PHILANTHROPIST AND ART COLLECTOR MARJOLEIN STEENBERGEN TELLS US HOW SHE CREATED THE PERFECT SUMMER GETAWAY ON THE ITALIAN RIVIERA

Marjolein and Ewout Steenbergen are a couple united by their commitment to humanitarianism, both having been honoured by the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef).

They're a fixture on the glitzy philanthropic scene in their home city of New York, where Marjolein helps mastermind spectacular Unicef fundraisers for close to 1,000 guests - one of whom, naturally, is always her businessman husband, until recently the chair of the organisation's US arm.

POWER COUPLE

Married now for 26 years, this high-powered pair are originally from the Netherlands. They moved to Slovakia when their first child was nine months old, were living in Austria when the younger two arrived and headed to Hong Kong before landing in the Big Apple.

Add to that list the many countries they've visited for their charity work, and it's fair to say that their outlook is truly international.

However, when it comes to summer holidays, the Steenbergens never debate their destination. They're drawn back year after year to the Italian Riviera and their own lovely white villa Casa Bianca - in Sestri Levante.

Standing right on the promenade of the picturesque town, Casa Bianca dates back to the 16th century. Outside, the historic house is classically elegant, green shutters and ornate balconies speaking of its aristocratic past.

Inside, though, the ambience is ultra-modern, thanks to Marjolein's choice of a bold monochrome palette that even extends to the impressive art collection.

Marjolein, how did you discover Sestri Levante?

"Knowing that my parents had visited decades before, in 2000 we decided to discover it for ourselves, and drove down from Slovakia. We fell in love with the place right away and since then, no matter where we've been living, we haven't missed a single summer.