The transformation of an apartment in the port of Mahón
When Sue and Adrian Salt found an apartment on Mahón Port, it was the views that sold it to them. The interior, however, was another matter. Join us to discover this stunning transformation of an apartment in the Port of Mahón.
Looking out over yachts moored on the quayside towards the Illa del Rey in the distance, the view from the apartment on the Moll de Llevant is filled with color, movement, and water. But when the couple purchased it, the 73 m2 layout was cramped and impractical, with one double bedroom and two singles, a separate kitchen with bare space for one person, and built-in seating around three sides of the living area.
Underneath the clutter that covered every surface was some seriously outdated décor: terracotta floor tiles, an avocado bathroom suite, a vast concrete fireplace that partly obscured the view, and a serving hatch through to the kitchen were just some of the features that needed a rethink.
As Adrian is a builder by profession and Sue an interior designer, they were ideally qualified to see its potential and to turn their vision – one of a light, airy home, with lots of natural and organic materials and a layout conducive to entertaining – into reality.
They reconfigured the interior, turning one single bedroom into a contemporary, minimalist kitchen open to the living room, and enlarged the other one to give them two double bedrooms, each with an ensuite bathroom. It still sleeps four people, they point out, but in a format that is far more suitable for hosting guests.
In the living room, the seating and fireplace were removed and the 2.5-meter glass doors onto the balcony were replaced with five-meter-wide doors that flood the interior with light and maximize the views. The plumbing and electrics were all renewed, and the floors, walls, and ceilings gave a facelift.
Now, smooth white walls meet warm, wood-effect floor tiles, and the bathrooms and kitchen are sleek and modern. Large wall mirrors reflect the light and increase the sense of space, while wood, wicker, and other organic materials lend it a natural feel. Against this soothing palette of white and beige tones, a pale turquoise sofa adds the perfect pop of color and ties the indoors to the scene outside.
Being based in the UK, the couple enlisted the help of a local architect and builder to carry out the work, and Sue sourced all the materials, furniture, and accessories locally. Although the onset of the pandemic initially put the project on hold, once normality resumed, the renovation was completed in just four months. They couldn’t be happier with the result, a clean, modern apartment with a coastal aesthetic and harbor views, and the location, within walking distance of shops, restaurants, and the town center.
