Oak furniture for a Gayton home

A coffer-bach is a small Welsh coffer, often with drawers in the lower section. Being compact, it can work at the foot of a bed, in a hall or beside a sofa. Measure the space and ask Sara for the dimensions, since sizes vary from piece to piece.

Keep oak away from radiators and heating vents, avoid placing it in strong direct sunlight, and try not to let rooms swing sharply between cold and hot. If the air feels very dry in winter, a humidifier can help reduce shrinkage and cracking.

Small shrinkage splits are common in old oak and often stable. Larger or growing cracks deserve attention. Ask Sara for close photographs of any splits in a piece you are considering, and ask how long the piece has been in a heated environment.

Write down the height, the width and depth of the top, and the clear space underneath if you want to tuck it beneath something. Add the width of your doorway and the clearance beside where it will stand. Small pieces are easy to misjudge by eye, and a few numbers save disappointment.

Dust first, then apply a thin layer of paste wax on a soft cloth, working along the grain. Leave it for about twenty minutes and buff with a clean cloth. Try a hidden spot first, and keep to thin coats, because heavy wax builds up and looks smeary.

Old oak has had many years to settle and its surface has a depth of colour from waxing, handling and light that new timber takes decades to gain. It will also carry marks and small repairs. Whether that history appeals is a personal choice, so look at the surface in daylight before deciding.

It is best not to. Heat and moisture can leave white marks in old wax and polish, even on thick oak, so keep a few coasters within reach and use a mat under teapots. If a ring does appear, buff gently with a soft cloth and a little wax.

Open the lid regularly so air can move, and keep the inside dry and clean. Line the base with acid-free tissue or cotton before storing textiles, as oak can mark fabric. A coffer that smells musty should be emptied and aired before anything goes back in.

One well-chosen piece often does more for a room than several small ones, and with reasonable room sizes a single larger piece can be given space to be seen. Smaller pieces are easier to place. Start with the piece you will use every day.

Ask whether the surface looks original, has been waxed over the years or has been stripped and refinished at some point. A worn, dark surface is often worth keeping rather than correcting, and knowing the history helps you choose the right care. A stripped surface tends to look paler and drier.