To bidet or not to bidet

In the bathroom...

SHOWERS Americans love ‘rumpy pumpy' showers British use them for storing things and washing dogs Americans obsess about water pressure

BATH TUBS A staple in British bathrooms Italians believe you just lie in your own dirt

TAPS All Europeans prefer mixer taps British steadfastly stick to separate hot and cold taps Russians - at least some - like them in gold

FLOORING Italians find carpets in bathrooms unhygienic and favour tiles - even in the Alps Country house bathrooms throughout Britain are generally carpeted

LOOS French like to have them separate from the bathroom Wall-hung in contemporary European houses Floor-based with a wooden seat in the British loo

LOO PAPER Europeans are generally not fussed by texture British think the French use tracing paper, witness the new cashmere range in Waitrose

BATHROOM READING A British habit - the more esoteric the collection, the better

In the kitchen...

SINKS The British love affair with the ‘butler's sink' goes on Europeans prefer stylish stainless steel (preferably Italian-made) Shower-spray taps go down well with the French

TEA & COFFEE Kettles and teapots in Britain Europeans will boil water in a saucepan on the stove Nescafe is ‘puddle water' to Italians

FRIDGE American monster fridges with ice-cube makers have wide appeal across Britain and the Continent

APPLIANCES German-made ovens and dishwashers tick everyone's boxes

AGAS Friend to the British chef; foe to European foodies

A note for buyers from Hugo Skillington of Skillington Immobilier, Knight Frank's agent in Grimaud, south of France: ‘You want to find a French ouse that's been done up by Italians and lived in by English owners who have been busy in the garden - that's the perfect solution.'