Designer Bodo Sperlein on the fragrance Sale Marino, shopping in Schöneberg and art nouveau architecture

My personal style signifier is my Filson field bag in navy-blue cotton twill and leather. It combines practicality and elegance, and I’ve used it for my daily commute ever since I bought it four years ago. From £245; 9 & 13 Newburgh Street, London W1 (020-7434 3007; filson.com)

The last thing I bought and loved was a Siemens iQ700 Compact Steam Oven. As an avid cook who also loves gadgets, I’m amazed that it’s taken me so long to discover steam – but now I have, there’s no going back. It cooks a chicken to perfection. £1,309; siemens-home.bsh-group.com

The thing I’m eyeing next is Nya Nordiska’s Cosy upholstery fabric in a smart neutral. I’m not really a soft-furnishings type of guy, but this high-quality, knitted-effect fabric is really contemporary and would be perfect on my early-edition Hans Wegner dining chairs. £102.60 per sq m; 132-134 Lots Road, London SW10 (0800-069 9610; nya.com)

The people I rely on for wellbeing are the osteopaths at the Rebalance Clinic in the Rambert Dance Company building. They work miracles, and you can watch dancers rehearse while you wait to be seen. From £75, 99 Upper Ground, London SE1 (020-7127 8127; rebalanceclinic.co.uk)

A recent find is Shepherds, a traditional paper and bookbinding store in Pimlico. I walked past one day and couldn’t resist going in; it’s a little reminder in our digital world of how lovely it is to write on paper. I find it comforting that there are still unusual independent shops like this in London. 30 Gillingham Street, London SW1 (020-7233 9999; bookbinding.co.uk)

The best gift I’ve given recently was one of Loewe’s Bild 9 floorstanding televisions in graphite-grey. It was a gift to a good friend who needed a new TV for his architect-designed flat. No other television would have been stylish enough. From £4,990; loewe.tv

And the best one I’ve received recently was a very stylish Special Edition Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Range Rover Velar watch, for winning the Land Rover BORN Award 2017. Zenith has an amazing heritage: every watch is made by hand in Switzerland, and adventurers such as the skydiver Felix Baumgartner wear them. £7,200; zenith-watches.com

The one artist whose work I would collect if I could is Naum Gabo, a key figure of the constructivist movement. He was a pioneer of kinetic sculpture and used unusual materials like acrylic, which was highly innovative in the 1920s. That really resonates with me. artsy.net

An object I would never part with is my Pashley Countryman bicycle. Mine is bluey-grey with a nice Brooks leather saddle; it’s sporty and elegant, and just what I need to get me through the London traffic in style. From £1,295; pashley.co.uk

If I didn’t live in London, the city I would live in is my hometown, Munich. It has a very calm atmosphere, but so much to offer: there are 61 theatres, for example, and the Pinakothek der Moderne museum boasts one of the largest design collections in the world. For shopping I like Quittenbaum, a remarkable auction house specialising in 20th-century design, and the food market Viktualienmarkt. Man Versus Machine is the best independent coffee roaster in Bavaria and is the first place I visit in the morning, while my favourite spot for the evening is the Goldene Bar at Haus der Kunst: you can sip a mezcal cocktail while you study 1930s murals showing the geographical regions of the world. Goldene Bar, Prinzregentenstrasse 1, 80538 (+4989-5480 4777; goldenebar.de). Man Versus Machine, Müllerstrasse 23, 80469 (mvsm.coffee). Pinakothek der Moderne, Brarerstrasse 40, 80333 (+4989-2380 5360; pinakothek.de). Quittenbaum, Theresienstrasse 60, 80333 (+4989-2737 02125; quittenbaum.de). Viktualienmarkt, Viktualienmarkt 3, 80331 (+4989-8906 8205)

My favourite app is Muybridgizer, a Tate Britain app that allows you to turn yourself into a fun piece of Muybridge photography.

My style icon is the actor Steve McQueen, for his smart-casual, understated and timeless style.

An unforgettable place I’ve travelled to in the past year is Norway. I went there on a work trip for the first time this year and was completely bowled over. The fjords and mountains are breathtaking; you can be sure you will be served only the best, freshest seafood; and Ålesund, where I stayed, is full of the most incredible art nouveau architecture. The Jugendstilsenteret, an old pharmacy building that is now a museum and centre for art nouveau, made a strong impression. Apotekergata 16, 6004 Ålesund (+477-010 4970; jugendstilsenteret.no)

And the best souvenir I’ve brought home is a set of coconut-shell cooking spoons from a street market in Bangkok. I’ve used them every day for a decade and they’re still in perfect working order.

The last meal that truly impressed me was at Lorne, a newish restaurant in my neighbourhood serving innovative, modern food. I ate a sublime crayfish “porridge” – it is actually a pearl barley risotto – with crispy chicken wings, followed by venison with pease pudding, beetroot and pistachio, all paired with some really interesting wines chosen by the sommelier, Katie Exton. 76 Wilton Rd, London SW1 (020-3327 0210; lornerestaurant.co.uk)

The best book I’ve read in the past year is Eye to I: Autobiography of a Photographer. It’s about Erwin Blumenfeld, one of the most influential fashion photographers in New York in the 1950s. His storytelling is as vividly detailed as his photographs.

The last music I downloaded was California Light by Childhood, from their Universal High album. With the current global turmoil, I need this kind of uplifting music.

In my fridge you’ll always find a variety of berries and Normandy or Breton butter – the type with the sea-salt crystals. Good butter and fresh bread go so well together that you don’t need anything else – except perhaps some Tiptree Tawny Orange marmalade, which has just the right ratio of sugar to fruit. £2.09; tiptree.com

An indulgence I would never forgo is Artisan du Chocolat’s 100 per cent Chocolate Bar. It is so full of antioxidants, I can feel good while I’m sinning. £3.99; artisanduchocolat.com

The last item of clothing I added to my wardrobe was a pair of pinstripe Smart Style trousers from Uniqlo. They are super-comfy, and it’s amazing how well-dressed you look in them. £29.90; 311 Oxford Street, London W1 (020-7016 1500; uniqlo.com)

My favourite room in my house is the library/study. It’s a cosy place to go and hide with a cup of tea on a rainy day, and the rosewood-panelled walls make me feel like I’m in an episode of Mad Men.

The grooming staple I’m never without is Sale Marino by the Viennese artisan perfume house Wiener Blut. It’s a beautifully fresh scent that smells of the salty sea air, thanks to ingredients like marine salt, wild pistachio and juniper. €160; wienerblut.at

If I had to limit my shopping to one neighbourhood in one city, I’d choose Schöneberg in Berlin, especially Potsdamer Strasse, which is home to Andreas Murkudis’ world-famous concept store. It’s set in a former newspaper printworks and sells everything stylish, from fashion and cosmetics to tableware and unusual chocolates. Daniel Heer is another extraordinary shop selling handmade horsehair mattresses – you can even stay there to try one out. Andreas Murkudis, Potsdamer Strasse 81E, 10785 (+4930-6807 98306; andreasmurkudis.com). Daniel Heer, Schöneberger Zimmer, Blumenthalstrasse 7, 10783 (+4930-3408 5194; danielheer.com)

If I weren’t doing what I do, I would be an archaeologist, a restaurant critic, historian or scientist – or perhaps a combination of them all.