My first house, when I had an open plan kitchen and dining room.

We also decided to buy the best quality furniture we could afford, knowing that it would serve us well for. Having accomplished the ground rules, we then set about transforming it from the white canvas it was into the elegant family dining room we craved. I always wanted a divided kitchen and separate room for dining. I was fortunate to have this room as I had seen a lot of other houses with dining rooms that were unimaginable to use because of their size.

So in our next house that we bought, this was the first need that I checked.

I was looking forward to decorating it sympathetically and creating a conventional eating area in keeping with the way of the house. I was also determined not to let this room be used for anything else. Even though, the dining room was going to be used for formal occasions, I was also determined not to let it seem indifferent, stodgy and boring.

Nevertheless, it turned out to be more complicated than I had thought to find furniture for this room that would make exactly the right statement.I was set on having it as a dedicated room for dining and nothing else.