My jewellery business began in my bedroom. When I established Sarah Gauci in Malta in 2013, I was building the brand online, doing my best and learning as I went. A shop of my own was something I dreamed about, but it took time to get there.
In 2020, I opened the doors to my Balzan boutique. Recently, Design Dispatch featured the space and asked me about the ideas behind it. It made me think about how much of my own story is in this little shop, from the colours to the way I welcome people inside.
It started with my nanna
My love of making things started with my nanna. She was an artisan herself, with an incredible eye for detail, and she was always trying something new. We spent so much time together doing bizzilla, ganutell, crochet, knitting and beading. You name it, we probably tried it.
She taught me how much we can create with our hands and a little imagination. As I got older, I kept exploring until I found what I loved most: jewellery. Crystals, pearls and the way jewellery was worn in the past all found their way into my designs. My nanna shaped so much of who I am creatively. I’ll always be grateful for that.
A space that felt like home
Eventually, I outgrew my home studio. I’m a people person, and I wanted to meet clients beyond a screen. I had always loved Balzan, particularly the area where the shop is, and wanted the interior to feel just as welcoming.
It started with a vision board: colour samples, fabrics and little details that made me happy. I love Paris, and Disneyland was a little part of the inspiration too. The pastel colours, beautiful pastries and crystal chandeliers were things I kept coming back to, along with the charm of an old-fashioned ice cream parlour.
I wasn’t following one particular interior style. I was bringing together things I loved and finding a way for them to sit comfortably alongside my jewellery.
The little details
I knew I wanted bows, so I tracked down bow-shaped knobs for the drawers. Then came the chandelier and wall lamps, the curved desk and the illuminated arches. Finding the right blush pink to sit alongside the mint and pistachio furniture took longer than I expected. Once it came together, the gold accents felt right too.
My husband and father-in-law helped with the lighting and assembling the furniture. There was a time when having my own shop felt so far away; suddenly, I was standing in it.
“There was a time when having my own shop felt so far away; suddenly, I was standing in it.”
A boutique and a working studio
My desk is near the entrance so I can greet people when they arrive. From there, clients can move through the displays at their own pace.
The shop is also my studio. At the workbench, I hand-set crystals and finish pieces. During appointments, we talk through colours, try on jewellery and explore what suits the person wearing it. The space needs to work for both parts of my day.
I’m a GIA Applied Jewelry Professional (AJP), and I’m continuing my gemmology studies alongside my design work. There is always more to learn, and I’m enjoying seeing where that takes me.
For now, one of the loveliest things is hearing someone say they felt welcome when they came in. That was what I hoped for from the beginning.
You can read the Design Dispatch feature or get in touch to arrange a visit.
