PROPERTY; IDEAL HOMES

VIVIANA DURANTE PRINCIPAL DANCER WITH THE ROYAL BALLET Owns a flat in London

LOCATION: Because I am Italian, it's got to be Italy. Before I came to London at the age of 10 to attend ballet school I was brought up in Italy. Then I spent more childhood holidays on Sardinia and that is where I would choose to have my dream home. It would have to be by the sea - even though I can't swim I love the beach and I can always paddle.

ESSENTIAL LOCAL AMENITIES: Good restaurants. A cafe/bar within walking distance where I could have cappuccino and fresh croissants for breakfast.

CHARACTER OF BUILDING: Two-storey, ultra-modern, with roof terrace and balconies.

CONSTRUCTION: Glass.

BEDROOMS: Three very big bedrooms. I would have friends and family to stay. My family live in Italy so it would be handy for them.

BATHROOMS: Three en suite.

RECEPTION ROOMS: Just one huge room.

ESSENTIAL KITCHEN FEATURES: I don't really need a kitchen because I don't cook. However, I would have one with the basics for when my brother comes to visit. He's a wonderful cook and makes amazing pasta sauces.

DECORATIVE STYLE: Minimalist and very modern. I'd have large sofas, glass tables and lots of plants. The colour scheme would be cream throughout. I would decorate the walls with photographs of the people close to me. In my bedroom I would have a huge comfortable bed. On it would sit the big teddy bear my mother bought me ages ago.

LUXURIES: A sunken Jacuzzi. It's good after a show to have a bath to relax your muscles, but with a Jaccuzzi you get a massage as well. It would be a luxury to have no phone; I have friends all over the world and they wake me by ringing in the middle of the night. I would have a fax machine, though - they're great fun.

VIEW FROM THE WINDOWS: The sea.

GARDEN: I wouldn't have one because I don't have the patience for gardening. Instead, I'd have a private beach with a barbecue area.

NEIGHBOURS: It's important to have good neighbours, but not too close.

MOTTO OVER THE DOOR: Non bussate e aperto, which means, "Don't knock, it's open".

WHAT WOULD IT COST: According to Keith Sneddon, chief executive of Headland Overseas,Viviana would have difficulty finding her ideal home in Sardinia because most properties there are traditional. To get a private beach she would have to buy into an exclusive development and she'd have to share the beach with other residents. For such a three-bedroom property she could expect to pay between pounds 180,000 and pounds 200,000.

! Viviana Durante performs in the Royal Ballet's autumn season at the Royal Opera House, dancing the title role in 'Manon' on 1 and 11 Nov and Odette in 'Swan Lake' on 4 ,9 and 17 Nov