At home with...Q&A: Gethin Jones

How would you decribe your home and its style? Well, I've just moved to Manchester to start on the Hits Radio breakfast show, so I'm renting while I work out the next move. My place in London is an old private hospital;

high ceilings, lots of space and with a very different layout to most places. It also has a cast iron stair case up to the master bedroom… I love it.

What is on your interiors wish list and why? A velvet sofa is what I have my eye on at the moment. I do like the modern look, but it has to have character. The best way I know how to do add that to a room is actually through

photographs. I can put photos on the walls of my home and that makes it unique. I've experienced some rather bizarre and wonderful things and I like to be reminded of them, without being ostentatious.

Which household items could you not live without? My bed and the alarm clock at the moment. I'm getting used to the 04.30am alarm.

What is your favourite building and why? My goodness, where do you start? Some of the architecture in London is just mind-blowing and I say that having been lucky enough to have travelled all over the world. In terms of a placeto live in, I hope one day that I can live by the sea. Shutters Hotel in Santa Monica would be how the dream house would look. I used to surf there and whenever I walked in with my board I'd look up and think, “one day”.

I'm still dreaming.

Is there anything exciting you at the moment in terms of building design and construction? I am a partner in Leaf Hospitality and we operate and manage hotels. There are some clever people out there when it comes to design and construction. In our most recent project, the Double Tree by Hilton in Hull, the rooms were built and designed and shipped from overseas. The timing has to be spot on. Some of the properties being built for the luxury brand hotels are just remarkable. A particular one to mention is a hotel submerged in the sea in the Maldives. I believe that you arrive on a chopper, check in, and the lift only goes down. Your room is surrounded by the coral reef and sea life.

What and where is your ideal home? I've always wanted to live by the sea but in the meantime, I've decided I need a garage. I have my bikes, my wetsuit, my motorbike and a load of other kit that I probably don't even need. But I'd like to have the space for it all, rather than keeping it my living room. I've mainly bought flats and apartments but it's definitely time to get something with my own front door. There are some lovely town houses being built in Manchester. In fact, the speed of construction and building in the city is astonishing, I've enjoyed looking around.

Are you looking forward to the Yorkshire Residential Property Awards this year? Yes. It rewards the best Yorkshire property projects and professionals while raising money for Variety, the children's charity. Now is the time get your entries in as the deadline is August 29. There are categories for everyone from agents and consultants to developers and designers,

Details can be found at www.yorkshire residential propertyawards.co.uk