Casa Howard

WE'RE RATHER TAKEN WITH CASA HOWARD'S SPLIT PERSONALITY. One half comprises five rooms on the Capo le Case, while the other occupies the second floor of an old palazzo on Via Sistina. You’ll find the pair between Rome's famous Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain – so expect liveliness plus all the feel of a private home.

These flamboyant B&Bs are more like the pied-à-terre of some top interior designer. Casa Howard owners Count Leonardi and wife Jenifer Howard Forneris have set out to create intimate establishments with five-star style. Their leisure-plus-pleasure philosophy certainly works. Two housekeepers, or ‘house genies’, attend and cosset. Nice touches abound: fresh flowers, immaculate linens, Florentine soaps, kimonos, an honesty bar and private keys. Both places even boast a private hammam.

Rooms exemplify the owners’ philosophy: think country-house meets ethnic meets modern-retro. There’s the zany Zebra room, all black and white on red; the White room’s extravaganza in toile de Jouy; the rustling silks of the Chinese room.

Stylishly schizophrenic

It’s breakfast in bed here: freshly baked cornetti and home-made jams arrive at your door courtesy of your house genie. Throw in bespoke furniture, antiques and pictures, and the whole effect is seductive and – dare we say – stylishly schizophrenic. There’s even a sister Casa Howard in Florence.

© Room for Romance