Victorian furniture for Bowdon's villas

The room may well be big enough, but the shared stairs, landings and flat door are usually the limit. Measure each doorway, the narrowest point on the stairs and any tight turn. Then ask Sara for the dimensions of each section of the piece, not only the assembled size.

Often, because they were made for rooms of that scale. Low, modern furniture can look lost under a tall ceiling, while a Victorian bookcase or wardrobe fills the height comfortably. Keep the overall height in proportion with the room rather than simply choosing the tallest piece.

Big old rooms with modern heating can become very dry in winter, which may loosen veneers or open small cracks. Keep pieces away from radiators, avoid letting rooms swing between cold and hot, and consider a humidifier if the air feels noticeably dry.

Look along the surface in side light for bubbles, ridges or raised edges, and press gently at the corners. Small chips on edges are common. Sound veneer feels flat and fully bonded, while a loose area sounds hollow when tapped lightly with a fingernail.

Light fades timber unevenly, so a lamp or vase can leave a darker shape on a faded top. It is common on pieces that lived in sunny rooms, such as those with tall sash windows in a Bowdon villa. It is cosmetic rather than structural, but worth spotting before you choose where the piece will stand.

Revival pieces deliberately echoed earlier styles, so carving alone does not date a piece. Very regular, crisp cutting and unworn edges can point to the Victorian period. Ask Sara what she knows about a piece's age, and treat any confident date with caution.

French polish is a shellac finish, and it marks easily with heat, water and spirits. White rings and cloudy patches are usually in the finish rather than the wood. Light ones can improve with careful waxing, while deep or flaking areas need expert attention.

Often they have been replaced, because castors wear out or seize with age. Check that they turn, that the sockets are not split and that the piece sits level on them. Stiff castors are worth knowing about before a heavy piece crosses your floors.

Hold the piece gently and test each leg or spindle for movement at the joint. A slight give may be a loose glue joint, but a split in the turned section is more serious. Check that the set matches in style, as a single replacement leg often looks slightly different.

Many pieces over a century old have had a joint reglued, and that is no fault if it was done neatly. Old, dark glue suggests an earlier repair, while fresh white glue and squeeze-out suggest recent work. Ask what has been done, and whether the joint holds firm under gentle pressure.