When I was small we virtually lived in the dining room, the sitting room being kept for very special occasions.  Huge old Victorian armchairs were either side of the fireplace, but I can only ever remember my mother sitting in the upright chair between the table and door.

There were two black and white framed photographs of Cambridge on the walls, which my father had taken.  One was the Bridge of Sighs, and the other Kings College Chapel.  I'm very happy because I managed to find exactly the right pictures thanks to my friend Mr. Google.

The dining table was made of oak, 3 ft. square, with a draw leaf at either side.  I've copied it as closely as I can.

I'd forgotten what the dining chairs were like, until my sister sent me copies of some old photographs:

Next, I turned my attention to the sideboard.  Again, an old photograph helped me:

I remembered the bookcase very well, but seeing a toby jug on top was a complete surprise.

Here are my versions of the Victorian armchairs that stood either side of the fireplace, my father's one being leather, the other tapestry with leather fronts to the arms, and tassels.

Finally, I made the door, with its stained glass panel (perspex and OHP pens), the fireplace out of odd pieces of wood from my box, and completed it with bought fire basket and front fret, vases, clock, coal scuttle and companion set.  The mirror over the fireplace has a backing of wood with mirror card stuck onto it, and covered by a piece of perspex.  The tiles were scanned from a picture of a real tile, resized and printed onto photographic paper. 

My mother's workbox always stood in the dining room, ready for use.  I believe it was lined with yellow velvet, but I've just used a piece of silk.

She made most of our dresses, as well as curtains and bedcovers.

There were also cards of wool for mending socks, crochet patterns, and a host of other essentials.

And the piece de resistance - as the house is set on Coronation Day, what more appropriate than, on the dining room table, a copy of the Daily Express for 2nd June, 1953, with an artist's impression of what the coronation robe was expected to be, and news of the Conquest of Everest, with the headline - ALL THIS, AND EVEREST TOO!

June 1953 calendar, and amber glass owl bookends on dining room window ledge.