THE ART OF THE HOME

Combining quality with affordability, Art at Home has helped homeowners furnish their spaces with style for over 25 years. General Manager Neville Refalo explains how this family-run furniture firm is still transforming homes with everything from lighting to sofas – and so much more.

PHOTOS BY INIGO TAYLOR

For the team at Art at Home, furniture is so much more than simple function. In fact – it is art, inspiring the name of a company that, after more than 25 years in operation, is now synonymous with quality, expertise and customer care.

That is not to say that the vast range of quality products offered by Art at Home have prices beyond the means of most homeowners: quite the contrary, as the company’s General Manager Neville Refalo points out.

“We sell everything to fill a whole house apart from bathrooms, with different packages to fit every budget,” he says. “We understand that, nowadays, it is very difficult for young couples or newlyweds, for instance, to own their home and have the most expensive furniture. Property prices have risen and we Maltese love to own our home, not just rent it. So, bearing in mind the struggles most people face when buying property, we make sure to offer high-quality items at competitive prices that don’t break the bank.”

Established in 1995, Art at Home is a family-run business that has not just turned furniture into an art form, but its customer experience as well. “Over the years, we have become renowned for our stellar service,” continues Mr Refalo, adding that the company specialises in custommade furniture produced in their own factory and has a number of stores in different areas around Malta. “This helps as it means that almost all of our items are in-stock and ready to be delivered to our customers.”

“Our team of professionals can offer great advice on every aspect of home décor, with honesty, authenticity and integrity. These are values I harp on every day and which we have continued to build on since I joined the company ‒ although they were already ingrained beforehand. I can never accept a customer not being happy with any of our products or services. It is a cliché to say that ‘the client is always right’, but everyone on our team lives by that mantra day after day. Customers who visit our showroom do so

again and again, as they know they will receive excellent service before, during and after sales. And we always keep in mind how the customer thinks and feels, in every aspect right down to how we select our products.”

Each item in the Art at Home range – which includes ready-made and custom-made bedrooms and kitchens, sofas, chairs and lighting fixtures – is carefully hand-picked by experts. Ensuring diversity and innovation, the team caters for the variety of local tastes and ideas by experiencing items first-hand, as Mr Refalo explains.

“We choose all the products ourselves and test them individually. We frequently travel overseas to view a single item if we believe in it, so that we can see it, touch it, try it and be sure about it. Our commitment to quality means that we want to personally vouch for every one of our products – and, with that knowledge, we are more equipped to provide our customers with an unparalleled service and better value for money. We strive to sell the best quality for the price the client is paying, whether it is for a small vase or an entire apartment package,” he explains.

With such dedication to bespoke service and quality products, backed by decades of experience, what advice can the expert Art at Home team offer to homeowners, particularly young couples starting out in their new home or those adapting their property for a growing family?

“My best advice would be to think ahead,” answers Mr Refalo. “As with many other consumables, even furniture has a lifetime in both materials and aesthetics. There are trends for bedrooms and kitchens that may seem very beautiful in that moment but, after a couple of years, might feel outdated. So, before choosing a bedroom, you need to decide how long you intend to use it. It is much better to buy a modern but plain bedroom that can stand the test of time, and maybe change the colours of the décor in the room by replacing rugs, quilts or curtains.”

Budgeting is also important, particularly when buying furniture intended for long-term use. “Most of the time, cheap is expensive,” highlights Mr Refalo. “If you want a room to last through daily wear and tear, you cannot base the choice on price alone. Items that are cheap in both price and quality tend to need frequent replacement. It is better

“I can never accept a customer not being happy with any of our products or services. It is a cliché to say that ‘the client is always right’, but everyone on our team lives by this mantra day after day.”

to spend an extra €100 on higher quality and save money in the long run.”

The Art at Home team’s visits to different countries for new home furniture, meanwhile, make sure that the business stays updated on the latest trends in the local and international industry. Yet, the company’s quarter-of-acentury-long history has also afforded the team a unique understanding of the values of Maltese homeowners, allowing them to anticipate what products may or may not work locally.

“Over the years we have not only tracked down industry trends, but also developed them to create innovative furnishing designs with the Maltese market in mind,” concludes Mr Refalo. “Maltese people have their own values and treasure their homes in a way unlike most others. Of course, we must also prepare and cater for the many nonMaltese people living here, who also look to buy high-end furniture for their homes. As a proud generator of change, Art at Home continues to fabricate and provide furniture and decorative pieces that will ensure both comfort and function in people’s homes, for many years to come.”

More information about Art at Home may be found online at www.artathome.com.mt