Interior architect Pierre Yovanovitch on ceramics, handmade napkins and linguine

My personal style signifiers are my shoes by Pierre Hardy, some of which reference the work of major artists, and my mostly Dries Van Noten wardrobe. I’m a low-key person, so my clothing and accessories tend to be fashionable yet classic. My Mylon glasses by Mykita – the first item I put on in the morning – are another signature of mine: they’re ultra-light and the matte finish is in keeping with my simple aesthetic. driesvannoten.be, mykita.com, pierrehardy.com

The last thing I bought and loved was a ceramic vase by the American artist Karin Gulbran. It’s a very abstract, minimal, light-blue and brown vessel that works with the neutral colour palette I love. From $13,000; Pierre Marie Giraud, 7 Rue de Praetere, 1050 Brussels (pierremariegiraud.com)

And the thing I’m eyeing next is a “nest” seat by the South African designer Porky Hefer. His one-of-a-kind pieces are made from cane and rattan, and I’d love one for an outdoor space at my château in Provence; it would make the perfect reading nook. Fallen Nest, £11,000; animal-farm.co.za

The last thing I added to my wardrobe was a half-length wool coat from Acne that I bought in New York. It’s stylish, simple and in a rich navy blue. As I get older, I think blue clothing is generally much better than black. £900; acnestudios.com

The best gift I’ve received recently was an intricate “eye” embroidery by Lesage Intérieurs, given to me by Jean-François Lesage, grandson of the maison’s founder. This astonishing piece was commissioned for L’Erotomanie de Mlle Oops, the exhibition I conceived for the Toulon Design Parade last summer. It now hangs in my office. lesageinterieurs.com

The site that inspires me is the Brother Klaus Field Chapel, in Mechernich, Germany, by the architect Peter Zumthor. Set in a remote field, this striking art chapel features a poured-concrete exterior and a beautiful triangle-shaped silver door. There is no roof, so when it rains, the water is collected inside, which adds to the spiritual atmosphere. Iversheimer Strasse, 53894 Mechernich (feldkapelle.de)

The people I rely on for personal grooming are Philippe Campana and his wife, Geneviève, at Louis G, a hidden hair salon in Paris’s 7th arrondissement. It’s a very discreet, no-fuss place – no music or anything too trendy. It still has the original 1970s feel and I like the very professional stylists who keep my longish hair that way. From €60, 4 Rue du Bourgogne, 75007 Paris (+331-4551 3039)

My favourite room in my house is my bedroom – spacious and sparsely decorated but still warm and inviting. In the 70sq m space there is only a large bed and two pieces of meditative art, along with lots of rough-hewn oak and natural light.

If I had to limit my shopping to one neighbourhood in one city, I’d choose the 1st arrondissement in Paris. Galerie Eric Philippe is wonderful for Scandinavian design, while Ligne Blanche is great for tabletop finds – especially the plates. The owner is passionate about art and does collaborations with the estates of Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and many others. Hermès is always a favourite for chic clothes and scarves. After all that shopping, I like Cibus – a tiny, really authentic Italian restaurant that serves the best organic, seasonal dishes, such as homemade linguine with wild mushrooms, or octopus with haricots verts. Cibus, 5 Rue Molière, 75001 (+331-4261 5019). Galerie Eric Philippe, 25 Galerie Véro-Dodat, 75001 (ericphilippe.com). Hermès, 24 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, 75008 (hermes.com). Ligne Blanche, 18 Galerie Véro-Dodat, 75001 (ligneblancheparis.com)

My favourite websites are all very visual. I often look at Jacksons, of Stockholm, for furnishings and Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac for inspiration. jacksons.se, ropac.net

My style icon is Pierre Cardin. I’ve had the privilege of working with Pierre, who is now 96, and consider him to be a visionary with a distinct personal style. He is a genius of fashion design and a true architect of clothing. His choice of construction and volumes, colours and materials created clothing that has remained contemporary – and this is reflected in his own sense of style, right down to his bold eye glasses.

An unforgettable place I’ve travelled to in the past year is Marfa, Texas, a city with a 1950s ambience. It’s literally in the middle of nowhere and the landscape and light are stunning. I was particularly taken with Donald Judd’s Chinati Foundation, where you see art in the context of such a massive campus; it’s easy to see why the artist left New York for this beautiful part of the world. The Hotel Saint George, where I stayed, is almost a museum itself, with its collection of art that includes Christopher Wool and Mark Flood. Chinati Foundation, 1 Cavalry Row, Marfa, Texas, TX 79843 (chinati.org). Hotel Saint George, 105 South Highland Ave, Marfa, Texas (marfasaintgeorge.com).

The best souvenir I’ve brought home recently is a set of handmade, silk-trimmed, pale-beige and yellow napkins from Vals, Switzerland. I was there to visit the 7132 Therme & Spa and found these very neutral napkins – which look beautiful on my table in my château in the Haut-Var, Provence – in a small shop. It was a perfect surprise; the town is so small that I didn’t expect to find anything like that when I was walking around. 7132 Therme & Spa, 7132 Vals, Switzerland (7132therme.com). 

The last meal that truly impressed me was a dinner at Claude Colliot in the Marais. The chef at this understated restaurant is very good with vegetables, aromatic herbs and fruit desserts that follow the seasons. The space is simple too – very spare and dark-lit – and is perfect for a dinner with friends. 40 Rue des Blancs-Manteaux, 75004 Paris (claudecolliot.com).

The best gift I’ve given recently was a unique ceramic vase by the French artist Roger Capron. This colourful piece was a thank-you present for Jean-Pierre Blanc, the director of Villa Noailles, for choosing me to help with last year’s Design Parade events in the south of France.

The last music I downloaded was Béla Bartók’s Bluebeard’s Castle, a cinematic work with a real narrative, conducted by Pierre Boulez. Music is a huge part of my life – it focuses me and gets my creative juices flowing – and this has been an excellent addition to my running playlist.

A recent “find” is Benetos, a traditional fish restaurant in Patmos, Greece, where I spent time last summer. It’s set on the Sapsila inlet, overlooking the Aegean Sea, and the vegetables come straight from their garden, so everything is fresh and light. Sapsila, Patmos (benetosrestaurant.com)

An indulgence I would never forgo is travelling with a friend in his private helicopter. He comes to Provence and takes me to remote, beautiful places that I might not otherwise discover.  Last summer we went to a restaurant called Le Christiana-Chez Huguette in the middle of wild countryside in the village of Andon. Both the food  – especially the grilled vegetables and local cheeses – and the atmosphere were amazing. 218 Pl de l’Audibergue, 06750 Andon (+334-9360 4541)

If I didn’t live in Paris, the city I would live in is New York without a doubt. I’m never tired in New York, not even with jet lag. I love the energy, the architecture of the Upper East Side and the easy access to Central Park. Downtown, I love the Judd Foundation in SoHo for its serene gallery setting, while The Mark hotel has long been a convenient home base for me. The Neue Galerie is a favourite museum: the building and the collection are both stunning. Judd Foundation, 101 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012 (juddfoundation.org). The Mark, 25 East 77th St, New York, NY 10075 (themarkhotel.com). Neue Galerie, 1048 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10028 (neuegalerie.org)

The one artist whose work I would collect if I could is Thomas Schütte. He is a contemporary German artist I discovered at a recent exhibition at the Beyeler Foundation, near Basel. His paintings of architecture are particularly wonderful, and they’ve recently become very sought after. fondationbeyeler.ch, thomas-schuette.de

The grooming staple I’m never without is soap by Portugal’s Claus Porto. I love the paper packaging and bars in scents of lavender, orange amber and acacia. From €8; clausporto.com

The last book I read was H Is for Hawk by Helen MacDonald. It’s the author’s story of losing her father and how, through her love of nature and animals, she copes with her grief and rage. This book raises a lot of questions about who we are, loss in general and why animals provide such comfort.

In my fridge you’ll always find Coke Zero – and nothing else. My friends find the state of my refrigerator quite sad, but I never eat at home, so it makes no sense to stock it.

An object I would never part with is Choupette, a painted ceramic owl made in the Vallauris region of France in the 1960s that I purchased in Nice about 20 years ago. I love the material and the fact that it was made during a period of great creativity, and as I’m from the south of France, it awakens childhood memories for me. It was the first in what has since become a collection of owls. I now pick them up wherever I go, and people bring them to my château as gifts.

If I weren’t doing what I do, I would be a gardener. Being outside allows me to dream and to get lost in nature. I find it very therapeutic. And by spending time in the garden, you really come to understand the changing seasons and the effects of global warming.