LIME Interior Design Studio

LIME Interior Design Studio was established in 2003 in Sliema and is now run from an office in the village of Għargħur, on the high ground between Mosta and Naxxar. It is the practice of Davina Preca, and its portfolio runs across restaurants, cafes, hotels, offices, shops and private homes. For a UK reader, that mix is a good sign: the studio has fitted out busy commercial spaces that must work hard every day, as well as apartments where comfort comes first.

On VisitMalta.co.uk the studio is listed with the interior designers in Malta, where you can compare practices before you send an enquiry.

Davina Preca and the studio's approach

Davina Preca completed the International Baccalaureate in Oxford and graduated with a BA (Hons) in Interior Architecture and Design from Nottingham Trent University in 2001, so she trained in the UK before building her practice in Malta. She is a founding member of MIDA, the Malta Interior Design Association, and has served on the board of the European Council of Interior Architects since 2023.

The studio's philosophy is to treat the interior as part of its architectural setting. That means paying attention to human needs and to form, proportion, scale, materials, detail, colour and light, and combining creative imagination with functional logic. A deep family background in the hotel and restaurant trade led the studio towards hospitality and restaurant design, which is still a speciality.

How a project runs

Every project begins with listening to your needs and visiting the property, so that a brief, a budget and a strong concept can be agreed. The studio then prepares sketch designs and cost estimates, discusses layouts, finalises plans and obtains quotes in line with the agreed budget.

The next stage is detailed design: drawings that are ready to build, with cost checks and adjustments along the way. Finally the contractors are appointed and the studio works closely with them through implementation. If you are buying from the UK, our Malta relocation guide and tax guide for UK nationals help with the wider planning that surrounds a fit-out.

Projects and sectors

Hospitality and eateries feature strongly. The Skyroom Cocktail Bar and Grill on Tower Road, Sliema, completed in 2019 for Preluna Hotel Ltd, revived a 1970s nightclub with deep jewel tones, velvet and leather seating, marble tables with brass legs, and a sea-view terrace. The studio also designed Ichiban Japanese Gourmet Burgers, Café Sakura, two Club Sushi restaurants in Attard and Paceville, and the Triton Restaurant at the Preluna Hotel. Visitors choosing a base can browse hotels in Sliema or hotels across Malta.

The Skyroom covers 200 square metres indoors and 150 outdoors, with a charcoal grill on the terrace. Other work includes Remax and Malta my Home real estate offices, a City Pro real estate cafe, the Meat and More butcher shop, a wellness spa and gym, and the Remax office of 2015, a compact 30 square metre space with custom walnut ceiling and wall panels and an ocean colour palette on the other side, conference rooms and a showroom. On the residential side the portfolio shows urban apartments, a seafront apartment, a bachelor pad and a 1930s maisonette. Terraces and outdoor areas are part of many briefs, so our Malta weather guide is handy when planning how a space will be used through the year.

Getting started

Contact the studio early if you are planning to renovate or furnish a property, or open a business. Our where to stay in Malta guide helps you choose a base for site visits, and the things to do in Malta and about Malta pages are useful for settling in. Use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to the studio.