There was a time in history where washing one’s self was just not important! Body odours would have been the norm and therefore wholly acceptable. The notion of cleanliness being next to godliness must be something of a modern phrase as religious history shows that bathing was frowned upon. It is said St. Agnes never washed, and furthermore St. Francis of Assisi considered dirtiness to be an insignia of holiness. Times have definitely changed! These days,

Santa I want a pool house! No, not a collapsible gazebo from a DIY hovering precariously over a paddling pool; I want a purpose-built pool house. One I can use year round with the air heated to a nice temperature in the winter, and large doors that roll back in summer ... and maybe a retractable roof. Yes, that should do it. Now, about the pool; I’m not wanting anything too big - just a nice usable size. A simple rectangular shape, heated, and at least three times my height in length so I can get a good workout swimming against the current. Please, please, Santa ... I’ll be really good!

We use our outdoor areas as another room – an extension of the home or superyacht - and tend to furnish them in much the same way. The garden and outdoor area often reflect the home's architecture; likewise our choice of outdoor furniture often reflects the style of indoor furnishings we have. My own small outdoor courtyard is testimony to this. I have an eclectic interior style and what I call "fusion gardening" outside. (The experts would probably call it "not knowing what she's doing".) When it came to deciding on outdoor furniture, I was very particular and wanted an aged look. I chose a marble mosaic top table and accompanying iron chairs - so heavy no one will want to help me move, but gosh it's stylish! In my opinion it was well worth the time and money spent as I get tons of enjoyment from my purchase.

Slick kitchens don't necessarily turn out food to match. They may be beautiful to look at and fitted with all the latest appliances, but what is produced is still very much up to the operator. A client recently told me that her oven smelt of plastic when she used it. On further questioning, I discovered that the oven was three years old before she even turned it on! "It's just that we always went out for dinner," she said. Such is our life of convenience.

Access to running water has always influenced the hierarchy of society. If you have running water, as most of us do, you are therefore likely to have all the conveniences of modern sanitary care. We can no doubt all imagine, and may even have experienced at some time, what it is like to live without running water. A camping trip is a gentle reminder ... by walking to the nearby ablution block, we think we are "roughing it". Life must have been uncomfortable in bygone times when bathing was a rare occasion. Imagine dining with Elizabeth I in her era - your senses would have been in overload! Not only would the experience have been visually impressive with the pomp and pageantry, but I'm sure the smell must have been just as memorable. To disguise one's odour, one doused oneself with perfume, put a group of people in a room together during this period and the smell of cooking odours, body odours and perfume must have been pungent.

Dropping a can of tomatoes onto a timber floor leaves a lasting and enduring impression, so a colleague of mine found out. Had the can dropped on tiles, concrete or slate flooring, the can may have come off worse for wear. On the other hand, a glass has more chance of surviving a fall onto vinyl or carpeting than it does on any hard surface.

The desire to create attractive and comfortable surroundings in which we live and play is a natural characteristic of human nature. It probably all started with cave dwellers hanging an animal skin over a doorway. This would have provided privacy and some warmth and the wish for more creature comforts such as a bed or sofa. Little did they know these desires would lead to the invent of multinational chain stores specialising in furniture and home ware!! - if only they knew.

Does a reverse sham channel quilted throw-over sound like a complicated gymnastic move?. Well its not, it's a bed cover, but you may need all the skill and agility of a gymnast to install it in the confines of a boat! In this article I aim to navigate you through the mysteries of bedding and linen.

I thought I'd heard just about everything... but I have just learnt there are parts of the finer side of life that I'm just not yet acquainted with. I'm talking about cigars and the pastime and culture of enjoying them.

In interior design terms, window treatments mean anything that covers windows and doors ... drapes, shutters or blinds. Hold on guys ... don't turn the page ... you could learn a thing or two here. Like most things, window treatments have evolved over time. Homeowners in the 18th Century had a very different view on the subject than what we do now. Fabric was expensive and the average person would be lucky to have a frill above the window. In the 19th Century, fabric became more readily available and more affordable. Suddenly, copious amounts of fabric were used - just like the clothing of the day. Layers of fabric appeared at windows, commonly "nets" topped with heavy drapes and swags, and not forgetting the tassels and trims. No doubt all this helped keep the draughts out. The development of aluminium joinery, double glazing and central heating has improved the warmth of our homes. Over the years, the layers at the window have diminished to the point to where we now have issues with the sun destroying our furnishings. It's a tricky business getting the balance right!

There is something about crystal. It's beautiful to look at and even more gorgeous when the light catches it. A stunning cut crystal vase can be compared to a diamond ... cut and clarity help determine the sparkle.

There is something about food cooking on a barbeque. It's a bit like toast or fried onion - the aroma wafts across vast distances, teasing you and drawing you closer. It hardly seems to matter what you're cooking on a barbeque. It can be as plain as toast or the best culinary delights you can muster - the aroma will still draw you in.