Restoring an old apartment in the centre of Mahon and bringing it back to life and use after years of abandonment is always good news.
Today we wanted to explain how a home that had been uninhabited for more than 20 years, was given a second chance; providing a new home, not only with character and history, but with all the modern comforts we expect today. Its owner, Ignacio Romera, is an architect specializing in home renovation and energy efficiency and his vast experience made it easy for him to see the potential of the property. Our sales negotiator, Jose Pons, knew straightaway what Ignacio was looking for – something economical in the centre of Mahon that had charm even though it was in a state of disrepair. His aim was to enjoy the process of rehabilitation that lay ahead. After only viewing four or five different properties, this expert decided on one of the apartments that Jose had shown him and in less than a month he had signed the contract in front of a notary and started the renovation work needed before being able to rent it out.
He had no intention of carrying out major works, just cleaning and removing anything that had been added to the property over the years such as false ceilings, old PVC friezes on the walls and other additions thus exposing the essence of the building. He put a lot of effort into the terrace which unfortunately couldn’t be used as it was full of obstacles such as old chimneys, water tanks and television aerials.
The next phase of the project was to bring in more natural light, fit out the home and insulate it to achieve the greatest possible comfort and make it more efficient. The final touch was the interior design and now with a blank canvas he chose a modern decoration which contrasted with the age of the building. He gave it a hint of the past by strategically placing some old objects that had been found in the apartment.
His main objective was to preserve everything identified with the apartment and to create open, bright and comfortable spaces. Ignacio well and truly achieved that goal and after four months he and his wife realised that they had fallen in love with the place and that the apartment they were going to rent out would become their own home.
