It is at once nonsensical but utterly pleasurable. And it is this pastime which has stolen my leisure, not to mention my writing time, during the past two months. I of course blame my younger son who, inventively, gave us...

When I was growing up in the 1960’s there stood in the corner of our sitting room a magnificent Grundig wireless set. This was radio as furniture - a statement. A polished mahogany cabinet with a facia comprising a loudspeaker grille, below which was the backlit glass “dial” which listed the radio stations from around the world.

The dining room is one of the few spaces in the home designed specifically for shared time — long meals, celebrations and everyday moments alike. Wallpaper plays a defining role here, adding depth, texture and personality in a way paint alone often cannot.