofa and 1960s dining room table and chairs, to the antique butcher’s workbench in the living room, and all in the budget we had set out in advance. By the time we moved in, the house was almost entirely furnished, so it was just the finishing touches that needed to be done.”

As I sit – looking around their glorious home and admiring its unique style – it’s almost impossible to imagine the house any other way. I ask them both to choose their favourite spaces and they falter – admittedly it must be hard to pick one from among all the beautiful rooms, nooks and crannies.

Location, Location One of the couple’s favourite aspects of their home is actually its location – they love living in Mosta. “It was one of a handful of towns we considered and we’re so pleased we did,” Richard says. “It’s lovely to be walking distance from such a pretty square, with nice places to eat, grab a drink or go for a wander through the countryside. Our street has lots of old houses on it too, which is nice – some renovated, some for sale and some crumbling. We hope the crumbling ones will receive the TLC they deserve before too long.”

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Eventually, Richard picks the living room – including the mid-century modern drinks cabinet and sofa, both of which travelled with them from France. Sarah laughs, “that sofa is the only piece of furniture I have ever seen Rik get really excited about, ever!”

“I also like the fact our TV isn’t the focus in here,” Richard says. “We went for a drop-down projector instead, which means we only see it when it’s in use.”

Sarah, meanwhile, picks the kitchen, courtyard and her studio. “I love baking and making intricate recipes, and this kitchen is the perfect place to do exactly that. I love how the light streams in through the windows now. The courtyard, although small, is the ideal spot for breakfast or tea with a friend, and I spend quite a lot of time out there. Finally, the studio, upstairs, has been a dream of mine for a long time and I love how it turned out. As I have a

The History of the House Sarah and Richard have enjoyed looking into the history of their home. Its eclectic past includes time as a communal house for a very large family who used it for birthing. “As they were a rural family, they needed somewhere with closer access to a midwife to help the women to give birth at a time in which birthing was done at home,” Sarah explains. “And this is where they did it. They would travel here on a horse and cart, and each facet of the family had its own room.”

“Later, this house became known as ‘Ta’ l-Iskarpan’ – the Cobbler’s. A wellknown cobbler operated his business from our now-living room. We’ve seen some photos of its past life, and it was quite something! This space was his workshop, and it was piled high with his tools, and piles upon piles of shoes.”

“The ceiling in this room and the studio above it also highlight the fact that it was bombed during the Second World War and then rebuilt, as the beams are made of steel. The back part of the house – the kitchen and dining room – survived, and dates back around 300 years. The ceilings there are supported by the original stone arches and wooden beams.”

small embroidery business I need lots of space for materials and to be creative, and this room works so well. It’s exactly the inspiring space I always hoped it would be.

I also love the art on the walls, especially the pieces by Richard’s dad, which have really added to the unique feel here.”

Now, looking back on the entire process of doing up their historic home, both Richard and Sarah pronounce the results ‘indescribable’. “It’s a very satisfying feeling to be able to respect the history of a place, while also making it shine in a different but respectful way. Seeing it now is also a lovely validation, as we know we did the right thing by going down this route and making this investment. It’s wonderful to see the house’s potential fulfilled, and to have created a home that we are both so happy to live in.” n