I was reading one of the more robust country living magazines last week. I do love the top quality publications as they show houses in the most gorgeous parts of the country and most of them have furnishings we can only dare to dream about. When they showcase the interior of their featured properties, it’s absolutely incredible how lovely their family owned furniture and furnishings are. The master and mistress of a house will vary of course. I do like the old ones who have worked hard to earn the respect of the young people in the village. It takes some guts to site old furniture in a property if you suspect the immediate neighbours have gone down the minimalist eco route. Beautiful oak tables and matching chairs make for a splendid room; any other material would look out of place. In fact, the wider and deeper sofas are the order of the day.