What Rita Konig Can’t Live Without

My husband gave this to me for my birthday, and I keep it by my nightstand. I’ll switch it on right when I wake up and listen to the Today Programme on Radio 4. It’s wrapped in leather so it has really nice sound. I turn it on when I’m lying in bed, and then I’ll wander off to do something and realize I’ve missed the end of an interview I wanted to listen to.

This face mask really takes the dead skin off your face. After you use it you immediately have brighter skin — and makeup goes on really nicely. It’s a nice thing to do around your bath since it takes a while to dry. I use it every two weeks or so and every time I do it I think, Why don’t I do this more? It’s so great.

People either love these or hate these and think they taste like bath essence. I really love them. That combination of very bitter dark chocolate with a sugar-fondant center is delicious. I get them in my stocking every year.

The thing that is most amazing about ice cubes made with these trays is that they don’t melt immediately in your drink. I find that ice from a machine is never that good. You have to be careful, though — don’t drop it in or it’ll take the bottom of the glass out. It’s like dropping a billiard ball in there.

These fire lighters look like shredded wheat — I keep them in baskets by the fireplace. I use these in the country — in the city my husband thinks it’s too polluting to have a fire going.

This is just a really good jarred pasta sauce — I always have a few jars in the cupboard and Parmesan in the fridge, which is a good get-out-of-jail-free card when I don’t have anything to make for dinner.

I’m sort of growing a graveyard of these — I have a collection of them in various states of holes in the bottom. When they’re brand-new they are just so lovely, and then when they get worn down, I can’t wear them to meetings anymore and so they go into retirement and sort of have a second life at my house in the country. I’ve been meaning to replenish; they are really the one item missing from my wardrobe right now. I find that they are so good with jeans. I think they become a bit too prissy with a dress. [Editor’s note: The Chanel black and beige ballerina flats aren’t available online, but if you’d like to shop a vintage pair, Vestiaire Collective are offering Strategist UK readers £15 off £120 with the code: StratUK19.]

My mother had these linens when I was a child, and really no one else has done prints like D. Porthault. They’re just so crisp and pretty; sometimes a bed can become a real white marshmallow mountain in the middle of the room, and just a little bit of pattern can add some personality. Because D. Porthault is so horribly expensive, the collecting of it is part of the fun — like, I bought my collection in stages. I got two pillowcases on sale, then I got two more, and then I got paid for a big job and bought the sheets. I’ve also bought them on eBay, but the prices aren’t that great anymore — though sometimes an old lady dies in Des Moines and the estate will put a whole collection on there. [Editor’s note: As D. Porthault’s website is based in the U.S., the price has been converted from dollars to GBP. In the UK, Harrod’s carries D.Porthault in-store only. If you wish to ship internationally, orders must be placed with D. Porthault’s New York store by calling 001212-688-1660 or sending an email to newyork@dporthaultparis.com.]

I love the Belle Rives lacquer trays (which I designed) for the Lacquer Company. I have quite a few of them around the house; they bring a splash of colour and are so useful for corralling everything from olive oil to vinegar to salt by the stove to remote controls.