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.’
