Brass taps, a marble sink and a floor that’s ready for a game of chess. The bright coral flamingo brings a humour and whimsy that all guest loos should have. And if only all were as spacious as this one. Guests could have a party in there.

I like to see a farmhouse sink juxtaposed with streamlined cabinetry and sleek, modern plumbing fixtures. This is a good looking utility room. This sink from Native Trails, a modern take on a traditional design, is kind of perfect for such a setting. I love it in slate. But it looks great in pearl, too.

When Brooklyn furniture company BDDW moved to the Frankfort neighborhood of Philadelphia, a 20-ft deep pit of clay was unearthed during the excavation of their offices. As luck would have it, the company’s founder Tyelr Hayes is a pottery enthusiast, so a line of ceramics was added to BDDW’s collections. And it’s really quite beautiful. It reminds me Delft pottery, and yet it’s unmistakably contemporary. I’m wild about these weird sea mushroom vases, and the plates, very Royal Copenhagen, are lovely. Have a look, you too will want to snap up a dozen mugs. At $180 a piece, a girl can dream….

I like the idea of a spartan bedroom –– white walls and linens, no embellishments, and one very grand headboard. I have a fabulous piece of Uzbekistani fabric, and my plan is to one day have it made into an elaborate headboard. I also have a bolt of dark coral, floral fabric from S.M. Hexter that I bought at the Textile Museuem’s annual remnants sale for $10. That would make for a stunning headboard. And then there’s this gilded gem; children playing on the beach, sailboats at sea. Not bad for a guest room.

I came across the beautiful Red House today, a converted winery, in the village of Azeitao, south of Lisbon. The winery was built by the client’s grandparents at the beginning of the 20th century. Surrounding it is an orchard of orange trees that in the Spring give off the most beautiful scent. The stark minimalism of the interior is so unexpected. In fact, the whole project is in exciting contrast to its rustic Mediterranean surroundings.

These are the kinds of sheets my grandmother would have appreciated –– richly patterned, scalloped and exquisitely soft. When my Mum got engaged, they flew to Madiera to choose her wedding linens, ivory, with butter yellow trim. Her initials, MM were embroidered into the sheets with the same pale yellow thread. My mother’s since given a full of set monogrammed linens to many a goddaughter and niece on the threshold of married life. It’s an old fashioned tradition, but a lovely one.

I love this dining room table, it’s organic shape, that it’s neither a rectangle or a circle. I like the heaviness of its three legs. Of course, it helps that it’s in such good company. The chairs! The banquette! Oh, and that the surrounding room is just so damn lovely.

Paola Angoletta’s home in a valley of the Veneto mountains is utterly charming. Maybe it’s the many shades of rose that pull me in, but I’m smitten. There are so many jaunty details –– copper pans, vibrant textiles, flowers and whimsical chandeliers –– throughout the house. Plus, a claw-foot tub and vintage beach chair is a winning combination.

This beautiful bedroom, at Arniano, the Italian villa of interior designer Camilla Guinness, feels like you’re in an enchanted forest. Guinness collects textiles, and all the bed linens are sourced from antique shops and markets in Tuscany and beyond. Such simple, sinuous elegance in the iron bed frame. Have a gander around the rest of the house. It really is dreamy.