This Malta Apartment Is Packed with Vintage Finds, Family Heirlooms, and Local Art

Ten years ago this apartment in Gżira, Malta, which was built in 1955, was originally a three-bedroom apartment and had been shared by a family of five for decades. The space was in need of a full renovation, and owner Thomas Camilleri was ready to take on the challenge.

“The apartment was typical of its time, with one room leading to the next with no corridors and, as a result, no privacy. So lots of work needed to be done to open up the main living area from the three rooms that previously occupied the space,” Thomas writes.

He says the renovation process wasn’t easy (or cheap) after discovering the roof needed a total rebuild. But a happy accident was also uncovered, once the planks were taken off the ceiling after the concrete was poured: Thomas says he “fell in love with the raw result that remained, leaving it as part of the design of the apartment. My family still joke about it and ask me when I plan on plastering it.” 

Thomas explains that the renovation involved removing and adding walls, replacing the ceiling over the open plan area, and also removing and relaying the original cement tiles in creative ways.

“We even dug up all the tiles, cleaned them, and prepared them to be reused, albeit in a different format,” he writes. “I used them as a way of delineating the spaces in the open plan area, with one area for the living room, another for the dining table, and the final space for the kitchen.” 

Thomas worked as an actor in London in his 20s before returning home to Malta and working in marketing for 10 years. While renovating this home, he says he developed a love for vintage items and rescuing pieces that might otherwise be discarded, which led to the founding of Lazarus Tiles.

Thomas now salvages antique cement tiles from buildings being demolished or gutted, restoring and framing them as artworks. In October 2025, he also opened a shop in Hollywood in Valletta featuring a selection of Malta-made objects and art.

This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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