Children are banned from beauty expert Maria Hatzistefanis's extravagant living-room

I think of this house just off London's King's Road like a puzzle made up of bits and pieces that tell the story of my life. I worked as a beauty editor in my native Greece before doing a Master's degree and working in finance in New York, then finally coming to London to set up my own skincare brand. All of those cultures are represented here in different ways.

I would describe this room as clean lines meets maximalism, if such a thing is possible. The chandeliers, the plush cushions, the side lamps are all quite ornamental – I like extravagant touches – but the lines of the furniture are simple and the overall look is clean. My husband likes to have lots of bits of technology around, which I think look ugly, so I spend my time finding ways to conceal them.

My paintings are my favourite pieces. The butterfly painting by Hunt Slonem, a great American artist, brings amazing colour and texture. It takes on different shades depending on the light and I love that multi-dimensional aspect in things. I also love pieces on a grand scale for maximum impact. It reminds me of my life as a single girl in New York, which I loved.

We've done two refurbishments of this house. Each one took almost a year and was a complete nightmare at the time, but the moment the builders left it all seemed worth it. Initially, it was just me and my husband here, and our needs were all about entertaining and enjoying this great house that we had to ourselves. We indulged in space and used the entire first floor as a luxurious bedroom suite and dressing-room. Three years and two children later, we have different priorities so it's more of a family home now. I still like to keep this room off limits to the children though.

For more information on Maria's skincare range, visit www.rodial.co.u

Three ways to add a dash of glamour

'Daisy' chandelier, £35, www.debenhams.com

'Sunburst' mirror £15, www.matalan.co.uk

Louis XV chair, £950, www.heals.co.uk