From artisanal rug-making to boutique hospitality, Christopher and Suzanne Sharp—the founders of The Rug Company—are no strangers to design-led luxury. With a deep-rooted passion for travel and the art of a great hotel, the duo found a natural next chapter in Casa Bonavita, a restored 18th-century family home turned intimate boutique stay.
Located in Attard, one of Malta’s historic Three Villages, the 17-key property draws directly from Suzanne’s childhood on the island, offering guests a deeply personal entry point into Maltese life, craftsmanship, and landscape—through a hotel the Sharps themselves would want to stay in.
Ahead of its May 2026 opening, we sat down with Christopher Sharp to discuss the five-year restoration, the importance of heritage and provenance, and why Malta felt like the right place for their first foray into hospitality.
What initially drew you to Malta, and why was it important that Casa Bonavita remain a deeply personal, family-led project?
“Malta has always been a special place for us, particularly for Suzanne, who spent her childhood on the island and formed a strong connection to it. Casa Bonavita was a family home for centuries and later became our own, so the restoration was never conceived as a conventional hotel project. It was important to us to retain the spirit of the house and to approach hospitality in a way that feels personal, authentic, and rooted in Malta's history.”
How did Maltese heritage and local craftsmanship inform your design decisions throughout the restoration?
“The restoration was guided by Malta's heritage and by Suzanne's southern Mediterranean roots. We worked closely with local craftsmen, artisans, weavers, and ceramicists, drawing on long-standing relationships and shared references. The interiors combine rare objects, vintage family pieces, and textiles with regional materials, including marbles sourced from Sicily and Murano glass chandeliers, ensuring the house feels intrinsically connected to its setting.”
After decades of working in luxury textiles and interiors, what felt most creatively challenging about translating that expertise into hospitality?
“Translating our experience into hospitality required a shift in perspective. Designing for guests meant thinking carefully about how spaces function over time, how materials age, and how comfort and practicality sit alongside detail and design. The focus was on retaining a residential sensibility while creating a house that operates seamlessly.”
How did your collaborations with artisans, Villa Bologna, and de Gournay shape the final vision of the house?
“Collaboration was central to shaping Casa Bonavita. Working with local pottery Villa Bologna and with de Gournay, who created a bespoke hand-painted wallpaper depicting 17th-century Valletta for the bar, allowed us to introduce layers of craftsmanship and narrative. These collaborations brought depth and individuality to the house, reinforcing its character as a place shaped by makers and artists.”
Casa Bonavita opens this year—how do you see the opening shaping or evolving Malta’s boutique hotel scene?
“Casa Bonavita has been a family home for centuries, and that history underpins a new style of hospitality on the island, one that is residential in spirit and deeply personal. With just 17 rooms and suites, it reflects our own interpretation of the best of Malta and the southern Mediterranean, shaped by lived experience rather than a hotel formula. Opening in Attard allows us to present a different perspective on the island, offering a house that contributes to a more considered, design-led boutique hotel landscape.”
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