The Piedmont hills in northwestern Italy are famous for their truffles and full bodied Barolo and ­Barberesco wines. The Relais San Maurizio, part of the prestigious Relais & Chateaux hotel group, gives travellers another reason to visit to this part of the country. By far the most luxurious property Piedmont has to offer, the hotel has a fairytale like setting perched on top of a hill in the charming village of San Stefano Belbo. Views of the surrounding Langhe hills and perfectly lined vineyards greet guests wherever they look. Once a 17th century Franciscan monastery, the sprawling property has 31-rooms which were once monks quarters that have been lovingly turned into upscale guest rooms, each uniquely decorated and featuring flat screen televisions, oversize baths and Etro toiletries.

­It’s a well known fact that the fashion industry tends to ignore plus-size women (this is an issue I looked at years ago in the documentary Curve). Apart from stores like Torrid and Lane Bryant, most high street brands refuse to carry, and design, larger sizes – and forget about high end designers branching out. Gossip lead singer Beth Ditto is one woman who is demanding better fashion in plus-sizes. On July 9, she will be launching her own line of clothing for Evans – sign up here for an update.

The boho luxe look is so easy to get wrong. It can look too student hippiesh, or not chic enough. Les Indiennes, by Mary Mulcahy, gets the balance just right. Her company specialises in hand-blocked textiles from India, which are produced using the kalamkari process. This involves bleaching fabric in the sun and steaming it over rice chaff. The result is a gorgeous collection of bedding, wallpaper, bags and pillows which are elegant and funky. Available worldwide at shops likes Jules et Jim in Paris and Calypso Home in New York, Les Indiennes also has an online store. Check out the range of upholstered furniture, even if it’s only for inspiration.

Changing a pendant lamp shade is a quick, easy and often inexpensive way to jazz up a room. Instead of a boring old white shade or the totally overdone paper lantern, check out this whimsical lampshade by Innermost. Called the Delight, this felt shade has butterfly cutouts and a lovely border. At only $120, it will leave room in the budget for more decorating. You can buy it online at Bobby Berke, which is filled with great products for the home.

Here’s a great idea to dress up your walls. Surfaceview sells bespoke murals, blinds and even curtains using prints and images sourced from various British museums. The company has exclusive deals to recreate iconic paintings and images sourced from the Victoria and Albert Museum, The Natural History Museum, The Maritime Museum, The Land of Lost Content and many more. You can choose everything from Marvel comic images to butterflies and dragonflies (pictured) from the Natural History Museum, or close ups of textiles or ceramics. The innovative website lets you see your chosen print in a variety of room sets, from a living room to a bedroom. Although based in Britain, Surfaceview will ship worldwide.

Forget about where celebs like Angelina Jolie and Katie Holmes shop for their clothes- what shoppers really want to know is where to get their kids' clothes. If you love the way these celebs dress their kids, check out the brand new Little Asos. Like its grown-up version (which means As Seen on Screen), the website is stocked with funky baby and children’s clothing as worn (and inspired by) celeb tots. This 3 Pommes 'City Chic' Dress, pictured, is very Suri Cruise, and sells for only £24.50. Other brands featured include True Religion, Boden, Tommy Hilfiger, and Havainas.­­

­A girl can never have too much jewellery, right? If you’re looking to update your collection and not spend a fortune, check out the superb website of Alex Monroe. His delicate, nature-inspired pieces were recently featured at Coutts Jewellery Week, and his style reminds of Me & Ro, as both are very understated. I love his tiny butterfly and tourmaline pendant (pictured) for £102. Also catching my eye was the twig rings, which are set with a tiny stone, starting at £105. His designs can be found all over the world, and are also available for purchase online.

­It figures that with only a few weeks left in London, I have only just discovered a truly fab hair salon. Last week I booked myself an appointment at the Covent Garden-based salon Windle, where many of the hairdressers have been trained at Bumble and bumble in New York, where I went religiously for almost 10 years (and made me think, why haven’t I discovered this salon before?) I absolutely loved Windle and it’s a shame I have only found it now. Unlike a lot of top London salons, they make no mention of any celebrity clientele, and the stylists focus on quietly delivering excellent haircuts and colour.

Cult cosmetics brand NARS is turning 15, and in honour of its big birthday, founder François Nars is re-releasing some of the company’s vintage nail polish hues. Available for a limited time only, the shades include Blue Lagoon, an iridescent powder blue, Cha Cha Cha, a semi-sheer tangerine and Zizi, a peach and gold glitter polish. The nail polishes retail for $16 each.

Anyone who has been to Italy falls in love with the idea of aperitivo bars – basically it means that when you rock up to a bar and order a cocktail, there is also a complimentary spread of nibbles like olives, prosciutto, bread and cheese. It’s such a simple and brilliant idea, and pretty shocking that the concept hasn’t been exported, until now. The team behind London hot spots like Mahiki and The Punchbowl have opened Tini, an Italian style aperitivo bar in Chelsea. The decor is very 1950's Italian glam, with plenty of lush fabrics, Pirelli prints and lacquer tables.