If the furniture was available on the weekly household shopping list, I am sure we would all like to get stuck in and order it more regularly – there is something very exciting about going round showrooms and envisaging that gorgeous plush little number in our main room, or that chest of drawers in our particular bedroom.

We do tend to only change the furniture on a ten yearly basis, and then it all seems expensive because we try to do too many rooms at the same time.  I did a major change around the other year because I saw a beautiful much sideboard in a warehouse sale – it was originally from a very important store and I could never have bought it.  But now, it was well within my reach, as was a matching dining table and 6 chairs. . . . . and I only went in to look at a pretty table lamp!