Interior designer Lorenzo Castillo on chocolate fondant cake, the art of Los Carpinteros and the Romanesque

My personal style signifiers are my cashmere and silk Hermès scarves, which I wear with white shirts, a navy blue jacket and white or blue trousers. Apart from my scarves, I don’t wear colours – everything is either navy or white, which makes getting dressed easier. hermes.com

The last thing I bought and loved was a pair of 17th-century Spanish tortoiseshell and ebony cabinets. They are important antiques but modern in their simplicity and robust design at the same time. Goya Subastas, Montesa 31, 28006 Madrid (+34914-315 311; goyasubastas.com)

And the thing I’m eyeing next is a matte gold signet ring with an engraved green stone inspired by a Roman original. I found it at Grassy jewellery store in Madrid, which has a beautiful mix of antique clocks and contemporary jewels. Gran Vía 1, 28013 Madrid (+34915-321 007; grassy.es)

The last music I downloaded was the soundtrack from the film La La Land, which I found incredibly moving. I also recently purchased Santacruz by Supersubmarina and Drive by the Finnish-born, Spanish-raised singer Oliver J Green.  

An unforgettable place I’ve travelled to in the past year is Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. We stayed at the Playa Grande Beach Club, with interiors by New York designer Celerie Kemble. The seaside location and laidback decor are breathtaking. playagrandebeachclub.com

And the best souvenir I’ve brought home is a huge china dining service for our country home in the Lozoya Valley. It’s a remake of a 1960s charcoal-glazed Fantasia set by the Portuguese brand Bordallo Pinheiro, which I found at the porcelain manufacturer Vista Alegre in Lisbon. bordallopinheiro.com. Vista Alegre, Largo do Chiado 20-23, 1200-108 Lisbon (+35121-346 1401; vistaalegre.com)

A recent “find” is the Polo Bar in New York. The atmosphere and food are perfect; no detail has been overlooked, from the oil paintings to the banquettes; and the people-watching is fantastic. 1 East 55th Street, New York, NY 10022 (+1212-207 8562; ralphlauren.com)

The grooming products I’m never without are AgeLOC Transforming Night cream by Nu Skin because it’s very rich and moisturising, and Mr Natty Dub Hair Preparation, which tames my curly hair. £63.98 for 30ml; nuskin.com. £16.50 for 100ml; mrnatty.com

The last thing I added to my wardrobe was a pair of ostrich leather Ferragamo loafers in navy blue. My initials are hidden on the inside. ferragamo.com

An indulgence I would never forgo is collecting watches. My current favourites are a Patek Philippe Nautilus in steel for every day; a yellow-gold Audemars Piguet Royal Oak for dreary days; a white-gold Rolex Daytona for casual wear; a vintage gold Cartier for evenings; and a rose-gold Panerai for summer. audemarspiguet.com. cartier.com. panerai.com. patek.com. rolex.com

If I had to limit my shopping to one neighbourhood in one city, I’d choose El Rastro in Madrid because it has the best antiques shops. I hunt for French decorative arts and furniture at Isabel Martínez, and 20th-century objects at El Transformista. Berenis is great for 18th-century Spanish pieces, and I love the restaurants, including Casa Julián de Tolosa and Casa Lucio. Berenis, Ribera de Curtidores 29 (+34915-399 982; berenis.net). Casa Julián de Tolosa, Cava Baja 18 (+34913-658 210; julian detolosa.com). Casa Lucio, Cava Baja 35 (+34913-653 252; casalucio.es). El Transformista, Mira el Río Baja 16-18 (+34650-470 579). Isabel Martínez, Ribera de Curtidores 29 (+34628-369 713; isabelmartinezantiguedades.blogspot.com.es)

My favourite websites and apps include Instagram.com and Habituallychic.luxury for beautiful images, Behance.net for creative news in architecture and design, and Elpaís.com for world news. 

My style icons are Jacques Grange, Stephen Sills and Robert Kime. They are all sophisticated in their interior design work and their personal style.

The best gift I’ve given recently was a watch to my partner Alfonso for our fifth anniversary. It is a vintage gold Santos de Cartier with a lapis blue face. I found it at the auction house Subastas Segre. Segre 18, 28002 Madrid (+34915-159 584; subastassegre.es)

And the best one I’ve received recently is a collection of old books with images from the 1920s of Ribadesella – a fishing town in Asturia where I’ve spent my summers since childhood – from Alfonso. Two years ago I bought the house that was once my grandfather’s, and the books trace the evolution of the town and my house.

The last meal that truly impressed me was at Hispania restaurant in the Grand Sablon hotel in Brussels. The Asturian-born chef Marcos Morán is an incredible talent: his steak tartare and monkfish fritters with confit piquillo peppers were delicious. Bodenbroekstraat 2-4, 1000 Brussels (+322-518 1100; nh-collection.com)

The last book I read is Who Knows Tomorrow by Lisa Lovatt-Smith. It’s the true story of a British Vogue editor who, at the age of 35, chose to abandon her glamorous life and dedicate herself to helping vulnerable children in rural Ghana through her OAfrica foundation. She is brave, determined and kind.

In my fridge you’ll always find freshly pressed juices, as well as preparations – lobster, vegetables – for the dinner parties I like to host. You’ll also find amazing dishes by my cook, Evelyn – I have a real problem resisting her chocolate fondant cake and vanilla biscuits.

The people I rely on for personal grooming and wellbeing are Mr Natty, my hairdresser at Freemans Sporting Club in New York, and Raul at Mustache Barber Shop in Barcelona. For skincare, I rely on María Muñoz at Clinique Française in Madrid – she also makes me laugh, which is a beauty treatment in itself. Clinique Française, Calle de Lagasca 79, 28006 Madrid (+34917-000 694; cliniquefrancaise.es). Freemans Sporting Club, 8 Rivington Street, New York, NY 10002 (+1212-673 3209; freemanssportingclub.com). Mustache Barber Shop, Carrer de Mallorca 279, 08037 Barcelona (+34930-021 942)

The artists whose work I would collect if I could are the Spanish photographer Daniel Canogar, whose work often uses video and large-scale installations, and the Cuban collective Los Carpinteros, whose work includes humorous watercolours and sculptures.

My favourite room in my house depends on the time of day: I love my bathroom because it looks like a cosy drawing room with its pictures and furnishings; my kitchen because it is warm and busy; my dining room for never-ending conversations; and my drawing room for the antiques and objets d’art. 

If I didn’t live in Madrid, the city I would live in is Oviedo in northern Spain. I love its Romanesque origins, the opera culture and the Gothic cathedral, and I’d like to spend more time at the Hotel de la Reconquista, which is set in a baroque monastery. The food here is incredible too: the fabada (traditional bean stew) at Casa Gerardo is excellent, and I love the pollo al ajillo with a glass of cider at El Ovetense. Casa Gerardo, Carretera AS-19, 9km, 33438 Prendes (+34985-887 797; restaurantecasagerardo.es). El Ovetense, San Juan 6, 33003 (+34985-220 840; hotelovetense.com). Hotel de la Reconquista, Gil de Jaz 16, 33004 (+34985-241 100; eurostarshoteldelareconquista.com)

An object I would never part with is my iPad. Beyond that, being an antiques dealer has taught me to enjoy beautiful objects, but not to have a sentimental attachment to any of them.

If I weren’t doing what I do, I would be an artist. I have always been very good at drawing but don’t have much time to explore it nowadays. I would love to get lost in the middle of nature where my only way of expression – in the absence of my iPad – would be my markers and my sketchbook.