Suzanne Sharp was born in Malta, brought up in Rome, and now calls London home. She and her husband, Christopher, cofounded the Rug Company in 1997 and have collaborated with the likes of legendary decorator Nina Campbell and fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg. The couple sold the business in 2015 to focus on other ventures: Christopher landed an Oscar nomination for Bobi Wine: The People’s President, his 2022 documentary on Uganda’s opposition leader. Suzanne continued designing under her own name, working both on interiors and products for brands including the Lacquer Company and the Mosaic Factory.

The pair reunited—professionally, that is—for their first hospitality project: Malta’s Casa Bonavita, which opens this spring. They transformed an 18th-century Attard mansion into a 17-room hotel over five years. Its interiors are the ultimate expression of Sharp’s aesthetic, combining the cultures that shaped her: Sicilian marble and Murano glass from Italy, Dudgens sofas from England, and Maltese ceramics from her daughter Sophie’s Villa Bologna Pottery. Here, Sharp shares other elements that punctuate her well-lived life.

First thing you do in the morning?

Wherever I am in the world, I turn on the radio to listen to the Today program on BBC Radio 4.

What have you done recently for the first time?

A parenie, Russian massage, with all the beating at the Russian Banya House. It’s in Grosvenor Place, London. A friend of mine said to go because I was feeling rather exhausted, and my body was feeling a bit tense. Three hours later, I felt like a new person.

Which apps do you use the most?

Etsy and Instagram, to buy funny things like braid and piping and curtain rings—things one would normally have bought at a haberdasher, but those don’t exist anymore.

What do you do that’s still analog?

I have a notebook, and I write to-do lists and cross them out. For workdays and projects, I will have a designated notebook, otherwise I can never find anything. Scrolling on my phone does my head in.

The most recent thing you regret not buying?

So many houses. We did see one in Tangier a couple of years ago, on the old mountain. It was a ruin, and did need a lot of work, but it was really beautiful with amazing views.

What in your wardrobe do you wear most often?

A beautiful, really thick, big, chunky sweater from Celine, black and oversized with four-ply cashmere. I bought it about three or four years ago from Phoebe Philo’s last collection. A client was wearing one and I told her I loved it, and she said, “Oh darling, I know the girl at Celine, let me call her straight away, because I know she’s only got one left and I’ll order it for you.” The next thing I knew, a man was delivering it at my front door three hours later, with an invoice.

What is your exercise routine, and how often do you do it?

We have a stretching bar in our bathroom hanging over the door, so I do a bit of hanging every day to stretch my spine. And in summer, when we’re in Malta, I swim a lot. We have an amazing beach there, which we call our secret beach, which is a climb and a walk to get there, and we take people for special treats, called Migra I-Ferha.

What do you most crave at the end of the day? 

A Campari and soda and a cigarette. They go hand in hand. I like it quite strong, and I bought myself a really beautiful Aarke machine, so I always have soda ready when I come home.

Who is your guru? 

Our daughter, Sophie—she’s very like [my husband] Chris, with emotions very under control. They’re very kind, and they’ll talk you down from a cliff.

What advice do you wish you’d followed? 

I’m not much of an advice follower.

What’s the last piece of advice you gave?

It’s always to do with not telling people things you know they’re going to freak out about if they find out. Tap into people’s sensitivities if you’re wasting time telling them the truth.

Are you wearing a watch? How many do you own? 

I have two. I have a Rolex Oyster that was a present from my mum on my 18th birthday—it broke, but I had it fixed. And the other I got from Chris as a birthday present, a Cartier Tank.

If you could learn a new skill, what would it be? 

I’d love to be able to paint beautifully. I would like to paint huge canvases of plants and flowers and trees and skies. It makes me feel relaxed thinking about it, mixing all the paints—and you need to be in a relaxed state to do it. 

Do you still write letters? 

No, I write notes.

What’s your email etiquette? 

I reply slowly but always. Blame the southern European temperament! Emails aren’t my natural habitat. I prefer talking.

What’s always in your hand luggage? 

Golden Virginia, Rizlas, and a lighter.

Drive or be driven? 

Be driven. 

What car are you most attached to? 

We once had a very beautiful 1964 Mercedes Cabriolet, which I adored. That car was so fab. I used to drive it down the motorway in Italy, the autostrada, and everyone used to hoot. It was so nerve-racking until one day, I realized they were hooting at the car, not at me. 

Last streaming binge? 

I loved The Perfect Couple; I love Nicole Kidman, the way she dresses, everything about her. I love watching those American families, and I notice the interiors, the clothes, the makeup, the Botox, and the lips. I notice everything.

What kind of music makes you happy? 

Johann Strauss waltzes. When my sister and I were little, there was a record player in the sitting room. My parents would wake up very late on Sundays, so we learned how to use the record player to put them on. We would jump from sofa to armchair to play, and it reminds me of being really happy. I’ve got them on Spotify now, and they’re very uplifting.